Most people live off their labour. Their "Natural Resources" that have been cultivated to a point they can be sold. School becomes a preparation for work, work a preparation for retirement. A deep pragmatist giving career advice will look at someone's values, skills, and knowledge... then look at the menu. The option is either, (1) your Natural Resources can't be sold in raw form, so you need to process them, or (2) here is the option with the best price (salary) that meets your needs.
Nations grew out of the idea of distinct "The Peoples". Unlike Nature, we like to put things in neat little categories with pretty bows. The Common Wealth of these people then belongs to "the State". The State owns the Natural Resources of the land, and different countries give people different levels of Property Rights... the ability to stake a claim and build something that isn't shared.
The first Sovereign Wealth Fund was established in 1953 as the "Kuwait Investment Authority", before independence from the United Kingdom. Over time, Oil was changed into a $600 Billion Fund that is invested in public equity, bonds, real estate, private equity and hedge funds. In a connected world, these funds can own businesses and property in other states. They can invest in infrastructure projects in other states. Gradually Fossils were turned into Fuel, and Fuel was turned into Capital.
The skills and knowledge of buried dead organisms is pretty limited. In the course of 65 years, the "career advice" of Kuwait's Natural Resources has opened up dramatically. Money and Capital, unlike people, is 'fungible' - mutually interchangeable. A career change for a person is emotional. Our colleagues become our friends and family. More and more people meet their partners at work. Changing jobs is a big deal. For people.
Ireland and Norway are gradually disinvesting from Fossil Fuels as it becomes a matter of survival. In May 2018, Norway's "Oil Fund" was valued at $195,000 per Norwegian Citizen. This Fund was created in 1990. In 28 years, the nature of the choices available to Norwegians has dramatically exploded. As has the size of the menu for how that Engine delivers its power.
We ask the famous question to kids, 'What do you want to be when you grow up?'. You are not your job. The job is the job. Gradually if we separate our identity from our livelihood, we can get on with the job of being human. If you build an engine, for yourself or your community, you can gradually disinvest from being defined by your Natural Resources.
Ireland and Norway are gradually disinvesting from Fossil Fuels as it becomes a matter of survival. In May 2018, Norway's "Oil Fund" was valued at $195,000 per Norwegian Citizen. This Fund was created in 1990. In 28 years, the nature of the choices available to Norwegians has dramatically exploded. As has the size of the menu for how that Engine delivers its power.
We ask the famous question to kids, 'What do you want to be when you grow up?'. You are not your job. The job is the job. Gradually if we separate our identity from our livelihood, we can get on with the job of being human. If you build an engine, for yourself or your community, you can gradually disinvest from being defined by your Natural Resources.
You are not your job
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