"消费是所有生产的唯一目的和最终目标"

Everything we make, everything we produce—it's all for one thing: for someone to use it. That's the heart of the idea here. When you think about it, it all boils down to this simple truth. Why do factories churn out millions of cars? So people can drive them. Why do farmers grow crops? So we can eat. It’s all about consumption.

This concept has deep roots in economics. Adam Smith, the father of modern economics, made this point clear in the 18th century. The idea is that the entire economic system revolves around the needs and desires of consumers. Without people to buy and use things, there’d be no point in making them in the first place.

Let’s look at a concrete example to bring this idea to life. Imagine a small bakery in your neighborhood. The baker gets up early every morning to make fresh bread, pastries, and cakes. She doesn’t do this because she loves getting up at the crack of dawn (though she might). She does it because she knows people will come by and buy her delicious goods. The whole production process—from kneading the dough to baking it in the oven—is driven by the anticipation of people wanting to enjoy fresh, tasty bread. If no one bought her bread, there’d be no reason for her to bake it.

So, how can you use this wisdom in your own life? If you're running a business, always keep your customer in mind. Ask yourself: What do they really want? What problems can you solve for them? It’s not about what you think is cool or what you want to make—it’s about them. Your production should meet their needs.

Picture this: You’re an aspiring entrepreneur with a knack for making handmade candles. You spend hours perfecting your craft, creating intricate designs and experimenting with various scents. You decide to start selling them online. At first, you focus on what you like—you make candles with bold, unique scents that you personally love. But sales are slow. You start getting feedback from friends and customers, and realize they prefer calming, familiar scents like lavender and vanilla. So, you pivot. You start making more of what they love. Sales pick up, and soon enough, you’ve got a growing business. You learned firsthand that your production should be driven by the tastes and desires of your customers.

It's a straightforward but powerful principle. Whether you're an artist, a business owner, or a farmer, the focus should always be on the end user. Think about what they want, what will make their lives easier or more enjoyable. This perspective can help guide decisions, from what products to develop to how to market them.

So next time you're creating something—anything—pause and think about the end purpose. Who's going to use this? Will it make their life better? If the answer is yes, you're on the right track. That’s the essence of production: it’s all about making something that someone else will value. And when you get that right, everything else falls into place.