No, You Really Are Great… I Believe It, and You’re Worth Every Penny
Recessions do not happen by mistake. Whether you are enduring your own personal hardship or are witnessing catastrophe of a greater magnitude, your collective thought system and process of being have a profound impact on outcomes whether they are singular or plural. All we can do individually is take responsibility for our own role and be a leader by example even when it seems everyone else only wants to follow.
Take a look at some of the most successful and powerful civilizations in world history. The Romans, Ottomans, and the West (to a large degree) have all demonstrated sustainable growth over long periods of time because they were able to create a gemeinschaft. Although some may argue that all three societies took a zero-sum-game approach to reigning supreme over their global competitors, I would argue that at their very foundation was a set of utilitarian principles that held them together to benefit future generations.
Fast forward to today, global business leaders such as Warren Buffet, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, and Bill Gates have demonstrated great power through philanthropic actions to help preserve the essential goodness of our global economy. They each have provided their own set of goods and services that are designed to benefit a large community and the universe has paid them handsomely. All three have found themselves under strict scrutiny at some moment. Whether it’s anti-big business, anti-development, or anti-trust, all three men have kept their focus straight ahead, detached from adversity, and know the power behind unwavering faith backed up by consistent action. We tend to focus so much attention on being anti-nuclear arms, anti-abortion,anti, anti, anti that we forget about the common good. Opposition certainly plays the trump card in the public media where a majority of the news is negative. More kidnappings, layoffs, and turmoil is what we hear every moment we tune in regardless of the network we’re watching. This leads to a society of deprivation, a continent of scarcity, and a world of fear.
I believe that abundance is an inside job. If we become willing to pursue greater authenticity within ourselves we cannot settle for anything less in a relationship: whether it be business or personal. Hey, everyone is a “work in progress”. Yes, even Bill Gates. As one finds a peaceful space or a comfort level to counteract their sometimes chaotic, victimized, pain-body focused mind it is inevitable that they will attract an equivalent counterpart. The law of polarity will always bring a series of events that are not to our taste just to challenge our self-esteem. It’s important to stay the course, be flexible enough to adopt to climate change, and have faith in yourself even when you feel like everything is going against you. Gratitude and visualization through meditation are far more powerful than depression and martyrdom.
I have met with quite a few successful entrepreneurs and business professionals over the past few years and have made the following observations:
1. Successful People Are The Most Humble – Success can be measured in so many ways. My measurement cannot possibly be the same as yours or anyone else. I feel that success is the sum total of the achievement of being your authentic self – doing your best in all relationships, letting go of unsatisfying experiences, and bringing a striving sense of awareness to the process of loving yourself and others. I respect anyone who has a healthy ego. What I mean by “healthy ego” is that we need to celebrate our achievements because it helps us to feel good and strive beyond our current paradigm. There is no question about it. Our ego is our greatest defense mechanism. It”s also our greatest foe. A balance between the two is our greatest contribution to any relationship.
2. They Are Present and Accounted For: No Special Rules Apply To Them Because They”re The Boss - This is the essence of transparency. I think Obama has done a pretty good job being an advocate of open communication and full disclosure. Yes he is still the president and certain elite rights and privileges are guaranteed to him that might not otherwise be granted to normal civilians, but he is holding himself accountable and reporting back specific actions he’s taking. This is a deliberate response to the moral meltdown on Wall Street.
3. Structured Fun and Play Versus Fractured Pain and Anguish – Fun, easy going personalities who pay close attention to detail and strive for greater clarity in their goals, objectives, and methodology or plan of action(s) of achieving them accomplish more than fear-based, hyperactive busy bodies seeking drama. They also grow their business more effectively over a sustainable period of time.
4. They Realize It”s In The Books and Classroom Still – Education through consultation or taking supplemental workshop/training courses is an investment in you only if the specialized knowledge gained is applied.
5. They Think and Act Win-Win – This is important. An I Win- You Lose model might get you what you want in business, but trying it with your spouse will get you divorced. Also, Win-Lose in business will eventually lead to resentment and ultimately to the dissolution of future business dealings. Check out The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey to better understand these principles.
6. The Best Managers Are the Best Motivators and Lead by Example Every Day Because They Always Do Their Best. Don”t assume you will instantly become a good manager because you are a great salesman. I have had sales managers that were absolutely terrible even though they were effective at selling. This was due to self-serving, ego-driven, autocratic managerial styles that were intended to create conformity and order, while unconciously putting a stranglehold on sales. A great book by Don Miguel Ruiz titled The Four Agreements outlines the four major principles of the Toltec: be impeccable with your word, don”t make assumptions, don”t take anything personally, and always do your best. Great managers support their salesforce every day. They provide tangible incentives, and are as much a part of the team as anyone else. Beginning to implement these principles in business and in my personal life has alleviated stress, and definitely allows me to attract people I really want to help.
I have been an avid reader of spiritual self-help books if you did not figure that out already. A few others besides the two I previously mentioned that you really have to check out if you haven’t yet are: The Power of Now by Eckart Tolle, Having It All: Achieving Your Lifes Goals and Dreams by John Assaraf, Ask and It’s Given: The Teachings of Abraham by Jerry and Esther Hicks, and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.
Providing a synopsis of each is beyond the scope of this blog post. In future posts I will detail more specifics from each of these works because they have important tools for transformation. I’m sure many of you can relate to being at a point in your life when you were unhappy with low pay or a bad job situation. Maybe you outgrew the job or were unexpectedly laid off. There are two perspectives one takes in the aftermath: Empowerment or Victimization. You might be reading this thinking, “You have no idea what I am going through. Times are tough. I”m working hard and nothing is happening.” You’re right. I don”t know what you’re going through and chances are no psychotherapist, friend, family member, spiritual advisor or mentor can experience your emotions like you do. I do believe that within all of us is a goodness, a pure giving quality that is receptive to people or businesses we are best suited to help. Our job is to keep seeking, and remain aware of the energy we are attracting. By taking better care of ourselves physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally we have more to give and so we become clearer on what it is we possess that is of value to give. Paulo Coelho once said, “Be like the fountain that overflows, not like the cistern that merely contains”. You have a wellspring of ideas, laughter, love, and all of the other good stuff. Share it as often as you can and make sure it pays you well in business. You deserve it. No, you really are great… I believe it, and you’re worth every penny.
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