If there is one quote that really gets my attention it’s the above quote by Emerson. If I regret anything in my life it is wandering from this essential truth. AS a younger salesperson I would do things to “make the sale or consummate the deal. What was so interesting about these transactions now that I look back on them is I really never benefited from them. The money I would make seemed to mysteriously get lost or the people involved would not refer business to me or stay in touch. There is a very powerful magic to honesty no matter how difficult or trying it may seem...
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Monday, August 16, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Belief 3: Learn to get out of your own way
“Get your bloated nothingness our of the way of the Divine Circuits”
Something in me knows.
Ok, we are on our way. The first belief has us knowing we have what it takes. The second belief has us building a better future by building a better self in the here and now. And this quote gives us the fuel to get off the ground. I was told 80% of the fuel is used with a rocket for take off. It’s a principle. Lift off takes serious energy. The above quote gives us the direction to use our fuel wisely not only for take off but have enough left to make it to our destination.
To correctly understand “Divine Circuits” is to open the door and access the genius RWE often refers to in his writing. To know there is a power for good and we can use it is a very powerful concept. We all have “Divine Circuits” or a divine connection. It is not something reserved for the talented, holy or gifted. It’s just that these people know how to tap into this power through their recognition and become the conduits for this divine flow. Mozart said he composed music that he heard in the stillness of his mind. He moved his little story out of the way to allow the divine flow of heavenly music express through him.
Others who used this power and have referred to it are Michelangelo, Thomas Edison, Newton, Einstein, Beethoven, and scores of others. What we need to know is we are wired the same as they are. We are centers of this life force that is waiting to take off once we give it the “go” signal. What is that signal? It’s the removal of our little stories. The small me is in the way.. Our bloated nothingness is our excuses.
As a society we are taught to turn to outer resources for our good, for our fuel if you will. We are taught inner resources are for the ordained, the saintly, the holy, the gifted and just plain lucky. I could never include myself in those groups. I did not know I was wired just like them, I had to get my “nothingness” out of the way or I would be living my excuses for failure the rest of my life. I would deny the great truth which is, “something in me knows”.
Emerson’s writings so beautifully explain our nature. We all have a divine nature and a human nature. Neither one is any better than the other. However, if we are to access our Divine Nature or Divine circuits we must understand this power and our availability to access it. As Emerson states ”I shapes my fortunes, as it seems to me, not at all.” There is something bigger in us that shapes our fortune, to recognize this is genius to ignore it to be bloated by our human nature. To be bloated is to block our divine potential. As Emerson puts it, we are very apt to over-rate the importance of our actions or another way “There are voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter the world.
The world insists we are a statistic, a birth certificate becoming a death certificate destined to be no more than the circumstances we were born into or the times we live in. This is to completely ignore our Divine Nature which once recognized raises us up over our human limitations no matter what they. The beauty of this is we need no one’s permission just a willingness to live our bigger life.
As a junior loan officer in the south I was up against some rather difficult odds. My loans would be low on the totem pole and didn’t receive the attention some of the other more senior loan officer’s loans received. My human nature would be to get angry or feel cheated by this. But I followed Emerson’s suggestion and tapped into the “Divine Circuits” and got the job done.
When I was told that one of my loans was stuck and most likely would be denied or turned down I tried not to get my bloated nothingness all stirred up. Instead I would come into the office over the weekend and turn on the lights in an open area and take the loan file and spread it all over the floor. I would say to myself, something in me knows how to get this file put together in such a fashion to get it approved. I would go through the papers and keep saying to myself something in me knows.
Invariably I would come across some piece of paper, some phone number or some information that would assist me in putting the file as an approvable loan. I would re-submit and not say a word about it and the loan would get approved. My ego or my bloated nothingness would want to say why don’t you idiots see this stuff but I knew that was using fuel I needed to get to my destination.
Emerson gives me hope that I am not stuck in my human nature. I do not have to become a statistic in the world but rather can use the fuel of the “Divine Nature” that we all have to move forward. I think this message has been forgotten. It is information for those seeking a better way to build a better mousetrap.
