Bonsai = An ornamental tree or shrub grown in a pot and artificially prevented from reaching its normal size The bonsai is not a genetic variant but has within it the potential to become a fully grown tree. However it is carefully cultivated to meet the demanding requirements of the gardener. It is fed few nutrients, kept in shallow soil, not allowed to form deep roots, continually pruned and kept 'in proportion'; shaped to the precise requirements of the gardener and the specifications of their profession. Bonsai People Bonsai people have had their development limited, distorted and shaped by the influence of their environment rather more than it has been driven by their own potential and aspirations. To an extent we are all Bonsai People. But some people have been more bonsaid than others. And some seem to be very content with their bonsai nature. While others are frustrated at the sensation that there must be something more in them than this. Yesterday I was on the phone with Rich Huxley and we were talking about developing musicians. I told him of a mentor in Leeds who had boasted to me about how they had worked with a 14 year old boy whose ambition was 'to be the best bass guitarist in … [Read more...]
Some forgotten truths about enterprise…
Poverty is not about scarcity – it is not that there is not enough – but that it is not shared The challenge is to give more people the power that they need to play a positive and powerful role in markets; This means accessible and relevant processes to develop individual capabilities and power Markets will always have a place in our society but not everything can be bought and sold. Care for example is an emotional relationship that cannot be bought and sold. Development is a measure of the extent to which individuals have the capabilities to live the life that they choose. It has little to do with standard economic measures such as GDP. Helping people to recognise choices and increase the breadth of choices available to them should be a key objective of development. Developing the capability and power of individuals provides a key to both development and freedom Development must be relevant to lives, contexts, and aspirations Development is about more than the alleviation of problems – stamping out anti social behaviour, teenage pregnancies, poor housing and so on. It is about helping people to become effective architects in shaping their own lives We need practices that value … [Read more...]
Enterprise Hub or Duck Farm?
I visited a really great community centre recently. Busy, friendly, homespun, clearly doing great work in and with the community. We were using several rooms, one of which was called the 'Enterprise Hub'. It was spotlessly clean, airy, spacious and well furnished, just like every other room in the building. But for the life of me I could not work out what made it an 'Enterprise Hub'. It was not set up for hot desking, there were no PCs, no mail boxes, none of the usual paraphernalia... So I asked the centre manager about the Enterprise Hub. The answer surprised me - but it shouldn't have done. They were looking for cash to modernise and re-decorate the room and in conversation with the local authority it become clear that the only budget with cash available was in 'Enterprise'. 'They said if we called it an Enterprise Hub we could have the cash.' I love the way this demonstrates the inherent enterprise of the community centre management team in tracking down the cash that they need to 'get the job done'. I am less impressed by what it says about some investments in 'enterprise'. I can just imagine the report to the councillors about the new enterprise hub... I remember a colleague saying to … [Read more...]
