This quote is about the concept of emotional labor, which refers to the effort and energy required to manage and control our emotions, particularly in a professional context. It’s the work we do to maintain a positive and productive demeanor, even when we’re feeling stressed, upset, or frustrated.

The quote suggests that everyone has the capacity for emotional labor, but it’s not often used as a competitive advantage. This means that while everyone has the ability to control their emotions and maintain a professional demeanor, not everyone uses this ability to their advantage in their career or personal life.

In other words, emotional labor is a skill that can be developed and leveraged to succeed in various aspects of life, including work, relationships, and personal growth. However, many people overlook its value and don’t actively work on improving their emotional labor skills.

Applying this concept in today’s world, we can see that emotional labor is increasingly important in the workplace. In jobs that require a lot of interaction with others, such as customer service or management, the ability to manage one’s emotions can significantly impact performance and success. It can help in building better relationships, improving customer satisfaction, and creating a more positive work environment.

In terms of personal development, understanding and utilizing emotional labor can lead to improved emotional intelligence. This can help individuals better navigate their personal relationships, deal with stress and adversity more effectively, and overall lead a more balanced and fulfilling life.

So, the idea here is to recognize emotional labor as a valuable skill, to consciously work on improving it, and to use it as a tool to gain a competitive edge in both professional and personal life.