g’day
humans used to die to build things.
skyscrapers. bridges. space programs.
men fell from scaffolding. burned in engine tests. buried in wet concrete.
not because they were careless - but because they believed the risk was worth it.
risk of failure. risk of pain. sometimes, risk of death.
that risk was the price of progress.
today?
ten hi-vis vests stand around a pothole for a whole week.
and not because they’re lazy. because they’re following the rules:
avoid mistakes. avoid blame. avoid risk.
the pyramids of giza delayed again!!
because in a game of scissors, paper, rock… safety wins every time.
it’s the ultimate trump card:
if there’s a risk of hurt (physically, emotionally, optically), the trump card can be played.
add some new paperwork. ban something. demand a royal commission. cast doubt.
people have realised the power of playing the safety card.
and now no one can say yes - but everyone can say no.
now australia is feeling the cost:
every time a project gets delayed, it gets more expensive.
> then the next one is harder to justify.
> then you incentivise not building at all.
entire sectors become allergic to ambition. housing. energy. banking. reform.
but here’s the hard part:
you’re part of it too.
every time you ask for more time, default to doubt, or play it safe when you know the answer is to move - you’re playing the safety card.
so we don’t need to die to build things anymore.
but we do need to be willing to enter the unknown.
to act before we’re ready.
to move without the whole room nodding.
safety won’t kill you.
but it might kill everything you hold dear.
charlie
