The Artisan as Insurgent

Something about Energy

Observation is a discipline that takes time to develop; the ability to see what is emerging rather than what wants to be seen. Something with the vibrant energy of inevitability supplanting the dutiful energy of an exhausted incumbent.

Sun Tzu wrote of energies (Shih) in terms of different states. There is the orthodox “Cheng” energy of the incumbent, where order is imposed through power and position, outsiders are not tolerated, and internal communication is directed through structure. Then there is the sudden, surprise “Ch’i” energy that finds the weak spots in the established order, and weakens it wherever it finds it to erode its stamina and will. These energies are seen as complementary, to be contained within a cloak of deception that enables what is desired to be achieved as far as possible without force.

Our traditions in the West were more Cheng than Ch’i. After a defeat at the Battle of Maguilla in 1811, Wellington observed:

18th June 1812.
“I entirely concur with you in the necessity of inquiring into it (Slade’s affair). It is occasioned entirely by a trick our officers of cavalry have acquired of galloping at everything, and then galloping back as fast as they gallop on the enemy. They never… Think of maneuvering before an enemy – so little that one would think they cannot manuever, excepting on Wimbledon Common….. source

It seems to remain so in our approach to most things, from politics to business. Approaches based on short-term goals using overwhelming power, even when we find ourselves “galloping back as fast as we gallop on the (goal)”. We have been educated, trained and rewarded for finite game performance at the cost of the infinite game positioning. We seem to prefer serial winning, regardless of where that “winning’ is taking us (and I suspect that this afternoon, in the Budget, we will see its latest manifestation).

I think Artisans have to behave differently because they cannot scale. Scale dilutes and commodifies the creative energy of the artisan, abstracting it to social media campaigns until it is so diluted it becomes akin to homeopathy.

Artisans must exercise Ch’i energy, picking where to apply their craft to the best effect. Somewhere their work will be recognised, whether they are an accountant, architect or artist, in a way that will increase demand that scale cannot meet, because relationships, empathy and originality cannot be scaled.

Artisans must decide on what they want the impact of demand exceeding supply to be. Basic economics offers the reward of price, but if artisans were only working for money, they wouldn’t be artisans; they would be entrepreneurs (and nothing wrong with that; it’s just not the same)

In “Places to intervene in a System”, Donella Meadows listed where intervention has the most impact, from least to most:

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PLACES TO INTERVENE IN A SYSTEM

(in increasing order of effectiveness)

9. Constants, parameters, numbers (subsidies, taxes, standards).
8. Regulating negative feedback loops.
7. Driving positive feedback loops.
6. Material flows and nodes of material intersection.
5. Information flows.
4. The rules of the system (incentives, punishments, constraints).
3. The distribution of power over the rules of the system.
2. The goals of the system.
1. The mindset or paradigm out of which the system — its goals, power structure, rules, its culture — arises.

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Activities 3-9 are the stuff of order; “Cheng” energy. Activities 1 and 2 are artisan activities. They are about changing the game, not doubling down on it.

Artisan energy is more akin to Ch’i. It is about shaping, not exploiting, and pursuing a longer game in which money is a resource more than a measure.

I think it changes the way that Artisans mix and congregate. In small groups, perhaps not unlike Guilds. Communities of Practice that share common standards but not common processes or “best practice”. Each practice is individual, unique and part of a larger ecosystem in which it plays a vital part.

I think Artisans have much in common with insurgents: trespassers, heretics, pirates and others. They bring about change by gathering round what needs changing and not confronting it head on, but nibble away at important edges and weak points until, gradually then suddenly, things change. Then, they go back to their workshops and studios.

It seems there are many edges and weak points to nibble away at right now, which need to be nibbled at. The world of work is becoming an unpleasant and soulless place, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Go nibble.