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In the Greek view of craftsmanship, what separates the skilled artisan from the craftsman was the craftsman’s ability to articulate the goal of the work to be done versus simply demonstrating a mechanical ability to perform a particular task.
The Greek word for this is technê—the root word of the term “technique.” To help actualize your desired outcomes, you’ll have to learn how to manifest positivity.
According to the Greek philosopher Plato, a craft is defined by its goal, which requires knowing the intended result. Fully developed, “knowing” how to accomplish a goal based on understanding the goal before acting was then articulated in an account by the craftsperson. The account was used to inform and guide skillful practice—to achieve the desired outcome of the project.[1]
Technê is distinguished not only by the craftsman’s ability to give an account of the desired outcome of the result envisioned, but it is also distinguished by the end goal to benefit the welfare of its object. In this case, you are the end object—the recipient of your skillful actions upon yourself.
Your welfare is the result you must envision before you apply processes, tools, and techniques to make a change in your life—that is, to understand what is to be done before you plunge headfirst into doing it. Your improved condition, gained through the application of skillful technê in your actions, is the benefit you receive.
If you ask people, “what are your desired outcome?” regarding anything they would like to improve in their life, they will likely answer you with a description of an “end-state” they consider to be a positive change from their current or present state. But for you to achieve this “end-state,” manifesting positivity is key.
For example:
- To be financially wealthier (than I am right now)
- To be physically stronger, bigger, or slenderer (than right now)
- To feel happier (less stressed) or mentally (emotionally) better (than now)
As you can see, it does not take much for most people to describe an alternative “end-state” they would like to inhabit. However, understanding the goal or the “why” (the reason) for this desired change and being able to clearly describe it—as in the Greek (and others) view—marks the difference between those who are recognized as craftsmen and craftswomen versus those who perform tasks mechanically—without understanding the desired outcome to be achieved.
Considering what we have just described, below are 7 techniques used by trained master craftspeople around the world for Imagineering the creation of a “masterwork”—also known as a masterpiece.
1. Recall a Moment of Achievement
We have all had moments of achievement—a time when a sensation of power, strength, and positive energy flowed through us. Craftspeople in many trades have been trained to use a thinking tool we call Imagineering to re-ignite the release of this positive energy on demand.
The goal is to reset their mental and emotional state to a place of strength they recognize from experience. We call this “getting in the zone.” There are many techniques to do this. If you have ever been in the “zone,” you know what I am speaking about. Changing your state as we describe here, is a learned skill that is acquired by study, observation, and practice until it becomes second nature.
2. Envision the End State
Trained craftspeople in any profession, vocation, or occupation learn techniques of how to hold an image in focus in their mind long enough to create a replica of what they see. Whether in a drawing, a paragraph on paper, a voice recording, etc., it is a model—a map of the desired result. Positive energy development is the result of this exercise. Therefore, to manifest positivity is to envision the end state.
Positive energy is easily recognized by the sensations it triggers mental clarity, and a change in breathing rhythm and heart rate—a feeling of excitement often resulting in a smile and a sense of happiness or well-being. Think about a moment when you see the end goal to be achieved, followed by a feeling of confidence, and understanding. You are experiencing positive energy.
3. Use a Recipe
Some people are intuitive cooks. They grab whatever they find in the refrigerator, mix, and match the ingredients at the stove, and voila! See what comes out. Some people are quite good at it. But not in every situation. A recipe is a guide for ensuring you will have predictable results most of the time.
In time, this expectation of a positive outcome builds positive mental energy and confidence in the accuracy of your predictions. Once you gain confidence by relying on solid recipes, go inside yourself and create new, original recipes. Then, follow them.
Recipes have a beginning, middle, and end. They have defined borders. They have defined parts. They can be assembled and disassembled to understand their connections. Recipes help you understand the world. Using a recipe allows you to manifest positivity.
4. Clear Your Workbench
In ancient workshops—and even to this day—if your workbench were cluttered and in disarray, you would hear about it from the workshop master. Have only one work project on your workbench at a time and focus on that work alone. Focus results in clarity of mind. Clarity of mind creates positive power. If you are working on two projects simultaneously, have two workbenches.
This fundamental management principle of The Way of Craftsmanship is alive and well in many places in the business world. A cluttered and untidy workplace can lead to low productivity, worker dissatisfaction, and re-occurring accidents. They follow systems like LEAN 5s to reinforce this.
However, in their personal lives, people seem to abandon this idea quickly or do not have the same support as they have at work in maintaining a professionally managed workbench. Doing this in your personal life will have a big impact on maintaining your positive thought.
5. Know Your Skills
By this stage in the process, you have before you the desired outcome and have articulated the reason—the goal of the desired end-state you envision. Now, you must acknowledge whether you currently possess the skills required to complete the work you have set yourself to accomplish.
This honest assessment differentiates the skilled craftsperson from those who believe they can achieve anything simply by cultivating a positive mental attitude. Most people fail with this approach, abandoning project after project. However, those who achieve their desired outcome through the application of learned skills are rewarded with the prize of a positive mental attitude as the result of the skillful execution of their work. These are the people who can manifest positivity in their craft.
6. Manage Your Tools
If you have ever tried to do something with your bare hands and wished you had not, then you will understand the importance of this guideline. Tools can be tangible objects that you will use when working on a particular project, whether it is a hammer or an app on your mobile device. A tool can also be intangible such as a repetitive mental exercise—a “mind-tool” used to sharpen your ability to focus.
As you ready yourself to begin your work on any project, be sure you know which tools to use and that you have trained (i.e., practiced) using them on your workbench before you apply them to yourself.
Remember, your welfare is the result you must envision before you apply processes, tools, and techniques to change your life.
7. Pace Yourself
Pacing does not mean going slow. It means deliberate control of your speed and energy output. When you release your energy in a measured manner, you are more likely to complete the desired outcome and manifest positivity. If you get trapped into thinking ‘fast’ means ‘good’, then you greatly increase the chance of sloppy work, disappointment, and abandoning your project prematurely—never having achieved the desired outcome.
You Are the Craftsperson of Your Life
Your life is in your hands. Will you release control to chance encounters with fate and the forces of life to randomly bend and shape it? Or will you follow your intuition, piecing things together and hoping they stick? Or will you become the skilled craftsperson of your life, shaping it with deliberate care—through the application of learned skills, improved over time—and make a masterpiece of your life?
It is a choice for you to make, and it is a recipe for you to follow. If you want to reach your desired goals, you have to manifest positivity first.
