Is your skill a replaceable clove or a core ingredient?

When making Laba garlic, you notice that despite using the same cloves, some turn crisp and jade-green while others become soft and yellow—much like our generation's encounter with technology.

Our craftsmanship is quietly being steeped and repriced in technology's "vinegar jar."

Past: Mastery of a complete skill was highly valued.
Present: Technology breaks down complex skills (like finance or language learning) into standardized modules, turning them into apps or hardware that offer affordable alternatives. Life is more convenient, but if your job can be similarly deconstructed and replaced, it's a risk.

So, what remains valuable and resilient?

Two things:

1. Core underlying technology (e.g., key components for chip inspection equipment).
2. Top-level judgment and human connection (e.g., defining aesthetics, building trust).

Now, ask yourself:
Is your skill a "garlic clove" being transformed (or eroded) by technology, or are you an irreplaceable "core component" or "master seasoner"? It’s time to reassess where you stand.