Ten principles for doing business as a spiritual path.
Self-employment may be the most challenging and enriching spiritual path we can walk. Every day that we work for ourselves is a day we come face to face with our worldviews and belief systems. Working for ourselves is a constant reminder that success is determined more by state of mind than by external events.
If self-employment is a spiritual path, here are some rules for the road.
1. We are each responsible for the value of our work and for how it is perceived in the world. The value that clients place on our work is not likely to exceed the value we place on it.
2. Prosperity is directly related to priorities. It is up to each of us to be clear about what prosperity means for us and to make these things a priority.
3. Prosperity is also directly related to expectations. When we expect the best, we make the most of each opportunity, including the opportunities disguised as disappointments. When we expect the worst, we find it everywhere.
4. The experience of success and failure is directly related to our fundamental expectations about life. If we believe that things generally go wrong, they will.
5. Marketing is an inside job. When you know what you do, love what you do, and are willing to share what you do, marketing is natural, effortless, and sustainable.
6. The best attitude in the world is insufficient without action. Results happen when you walk your talk.
7. When you do your right work you bless everyone around you. The more on purpose and prosperous you are, the more those blessings seed purpose and prosperity for others.
8. When you laugh at and learn from mistakes you profit from adversity.
9. When you are clear that your business is a gift and when you trust that more will be given, you surf the shifting tides of success with grace and good humor.
10. When we are willing to know what we want and to ask for it, we are likely to get it (or something of greater value).
We can be victims of the systems and culture we live and work in or we can decide to make a stand and a contribution. Doing that requires character, not just in the sense of morals but also in terms of what was once called “intestinal fortitude.”
If I had to name just one thing that turned my life around, it would be realizing that my character is capable of virtually infinite development. Twenty years ago I set out to build character the way another person might build strength or stamina. Strength and stamina are components of character, by the way, so don’t trade in aerobics for meditation or weight training for emotional intelligence. We need all of this to develop a truly flexible character with the tensile strength to build bridges to our dreams.
Learn more about the author, Molly Gordon.
Hi Molly-
Just wanted to take a moment and let you know I enjoyed your article. Very insightful. I can agree with many of the things you say as I am trying to start a marketing consulting company and have been finding out first hand what an up and down rollercoaster it can be, without the right mindframe most small business owners would be in a world of depression!
Eric
Thank you Molly. I have found that being inspired and loving what I do for 14 years has both sustained me and been a type of marketing in and of itself. Thank you for speaking to that piece of marketing; it is rarely talked about. As for number 10, I find that heart or mind mapping truly helps clarify what I want. And amazingly, it works! I have often shared this technique with my clients as part of creating the life or business they desire, but were afraid to describe it. Your approach is refreshing.
Kathleen
What an excellent, inspiring, and confirming article Molly, thanks! -Leif
What a wonderful article. I worked for many years in the wrong job, on the wrong path and with the wrong attitude. When I finally stumbled onto my path (or was graciously led there by my life's events), I realized what I was worth and began contributing more. Give more, get more. More love, more money, more support.... For me being an entreprenuer IS a spiritual path. I am growing more now than ever, and it is by choice that I take the more difficult road and am rewarded every day for it. Thank you for your article, it puts to words what I am experiencing and creates an awareness about what happens when you choose to give more through the work that you do.
Spot on Molly! Thanks for articulating so clearly what I feel is the truth of working on one's own. Self-employment makes you face every conscious or shadow aspect of your self - the good, the bad and the ugly! As such it is a tremendous impetus for growth and self-awareness. And I can appreciate from my own experience how following your "rules for the road" can lead to success in a worldy sense, but more importantly how adopting this mindset leads to a deeper trust in the notion of "following your bliss" .
Wow. I hadn't realized there were such lovely comments here. Thank you all.
Bookmark article
Follow article
Email to a friend
Share 
Bizniks are talking about 
Bizniks are talking about 