To build a better mousetrap or life we must believe we can. We must believe something “in” us knows how to do this. All the information, resources, and inspiration necessary to do this can be found in our Divine Nature which we processed at birth. Trying to convince the world of our worthiness is an exhausting, futile job. Just know, “something in me knows” this truth was confirmed by a small horse with skinny legs.
Many years ago I was involved in owning a couple of harness racehorses. They did not do well and the money I spent was lost. It was a very frustrating experience. I kept thinking I wonder what I did wrong. I bought tested, fast horse and gave them a good driver and trainer, but it was almost as though I was asking the Universe why didn’t they do well. I knew I could be angry and frustrated or learn something. I asked, what is it I need to learn here. Soon my answer came.
The track where my horse raced was in Chicago. I head that there was going to be the race of the century. There was a small female horse by the name of “silk stockings” and she was winning races all over the country. She wasn’t suppose to win as she didn’t have the frame or big legs that many of the male horse had. She was a very quiet horse that required little equipment during the race like blinders, and other racing para. that is often required to keep the horse focused on moving forward in a straight line. She seemed to breeze right through to the winner’s circle without all the equipment or attention that so many of the other horses need.
When I heard about this horse I wanted to go see her. She was up against one of the fastest large male horse in the country. It seemed almost impossible that she would beat this strong, fast, horse. I went in the club part of the track which has a restaurant and served more of the professional gamblers and horse owners. The track was packed with a capacity crowd everyone it seemed wanted to see this horse. Out she came. The crowd went wild. Her opponent was a shiny, snorting, nervous big male horse. When the gun was fired and the horse began to run the crowd went quiet. It was an exciting, amazing race.
As she crossed the finish line winning the race it was like a cathedral. The waiters stop banging dishes, the crowd went quiet, tickets sellers paused at the machines. There was an off stillness in a place that was never still Why? Because we were witnessing something our souls already know. Winning is an inside job.
The history of silk stockings explained this truth. The horse was purchased as a long bet by a farm in New Jersey that housed autistic children. They had tried many things to raise money to keep the farm operating but nothing seemed to work. This great place was in danger of closing. They purchased this horse as a long shot to make a few bucks for the farms and these kids.
Part of her care and grooming was volunteered by the kids. She was washed, groomed, climbed on, pulled, pushed and loved by these children. In this process the horse lost all fear and became very calm as you might imagine. She got very used to small hands cleaning her ears, brushing her hair and pulling her tail. These kids were her training teachers and they were teaching her she was loved and hugged, and tugged everyday on that farm. Love and fear cannot stay in the same place, one has to go.
Running a race then became a minor event in spite of the noise, the lights, the announcer shouting over the mic system. I learned something the night I watched the race. Something “in” that horse made her bigger, faster and stronger that anything outside of her. She moved to a place that all the equipment in the world can’t get you to if you are ion a state of fear.
I left that race knowing if I were ever going to win any race in my life I would have to know what Silk Stocking knew. Life is an inside job. The Emerson philosophy is a guide and an inspiration on how this works for us, again by working through us not to us. Better mousetraps are built with inspiration and with a Divine nudge, It is a hope I think of often in a world that insists we need all the equipment we can get our hands on if we are to be happy let alone succeed.
Something in me knows.
Ok, we are on our way. The first belief has us knowing we have what it takes. The second belief has us building a better future by building a better self in the here and now. And this quote gives us the fuel to get off the ground. I was told 80% of the fuel is used with a rocket for take off. It’s a principle. Lift off takes serious energy. The above quote gives us the direction to use our fuel wisely not only for take off but have enough left to make it to our destination.
To correctly understand “Divine Circuits” is to open the door and access the genius RWE often refers to in his writing. To know there is a power for good and we can use it is a very powerful concept. We all have “Divine Circuits” or a divine connection. It is not something reserved for the talented, holy or gifted. It’s just that these people know how to tap into this power through their recognition and become the conduits for this divine flow. Mozart said he composed music that he heard in the stillness of his mind. He moved his little story out of the way to allow the divine flow of heavenly music express through him.
