Desert Dreams II: Talent Engagement

In the aforementioned desert trek I thoroughly enjoyed my co-workers’ creativity. We bounced ideas off a wave shaped boulder by the fire. My favorite idea: a free range Subaru with a greenhouse option. I can’t think of anything much cooler than a nomadic garden which feeds my inner gypsy and nesting needs at the same time. I thought what a shame it was to have such creativity wasted. Why do these people spend their days packing boxes for customers? My wheels started turning on how we could capitalize on their talents, feverishly creating plans in my head. In a quiet pause I realized it was a choice based on lifestyle and values. I didn’t need to capitalize on this, just appreciate it and enjoy being a part of the moon dressed night.

As we become more in touch with our impact on the environment and the developing world and address broader issues than ‘did we make more money this year than last year?’ I feel like a lot of great talent will come out of the wings and engage in the process of a new economy. I sense that for a lot of brilliant people contributing to the system we have known just didn’t suit them; they were waiting for the world to catch up so that it was worth their efforts to be a part of something meaningful.

I know of two such people in my life – both smart, well-read, very grounded and caring. Both have been in just getting by mode without any interest in contributing to an exploitative economy. One is now pursuing an environmental engineering degree because she ‘can now make a difference’ and the other has environmental certifications and is reaching out to educate others on the technique and potential for a more humane world. I am sure there are many more stories like this.

We are moving from a highly rational-driven world to a more emotionally engaged world. I expect the quality and richness of life experience will be greatly enhanced as the individual and collective align in a symbiotic relationship more attuned to the earth and each other – and as the collective wakes up, more and more individuals who have been waiting on the sidelines for this to happen will join the wild ride.