Gravy and sawdust

Author Hugh MacLeod talks about the fact that when you do something, anything, that action alone gets response, and in some cases, respect, from others.  Taking it further, when you work at something, for a long period of time, all sorts of other things happen because of those things you do, financially, opportunities, and even relationships you never imagined forming.  That stuff happens after you do the work, and can be thought of as gravy – extra stuff that adds a lot of flavor to what you do, that wasn’t the initial objective of doing the work.

Sawdust is something else.  Sawdust is the stuff that occurs because of the work you do, but doesn’t do anything on its own.  It needs you to figure out what to do with it.  As actual sawdust was once wood dust that fell off lumber onto the floor, at some point, its use was realized, and it became something additionally beneficial.  I’m starting to think carefully about what sawdust I have, and what I can do with it.  I think gravy and sawdust are actually the two things, if considered, that can really change people’s lives, keep them out of ruts, and keep them thinking about creativity on a whole other level.