Others who used this power and have referred to it are Michelangelo, Thomas Edison, Newton, Einstein, Beethoven, and scores of others. What we need to know is we are wired the same as they are. We are centers of this life force that is waiting to take off once we give it the “go” signal. What is that signal? It’s the removal of our little stories. The small me is in the way.. Our bloated nothingness is our excuses.
As a society we are taught to turn to outer resources for our good, for our fuel if you will. We are taught inner resources are for the ordained, the saintly, the holy, the gifted and just plain lucky. I could never include myself in those groups. I did not know I was wired just like them, I had to get my “nothingness” out of the way or I would be living my excuses for failure the rest of my life. I would deny the great truth which is, “something in me knows”.
Emerson’s writings so beautifully explain our nature. We all have a divine nature and a human nature. Neither one is any better than the other. However, if we are to access our Divine Nature or Divine circuits we must understand this power and our availability to access it. As Emerson states ”I shapes my fortunes, as it seems to me, not at all.” There is something bigger in us that shapes our fortune, to recognize this is genius to ignore it to be bloated by our human nature. To be bloated is to block our divine potential. As Emerson puts it, we are very apt to over-rate the importance of our actions or another way “There are voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter the world.
The world insists we are a statistic, a birth certificate becoming a death certificate destined to be no more than the circumstances we were born into or the times we live in. This is to completely ignore our Divine Nature which once recognized raises us up over our human limitations no matter what they. The beauty of this is we need no one’s permission just a willingness to live our bigger life.
As a junior loan officer in the south I was up against some rather difficult odds. My loans would be low on the totem pole and didn’t receive the attention some of the other more senior loan officer’s loans received. My human nature would be to get angry or feel cheated by this. But I followed Emerson’s suggestion and tapped into the “Divine Circuits” and got the job done.
When I was told that one of my loans was stuck and most likely would be denied or turned down I tried not to get my bloated nothingness all stirred up. Instead I would come into the office over the weekend and turn on the lights in an open area and take the loan file and spread it all over the floor. I would say to myself, something in me knows how to get this file put together in such a fashion to get it approved. I would go through the papers and keep saying to myself something in me knows.
Invariably I would come across some piece of paper, some phone number or some information that would assist me in putting the file as an approvable loan. I would re-submit and not say a word about it and the loan would get approved. My ego or my bloated nothingness would want to say why don’t you idiots see this stuff but I knew that was using fuel I needed to get to my destination.
Emerson gives me hope that I am not stuck in my human nature. I do not have to become a statistic in the world but rather can use the fuel of the “Divine Nature” that we all have to move forward. I think this message has been forgotten. It is information for those seeking a better way to build a better mousetrap.
To build a better mousetrap or life we must believe we can. We must believe something “in” us knows how to do this. All the information, resources, and inspiration necessary to do this can be found in our Divine Nature which we processed at birth. Trying to convince the world of our worthiness is an exhausting, futile job. Just know, “something in me knows” this truth was confirmed by a small horse with skinny legs.
Many years ago I was involved in owning a couple of harness racehorses. They did not do well and the money I spent was lost. It was a very frustrating experience. I kept thinking I wonder what I did wrong. I bought tested, fast horse and gave them a good driver and trainer, but it was almost as though I was asking the Universe why didn’t they do well. I knew I could be angry and frustrated or learn something. I asked, what is it I need to learn here. Soon my answer came.
The track where my horse raced was in Chicago. I head that there was going to be the race of the century. There was a small female horse by the name of “silk stockings” and she was winning races all over the country. She wasn’t suppose to win as she didn’t have the frame or big legs that many of the male horse had. She was a very quiet horse that required little equipment during the race like blinders, and other racing para. that is often required to keep the horse focused on moving forward in a straight line. She seemed to breeze right through to the winner’s circle without all the equipment or attention that so many of the other horses need.
When I heard about this horse I wanted to go see her. She was up against one of the fastest large male horse in the country. It seemed almost impossible that she would beat this strong, fast, horse. I went in the club part of the track which has a restaurant and served more of the professional gamblers and horse owners. The track was packed with a capacity crowd everyone it seemed wanted to see this horse. Out she came. The crowd went wild. Her opponent was a shiny, snorting, nervous big male horse. When the gun was fired and the horse began to run the crowd went quiet. It was an exciting, amazing race.
