In 2011, I wrote a blog about my experiences in Malawi. One was called “Waiting is an activity”. I worked as a consultant at the MicroLoan Foundation for a few weeks. Colleagues had to go to the local bank regularly (“old fashioned” cash transactions) and there were always enourmous queues… I couldn’t stand it… Even just seeing it. So annoying. Luckily I never had to go. When asking colleagues how they cope with it and whether it is not deadly boring, they looked surprised. “Waiting is an activity” was their reply. It’s part of the job. And when having to wait a for long time, it means you have a very busy day.
Just now, I read about this business case of “professional line sitters”. It is a job indeed! There is value in waiting; you can earn your income by getting paid for waiting. Time is money… Obviously.