NON-EXTRACTIVE BUSINESS PRINCIPLES

The following is an excerpt from Week 4 of EVOKING YOUR BUSINESS + PROJECT SERIES

WHAT IS EXTRACTION?

Extraction is a perspective, a behaviour / set of behaviours committed by systems of colonialism, exploitation, hierarchy, and homogeny. Non-extraction is a value system that naturally de-centers mechanism of dominance, accumulation, and exploitation, to restore traditional, indigenous, and circular cultures. In the context of business and project creation, here are some principles to return to:

Extraction sees individual 'commodities' - ie separates and divides;

Non-extraction honours the whole.

Extraction objectifies nature, humans, other resources;

Non-extraction subjectifies. Extraction is concerned with quantitative goals; non-extraction with qualitative aims.

Extraction centres humans (and specific humans);

Non-extraction prioritizes all living and non-living things.

Extraction is concerned about 'outcomes' (one singular phase within a larger cycle);

Non-extraction views all phases of cycles as 'outcomes'. IE even the process is part of an outcome, and vice versa. In this way, extraction will always favour immediate results rather than long term / generational goals.

Extraction values perfection. Perfection is naturally counter-diversity. Perfection numbs feeling and intuition, and is concerned with the external and optics. The concept of 'success' is part of the perfectionism narrative.

Non-extraction sees inherent value, even if the value is not immediate, and the concept of 'success' is inherent. Non-extraction also prioritizes patience and appreciation (the antithesis of perfectionism).

Extraction invented 'objectivity', a colonizing concept that exalts and reinforces power structures and establishments as possessing truth, whereas in reality, there are multiple experiences and truths. Objectivity is an extension of “either/or” rationale; Non-extraction respects subjectivity and recognizes “both/and” rationale.

Extraction is concerned with "what's in it for me" rather than how this impacts the whole (non-human and human alike).

Even in spirituality and wellness communities, there is an extractive-value system of trying to be 'better' / personal development / performance. Non-extraction embraces being who you inherently are.

Extraction naturally power hoards and prize individualism; non-extraction values collaborative power sharing.

Extraction is linear - both vertically and horizontally. Non-extraction takes the shapes of circles, spirals and amoebas.

With extraction, harm is caused via racism, ageism, sexism, ableism, and the heteronormative and other normative groups will always possess more power. With non-extraction value systems, the harm is greatly diminished, addressed, and even eliminated.

Now apply this beyond 'DEI' mandates and consider how extraction shows up in everything from sales goals, to how a calendar is filled, to a marketing campaign, to a project pitch....

NOT TOO LATE TO ENROLL IN EVOKING YOUR BUSINESS + PROJECT SERIES! PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS ARE STILL CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.

Mimi


Mimi Young
Founder and Wu shamanic occultist