Giving Credit

[Martin H Ray <mhray1@zzzzzzzz>]

Friends,

Thank you for the variety of offerings on the gist of creative effort. As
a professional landscape gardener in the granite country of coastal
Massachussetts, I frequently contend with, feature, and celebrate stone
in the landscape.

Besides Nature, I am influenced by clients, employees, cultural legacies,
and my wife. Also by the Muse, Divine Afflatus, Archetypes, a Still Small
Voice, and God. These companions provide opportunities,  ideas,
criticism, and other gifts. After making these acknowledgements I still
conclude that my ego is the principal engine of production. And my name
is on my business.

Once I read a reference to the construction of the Taj Mahal. In the
local language it was said that the potentate "caused it to be built". I
like the way that phrasing distributes the credit. Perhaps he never
touched a single block of stone.We can imagine the team of designers,
craftsmen and laborers. Where would he be without them, or they without
him?

Besides synergy and companionship, I like all this participation in a
project because it gives other people investment in the outcome. In the
case of work that depends on maintenance to endure, having the client
invest more than just money can help it flourish over time.

Martin Ray