Recap of the third iRead meeting
on Daniel Pink’s book, A Whole New Mind,
Chapter Two: “Abundance, Asia and Automation.”
Dr. John Markert, Professor of Sociology, began the discussion by asking what percent of the American population would qualify as living in abundance. He gave statistics indicating that 20% of the population is at or below poverty level, and 40% are blue collar workers who are struggling to pay their bills and just barely getting by. His conclusion is that 60% of the American population is not living an abundant lifestyle and are left out of Daniel Pink’s continuum. That leaves 40% who may fit into the author’s premise that those who have material abundance will be looking for fulfillment and transcendence.
Dr. Markert was critical of the book’s lack of supporting documentation. One of the examples Pink provides to support his theory that there is a shift toward an emphasis in transcendence is the growth of the candle industry. Dr. Markert questioned if this was a creative right brain manifestation as the manufacture and distribution of candles required left brain activities such as marketing and trend forecasting. He also posed the question of whether or not burning candles really had significant meaning. Likewise, he questioned the rise in the growth of yoga. Is it really that big? Many people who try it do it for fitness, and most do not stick with it for very long. He observed that they can not sit still long enough to transcend. Another assumption questioned by Dr. Markert and discussed by the group is the rise of spirituality. He contends that it has always been here but can not be quantifiably measured by church attendance. It is not evidence of an searching for meaning due to an abundant lifestyle.
Dr. Markert asked the group to define creativity. The responses were: originality, artistic expression, intellectual stimulation. He then asked us to wonder what if everyone was right brained. He pointed out that physicians use diagnostic equipment which allows them to spend more time with patients, but does this make them more creative? Also, those that invent technology are right brainers as are all creative geniuses.
A discussion about the educational process as it relates to and the predicted need for more MFA graduates implies that people are free to be more creative. Dr. Markert argues that the process of completing a degree program includes going through a structured process, following the rules, and marching to a standard tune. Often the most creative people can not make it through school and some that do must unlearn what they are taught. He provided examples of two writers, Robert Palmer and Carl Hiaasen. Although writing novels is considered a creative, right brain activity, their stories follow a set formula and the authors must be disciplined in meeting deadlines, using punctuation and grammar, etc. These are left brain qualities.
In our discussion about outsourcing we noted that most of the jobs that are being outsourced to Asia are computer programmers (knowledge workers) and manufacturing jobs (blue collar workers). We reflected on the Agricultural Age where people had to be creative to survive. In the Industrial Age we sought to survive by giving up creativity in favor of automation. Concerning automation, he cited the Luddites who revolted against machines as they feared they would replace people. It was noted that often machines create new job opportunities. There are also jobs that can not be done by machines and there are job opportunities available for skilled, left brained workers. We examined the growth in occupation areas such as home health care and nursing and debated if this required right brain strengths such as empathy, or rather left brain strengths in using medical technology, knowledge of drug interactions and dosages, and following strict rules and procedures. Dr. Markert also pointed out that small business owners are not free to be creative and nine out of ten fail. It may be advantageous for corporations to encourage right brain activities as this will help workers get outside the box.
Dr. Markert stressed that there are not that many creative people in our society and a lot of them do not have the skills to make money. The old saying is that it takes 1% inspiration (right brain) to succeed and 99% perspiration (left brain). Right brainers will most likely not rule the world as the title of the book states. Is this new business model really a formula for success?
Dr. John Markert, Professor of Sociology, began the discussion by asking what percent of the American population would qualify as living in abundance. He gave statistics indicating that 20% of the population is at or below poverty level, and 40% are blue collar workers who are struggling to pay their bills and just barely getting by. His conclusion is that 60% of the American population is not living an abundant lifestyle and are left out of Daniel Pink’s continuum. That leaves 40% who may fit into the author’s premise that those who have material abundance will be looking for fulfillment and transcendence.
Dr. Markert was critical of the book’s lack of supporting documentation. One of the examples Pink provides to support his theory that there is a shift toward an emphasis in transcendence is the growth of the candle industry. Dr. Markert questioned if this was a creative right brain manifestation as the manufacture and distribution of candles required left brain activities such as marketing and trend forecasting. He also posed the question of whether or not burning candles really had significant meaning. Likewise, he questioned the rise in the growth of yoga. Is it really that big? Many people who try it do it for fitness, and most do not stick with it for very long. He observed that they can not sit still long enough to transcend. Another assumption questioned by Dr. Markert and discussed by the group is the rise of spirituality. He contends that it has always been here but can not be quantifiably measured by church attendance. It is not evidence of an searching for meaning due to an abundant lifestyle.
Dr. Markert asked the group to define creativity. The responses were: originality, artistic expression, intellectual stimulation. He then asked us to wonder what if everyone was right brained. He pointed out that physicians use diagnostic equipment which allows them to spend more time with patients, but does this make them more creative? Also, those that invent technology are right brainers as are all creative geniuses.
A discussion about the educational process as it relates to and the predicted need for more MFA graduates implies that people are free to be more creative. Dr. Markert argues that the process of completing a degree program includes going through a structured process, following the rules, and marching to a standard tune. Often the most creative people can not make it through school and some that do must unlearn what they are taught. He provided examples of two writers, Robert Palmer and Carl Hiaasen. Although writing novels is considered a creative, right brain activity, their stories follow a set formula and the authors must be disciplined in meeting deadlines, using punctuation and grammar, etc. These are left brain qualities.
In our discussion about outsourcing we noted that most of the jobs that are being outsourced to Asia are computer programmers (knowledge workers) and manufacturing jobs (blue collar workers). We reflected on the Agricultural Age where people had to be creative to survive. In the Industrial Age we sought to survive by giving up creativity in favor of automation. Concerning automation, he cited the Luddites who revolted against machines as they feared they would replace people. It was noted that often machines create new job opportunities. There are also jobs that can not be done by machines and there are job opportunities available for skilled, left brained workers. We examined the growth in occupation areas such as home health care and nursing and debated if this required right brain strengths such as empathy, or rather left brain strengths in using medical technology, knowledge of drug interactions and dosages, and following strict rules and procedures. Dr. Markert also pointed out that small business owners are not free to be creative and nine out of ten fail. It may be advantageous for corporations to encourage right brain activities as this will help workers get outside the box.
Dr. Markert stressed that there are not that many creative people in our society and a lot of them do not have the skills to make money. The old saying is that it takes 1% inspiration (right brain) to succeed and 99% perspiration (left brain). Right brainers will most likely not rule the world as the title of the book states. Is this new business model really a formula for success?
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