I was recently interviewed for a New York Post article about whether Americans are getting lazier.

Check out the complete article here.

I feel like my quote was used to promote a POV I don’t quite share. I tried to steer  the reporter towards a very big trend that has been going on for a few years now, that of “lifestyle curation.” We are seeing that consumers expect their favorite brands to offer them more and more convenience, and that brands are responding with innovative curatorial services and solutions that even go beyond their core category.

I think there is a huge difference between the stereotype of fat Americans eating greasy take-out in front of the TV and the reality of busy, overwhelmed Americans looking for convenient solutions throughout the day. I don’t think people are lazy when they’re looking for new ways to manage their daily tasks and activities. New technology has made it easier for people to work, cook, travel, communicate and {insert your favorite verb here}. Texting rather than calling or emailing has more to do with fast and precise communication rather than laziness; same with having food delivered at the office for a working lunch, or relying on Roomba to vacuum the house while working.

After all, reports continue to show that American workers stay longer in the office, at the factory or on the farm than their counterparts in Europe and most other rich nations, and they produce more per person over the year. It’s unfair to call Americans lazy when most often, what they’re looking for is a bit of convenience to help slow down their lives. But that article wouldn’t sell newspapers now, would it?!