The Upper Peninsula (the U. P.) of Michigan is the place of my birth, a rugged land of minerals, timber, Great Lakes shores and cold snowy winters… a land I love for its capacity to build character while it awakens you to the beauty and demands of nature. I was called upon to reflect on this land from a repotentializing perspective – with the hope of creating a charcoal sketch of the potential of the U.P. – provides a basis for further development.
If efforts we undertake are to be repotentializing in nature – as opposed to improving what is – we must begin our thinking from the perspective of potential versus the perspective of problem. In regards to the repotentialization of the Upper Peninsula, we would begin by anchoring to and indexing from the virtue of the land itself. Potential is always realized by working out from or being sourced in the essence or core virtue of that which we are trying to realize the potential of. And so we would first have to get a working image – supported by a verbal expression – of the essence or core virtue of the U. P. Now there is an expression (trademarked, I believe) that, to me at least, would be a good starting point – a place from which to begin reflection and dialogue – that statement (from my memory) being, “The Upper Peninsula: Rugged as its coastline, tough as its winters, independent as its people.” …remembering, of course, that virtue/essence is more of the nature of truth – in that we are not seeking an absolute, but rather a working statement that through time will unfold and deepen in meaning.
Working from the virtue of the land, we could develop a living philosophy – a “Yooper” way of living and working – out from which would emerge, develop and evolve value adding processes – value adding processes that would not only reflect the essential character of the U.P., but would also provide the organizing point for doing business and for businesses. Doing this would certainly make possible – move us closer towards making real – a business teacher’s statement to his students, “You don’t have to leave the U. P. to be successful in business,” a statement that I perceive as not only a belief, but a dream – a dream of the character and nature expressed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which is important to remember because for those who would take on a leadership role – the role of leading from virtue – there will be the requirement to draw forth spirit and energy accessible only through true dream and vision.
Continuing, here are some thoughts on essential value adding processes:
Tourism. From the perspective of harmonizing with the virtue of the land, tourism would develop, not as the “entertaining type,” but as the skill, and self-reliance development made available through the energy field of the U. P.
Metals/Metallurgy. Regardless of the ornateness of the artifact or product, it would have “inbuilt” the toughness and capacity to sustain its performance – ongoingly – without complaint. None of the metals – be they castle hinges and doors, or space age material – would easily or readily give way to fatigue.
Woods/woodworking. It is a strength and an essential requirement for maintaining the spirit of “Yoopers” to see the beauty in all… regardless of the tough or challenging work that may follow. Witness how often you hear or find yourself saying, “Isn’t that beautiful,” in regards to a snowfall… knowing full well it may take a day or more to “dig out.” As I have reflected on “Yooper” value adding processes, the image of the natural (essence) beauty of the wood, regardless of the ruggedness of the work for which it was designed, would always be visible and present.
Education. Regardless of subject matter, education would have a character building component – a component that acknowledges “independence” which perhaps transcends itself to “manifesting uniqueness,” but in either case never loses sight of “we’re in this together” (for example, in a snowstorm), and thus the necessity for working together, helping each other… a component that develops the capacity for “plain speaking” – for straight forward interaction.
A few thoughts about schooling, and the development of our children and resources form the last piece of the charcoal sketch. I recall an experience I had when consulting with a company that produced turbines for jet engines, and the interaction with an accomplished metal sculptor who I met through some community development work. What I discovered was the technological understanding required to produce the castings for large sculptures was of similar depth to that required for casting jet engine turbines. The point here is that the nature of value adding processes will require an evolving depth of craftsmanship – of the nature and tradition of craftsmen who develop and advance the technology of their work. The institutions that would be called upon to play a role in these processes would need to advance metal and wood technology beyond that which is currently understood. Tourism and education would require similar advances in understanding and process delivery.
Well, that is the charcoal sketch. There is no question that the sketch covers a bit of territory – hopefully enough territory to build an image of sufficient wholeness that we gain a “taste” of its do-ability. As I looked over the sketch, I experienced a real sense of hope and possibility – hope because the virtue of the U. P. is still accessible (it has not been artificially obscured), and hope from the knowledge that there is still present sufficient “U. P. character” that could be awakened and out from which could emerge leaders and leadership – people who would respond to and lead from virtue, those who would see it, and experience it as a true calling.