As she crossed the finish line winning the race it was like a cathedral. The waiters stop banging dishes, the crowd went quiet, tickets sellers paused at the machines. There was an off stillness in a place that was never still Why? Because we were witnessing something our souls already know. Winning is an inside job.
The history of silk stockings explained this truth. The horse was purchased as a long bet by a farm in New Jersey that housed autistic children. They had tried many things to raise money to keep the farm operating but nothing seemed to work. This great place was in danger of closing. They purchased this horse as a long shot to make a few bucks for the farms and these kids.
Part of her care and grooming was volunteered by the kids. She was washed, groomed, climbed on, pulled, pushed and loved by these children. In this process the horse lost all fear and became very calm as you might imagine. She got very used to small hands cleaning her ears, brushing her hair and pulling her tail. These kids were her training teachers and they were teaching her she was loved and hugged, and tugged everyday on that farm. Love and fear cannot stay in the same place, one has to go.
Running a race then became a minor event in spite of the noise, the lights, the announcer shouting over the mic system. I learned something the night I watched the race. Something “in” that horse made her bigger, faster and stronger that anything outside of her. She moved to a place that all the equipment in the world can’t get you to if you are ion a state of fear.
I left that race knowing if I were ever going to win any race in my life I would have to know what Silk Stocking knew. Life is an inside job. The Emerson philosophy is a guide and an inspiration on how this works for us, again by working through us not to us. Better mousetraps are built with inspiration and with a Divine nudge, It is a hope I think of often in a world that insists we need all the equipment we can get our hands on if we are to be happy let alone succeed.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Belief Two: Build a better mousetrap...
“Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson
The idea of a better mousetrap or a better anything appeals to most of us. Who doesn’t want something better than they already have? It is human nature to improve and make better. It’s in our D.N.A. Thus it follows, the path to success is to offer something better to our clients and customers. It is something that makes their lives better, something of value and something authentic.
With Ralph Waldo Emerson as my partner I am reminded that the “process” of improvement is as important as the improvement itself. In other words the “how” is as important as the “what”. Knowing this leaves very clear directions, in order to build a better mousetrap the builder must improve first and be a better “builder”. Thus if things are gong to improve it must start with me. I have to be a better mousetrap builder if there is ever to be a better mousetrap. A concept we seem to have lost as a culture at times, look at some of our leading industries.
Emerson states this idea with these words. “A man contains all that is needful to his government within himself. He is made a law unto himself. All real good or evil that can befall him must come from himself. I must believe in the possibility of improvement before I find it in my life. Not always easy in a world of naysayers and smallness. There is tremendous power to be found in this belief. It is the model of any of the great achievers of our time. Models include, Bill Gates, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, Jonas Sauk, Albert Einstein etc., etc. etc.
This tremendous power is found in moving from a victim to a creator. RWE calls it the government within ourselves. Not being subject to life like a ball being bounce around but rather taking the cards we are dealt and playing a winning hand.
At Christmas time my mother use to make butter cookies. She would put the soft dough in a cookie press and push the dough through a funnel shaped end. Screwed on the end was a particular shape. The shapes were Christmas trees, reindeer, stars, and other symbols of the season. I think of that press often and remember if I want a different shaped cookie I have to change the insert at the end of the cookie press. This is a simple idea but a powerful one. If you don’t like the shape of something it’s up to us to change the insert.
I love the quote from RWE “Life is a river whose source is unseen”. Life keeps coming while we are alive. No situation is forever, no person, place or thing can keep us in a hold position forever. Life like a river keeps flowing. Even if we are dammed up in any situation the force of life breaks through without exception. Life is like the dough in the cookie press or water in the river it does not resist and will go into the shape of the container. We are the containers.
RWE puts it this way. “Life is a river whose source is unseen. Life keeps coming to us. Sometimes we stop looking because we don’t like the shape of it. Change the end of the insert, you attitude, because the dough is the dough, life is life. Shape it the way you want. This belief will enhance you life beyond your dreams.
