Friday, June 16, 2017

Industry

The simplest way to define industry is getting things done. I remember when I first heard that Corporate America had bullied their way into the abuse of that word. I was about seven. Creative ideas are only of value if you write them down, creative plans are only valuable when executed. The most industrious are agents of evolution, forging new associations, realities and methods, altering the way we perceive the world in ways that change the future. The industry that I am trying to pin down is a process. In other organisms, their striving to life is possibly as industrious as they can become, however we humans can think about ways to alter our reality by making things, writing things down, studying data or doing things that will assist in realizing our dreams. Idle thoughts and pipe dreams don't pay the bills, only changing the world in a positive way is supposed to do that. Greater forces than I can describe here have assured that some of the most destructive acts and support for them yield the highest dividends. Again, I am forced to define the opposite of industry to make it clear what I am describing. Industry from the point of view of noble virtue is to raise up the quality of life, often, not even for oneself, but it can be self-serving a deeper part though is that your "work" benefit others. Doing so graciously, again without the desire for accolades. Again I must defer to the intellectuals reading this, the description again, gets circular. How does one explain one aspect of gracious living without calling in all other aspects and principles together?

Perhaps, like noble gasses, noble virtues cannot be diluted, perhaps it is all for one and one for all.
Perhaps it is opposite, one must possess all or will be unable to express any, or perhaps none fully. 

Industry requires gracious giving of ourselves. Gracious giving, or perfecting the art of the give away requires knowing where resources can best be put to use. It is no different with our practicing industry. In effect, the most noble thing to do is sing your heart song, tell the truth, speak your truth to power and to keep yourself from fdalling into the traps of idle hands. Making things, doing things that make a difference is not difficult, however, it takes time. Our works tell a lot about us, In my estimation, far too few actually understand and appreciate this. One of the tenets of permaculture is to equitably distribute abundance, because when you jump into the realm of exhibiting noble virtues and collectively grace, you leave a greater legacy in that your selflessness will inspire others to live their lives in grace as well. When we appreciate nature, honor and respect the laws of nature, we cannot help but find near infinite abundance. One tiny seed can create a plant taller than a human in one year, now that's what I'm talkin' about! Industry! Industry can even create a sense of family where none had existed before.

Not only does industry require gracious giving, but the knowledge that you are giving in a way that has a specific character. I recently tore into the ideas about mastery. I found it odd that some put a specific number of hours being required to attain mastery. Believe me, I had a good laugh about that. I have seen people doing the same job, which they typically have deemed "dumb", not practicing their craft at all, not trying to get better outcomes, not even looking up to see if you are having a good day. These practices will never even approach what might be called mastery, I do'nt care if they "work" that way for fifty more years! To up your game, or shoot in the direction of mastery, you have to direct your attention to what it takes to do each step, how to home the efficiency of your doing so, and an endless striving for excellence, not the cheap and sleazy corporate excellence you can make memes and poster slogans for until the end of days, I'm speaking for the A+++ form of excellence that could out-do itself against all odds, tomorrow. Peak performance requires frequent and focused practice, never becoming mundane. The people who turn their backs on refinement become proficient at nothing. To "be" creative is to have facility and fluency in your craft, but also the ability to revise and experiment or solve problems when things go awry. When what we have tried has thus far failed, what can we do differently? In all probability, we will all leave a legacy, to be borne by future generations, will it be of our honor, our honesty, our perseverance? I hope so! The things we make say so much about who we are, let us hope future generations will remember us as people who worked hard for the betterment of them! When we got work crews building trails and bridges in national, state and county parks, it left an edifice for all of us to remember their industriousness. In our turn we need to be making these monuments.

We literally forge reality with our actions and being industrious in our attempts to make a world that would not just be better for ourselves, but our great grand children as well, we take our place in the history of the species. My own choice is to make and teach others to make biochar. anyone within stiking distance of Central Wisconsin, Custer to be exact, come to the Midwest Renewable Energy Faire. Learn about the industry of generating electrons! I will be presenting a workshop on Sunday, 2-4P in the Pink Tent. By making healthy soil, my industry may continue to bear fruit that will last thousands of years! The black gold (char) I make allows us to directly put carbon into the soil. I teach classes on how to make it and so far dozens have taken the classes! I want it to be thousands...please spread the word! Together, we can make it happen. WARNING: this will take you to a site that I cannot vouch for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeZPv8gPvJ0       But they do kick it!

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