Have you ever heard someone say something like, ‘That guy is a machine’? Or maybe you have heard something like, ‘She just powers on like a machine’. When people say such things about others I’m often left feeling a little confused. It surprised me to realise the other day that those words are meant as a compliment. In our fast-paced, driven and ambitious society, being called a machine is a way to flatter someone who is striving for results, success and prominence. And our culture is all about results, success and prominence.