What do you want more of in your life? Recently, I asked this question to a few thousand people, and the responses came pouring in. More love, more money, more travel, and to know what one wants were the prevalent themes.
When I originally posed this question, I was working on a program I’ve been creating and wanted to see which focus would serve the most people. It didn’t occur to me that I had already been serving up what I serve up best, and that the people who were following me on social media were there because of what they found with me. This single realization was an entrepreneurial epiphany on caffeine.
It’s true that an entrepreneurial venture is one of the most powerful incubators for spiritual growth. When I first heard that statement, I didn’t get it. Now, after years of enduring the white hot heat of entrepreneurialism, I totally get it. Many transformations take place in honing all of the different aspects of a business, and everything in it reflect the person who’s creating it. If one doesn’t continue to get their act together, the business will fail. Oh yes, and only the heavy duty stick-with-it-ers win. This mix is a cauldron of personal growth and transformation.
Giving up is not in the vocabulary of an true entrepreneur. Changing, re-aligning, shifting ideas around, finding resources, finding information, working harder, working smarter, learning to balance, researching, delegating, laser-focused introspection, communication, team work, social skills, belief, dogged faith and determination, relentless self-inventory…these and more are all a part of creating and running a business.
What does this have to do with the question I posed? In seeking to serve the most people and asking them how I could serve them what they truly wanted, I found out what the heart of my business was. Years of being coached didn’t uncover this precious gem. I’ve agonized over it, taken quiz after quiz, courses, read libraries of books, listened to videos, ad nauseum. But after all was said and done, the single most powerful step I’ve taken came out of prayer and meditation, and a deep desire to serve.
What were the steps I took? First, I tried everything else I could think of. When none of it offered my answer, I gave up and told Source to just give me a sign please. Then I lived in surrender for a while. I felt an urge to serve and put out a call in the form of a question to everyone I knew. The a~ha moment came only after I had given up my own agenda and opened my heart fully to serving others. It’s happened before, but now I’m seeing the pattern and it has a definite flavor.
The places in my life where I have fully given myself to service, heart and soul, are the places where the richest gifts have come to me. They’re the places where I had no expectation, and the gifts arrived like a universal, colossal Christmas of a tidal wave.
Here are the things I’ve learned about how to run a successful business so far in no special order:
1. Show up regularly and fully.
2. Honor the concept of time.
3. See what is wanted and needed, and give that.
4. Have fun no matter what.
5. If it lights you up, it’s yours to do.
6. Put Source, God, your Higher Self, whatever you call It, first.
7. Banish negative thoughts and negative people.
8. Focus on what’s working and do more of that.
9. Live a healthy lifestyle.
10. Pour love into everything you’re doing.
11. Honor the people you serve.
12. Be willing to receive.
13. Always go the extra mile.
14. There’s no such thing as competition when the Divine is in charge.
15. Procrastination is a sign that it’s time to dance and listen to what your body needs you to know.
16. Every single thing turns out better if you pray first.
17. Love yourself.
18. Be very flexible and open.
19. Great support comes in unexpected ways if you keep your eyes open.
20. Give more of what you don’t have enough of.
Tags: abundance, aha moment, business, communication, create, entrepreneur, focus, God, love, money, serve, service, Source, spiritual, spiritual path, transformation, work, working smarter
Goddess Oceana's Gold 
October 12, 2013 at 1:50 pm |
As an entrepreneur in a few different businesses in the last 20 years, I wish I had started out with those guidelines. Even now, I find they are hard to follow, but I know that will create more joy in my life and business. Thank you for the post.
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October 12, 2013 at 2:22 pm |
It really is a practice to follow all of this, it’s true. Maybe loving oneself should be the number one practice, and then all of the others aren’t so daunting. I appreciate how hard it is for all entrepreneurs, and know how much we can all use some compassion and deep acknowledgment.
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October 12, 2013 at 1:53 pm |
The more your grow in your business.. the more you grow in your spiritual life. I started growing my spiritual life before i started my business. I am glad you spoke about spiritual life rather then religious life. I find the two aspects can be widely different.
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October 12, 2013 at 2:19 pm |
So true, right Linda?! I agree. Spirituality and religion are two distinct regions. They can and sometime do intersect, but not always. 🙂 Thanks for pointing this out!
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October 12, 2013 at 2:01 pm |
This all rings true. I am glad to be doing some of them, I’ll print out your bullets and tune-up where I may be falling short. Thanks for this post!
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October 12, 2013 at 2:17 pm |
You’re so welcome, Brian! I’m feeling honored that you like this list enough to print it. Thank you.
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October 12, 2013 at 3:53 pm |
“Flexible and open” that’s a good one. We all want things figured out before we do them. Life doesn’t always cooperate, though. Thanks for reaching out. 🙂
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October 12, 2013 at 11:00 pm |
Yes, easier said than done for sure, Elizabeth! 🙂
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