I am certain this happens in every profession. In truth, it is inherent to our obsession with climbing the productivity ladder, often without pausing to consider how best to do so. The urge to justify our own advancement is frequently confused with the desire to undermine that of our competitors. It is something many of us have done since childhood.

In this imperfect world, we feel compelled to fit into that niche which seems made for us, whatever the cost. This can be used to justify almost any strategy, sidelining talent and proper training. Too often, it is not genuine ability that determines success, but position, social status, eloquent rhetoric, or even outright deception. While certain liberal professions — medicine, architecture, law — maintain rigorous barriers through formal qualifications, in many other fields, superficial credentials and networking often outweigh real knowledge, leadership, or problem-solving capacity.

In this arena of ethereal merits, we frequently encounter individuals who proudly call themselves “geeks” — not as a casual label, but because they see their profession as a true vocation. This gives rise to a freely chosen commitment that leads them to pour their entire talent into what they love. Geeks tend to be exceptionally valuable to those who know how to recognise and reward them with fair salaries and a proper quality of life.

Just as the child who holds the ball in the school playground decides who joins the team and who does not, self-proclaimed “certified professionals” hide behind bespoke courses, convenient rules, evaluations by fellow charlatans, and social appearances. Those “professionals” who treat geeks as if they were a cancer are often the same people behind corporate bankruptcies, neglected clients, unjustified price increases, product devaluation, and the grave mistake of placing human vocation beneath fragile castles of cards and speculative movements disguised as technical progress.

Even today, geeks are losing the battle. Yet with the arrival of the new AI paradigm, the moment is coming when the wheat will finally be separated from the chaff. The mediocrity of those who never deserved to displace them will be exposed. It is our responsibility to identify true geeks and ensure they receive the recognition and position they have always merited.