A study has shown that the creativity and success of a business are largely contingent on the willingness to do manual work. Creativity? One would think that most of the time manual work ends in exasperation, like trying to assemble a piece of furniture!
And yet Aristotle, one of the greatest minds in the history of the world, claimed that because man is the most intelligent animal, he was given … hands! So, doing manual work doesn’t mean you’re slow-witted. On the contrary, it’s a sign that you’re brilliant.
Working with one’s hands is always about problem solving:Why is there more water under the sink than inside it? How can I hang this picture without having the wall collapse? How do I set up a tent so it lets the air inside but not the rain? Most materials obey laws that are not of our making; we must discover them and improvise.
Realism and limited resources
Improvisation is the motto of any intelligent DIY person. Realism and limited of resources are the conditions they must accept even before they start working. A navigator learns how to quickly fix a mast or a sail if he wants to continue his voyage. So, there is a seriousness doubled with ingenuity that allows for a maximum of efficiency with minimum resources available when repairing an object instead of throwing it away.
The benefits of method and precision
People who work with their hands know all about consequences of their actions. They can see clearer than anyone else how much their success depends on precision and good execution. So, they must always plan everything in detail, weighing down all pros and cons.This leads them to make the right decisions.
They are never afraid to jiggle, to improvise, to fail and start over again or try out a new combination. But most of all, they are not afraid to admire their work or to deplore it, as in the case of the IKEA dresser. Whatever the result, the work of our hands always reflects our intelligence.
Jeanne Larghero
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