evidence: Now, this story may be apocryphal but the boy’s behavior reflects a deeper truth. When we are feeling "lazy" and disinclined to do something, we often search for an easier way to do the undesirable task at hand. We try to streamline the process and save time and effort. We wind up making the task more efficient. In other words, laziness can drive innovation. In recent years psychologists and business leaders have wisened up to this insight. It’s shifting our perspective of what "laziness" really means, and whether strategic idleness or our inclination toward ease may actually be powerful tools and great assets. [...] Now that survival is a non-issue, it seems natural that we would opt for indolence but this is not the case. In fact, quite the opposite has occurred. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans work more hours per week, sleep less, and the average productivity per worker has increased 400% since 1950. Several influences in a productivity-centric culture teach people from a young age that their worth depends on how industrious they are, so they work harder to produce more.