A teacher of mine once said “Life does not happen to do you it happens through you and is for you.” Very strong words. Once fully understood and accepted this belief fuels the force behind any improvement in our lives.
What often looks like a negative situation in our lives can be the crack that lets the light in. As RWE says, “There is a crack in everything God made.” I live this thought because it teaches us life is not perfect. If we seek perfection on the outside we will live a frustrated, unhappy life. How often has it happened what seems as an unhappy event or loss grows us into whole, strong, compassionate, willing humans that live fully?
I once heard that Persian rug weavers intentionally make a small mistake in the hand weaving of their rugs, that is only visible to the trained eye, to remind themselves that only God or the Universe is perfect not us.
In my mid 30’s I was living in the Midwest. My world as I knew it was crumbling. The economy was deteriorating. I had financial and legal problems. I was forced to seek another job and an offer came from Atlanta, Georgia. I never thought I would live or work there. It was one the best things that ever happened to me. Had I not been under such pressure I would never had accepted it. It was a knot in my carpet that added to the rich texture of my life.
We cannot improve anything in our lives until we improve ourselves. The world will beat a path our door when we are better “mousetrap builders” The best way to improve our mousetrap building skills is to integrate the belief that life does not happen to us but through us and is for us. This belief signals all of the life about our ability to build a better mousetrap.
“Every wall is a door” is one of my favorite Emerson quotes as it summarizes this chapter on belief. Life will treat you how you believe it will treat you. It can’t happen any other way. When the “knots” in your rug show up as problems, money shortage, job loss, divorce, sickness or injury see a door and one will appear. It can’t work any other way.
Once I believed, “I have what it takes” and I can make it better” doors began to open. The next step was to walk through the door to create a new experience of building better mousetraps or in my case, building better business and personal relationships, resulting in building a better consciousness for myself resulting in a better life. This building process involves our “internal mousetrap” which we all have.
We have all been in a room full of people and then someone in particular enters the room and the atmosphere changes. It can change either for better or worse. If it is for better then the room relaxes and people smile more and anticipate a better experience. If it is for worse then shoulders tighten, volume in the room drops, and anxiety increases. What is it this person brings into a room? It is invisible but powerful. It is their consciousness. It is who they really are. It is their internal mousetrap. As Emerson has stated what we are “thunders”. It can’t be hidden, even under the most carefully designed social veneer.
Not too long ago I took a class in NYC with the Dali Lama. When he came in the room I became emotional. I felt his presence very strongly even though I didn’t have any personal contact or history with him. I felt this presence even though I was in the last row of a big theater and did not have a deep knowledge or what he taught or stood for. His presence filled the room. With his entrance into the room, a simple classroom becomes a cathedral or a sacred place.
We all have a consciousness. It is our inner mousetrap. It is up to us to build a better one as we go through life. It is a step by step, feeling by feeling or a thought by thought process. You are building your mousetrap right now as you read this page. We have what it takes to make it better. The process of improving what we have is all of our personal responsibility resulting in the fulfillment of our destiny or avoiding it. The choice is ours.
For many years I thought it was my personal responsibility to save the world. I realize now by building a better mousetrap with each thought and action everyday is making my mousetrap or consciousness either better or worse. We can light up the world one room at a time. I can’t save the world but I can make my world a better place. I have the same amount of life as the Dali Lama has. I have the same amount of life as the Budda had. I have the same amount of life as Jesus had it’s how it’s used that makes the difference.It is up to me to use my thinking, feeling nature in a directions that results in having this better mousetrap. The best way to solve the problems of the world is not to be one of them.
The great thinkers, teachers and inventors, knew how to effectively use this law.
Some teachers call this mousetrap idea the law of attraction. We attract into our lives what we think about all day long. Our feelings are very powerful, our thinking leads us to feel a certain way. In one of Emerson quotes he say “We become” what we think about all day long. This is a very powerful idea which most people resist. It is easier to blame or be a victim than to stake our claim in life. Real power is ours to use when we recognize we have it. I do not say real force but real power. Force is an outside concept but power is an internal idea.
In sales I use this idea all the time. If I build a consciousness of service I will always have customers as the world seeks better service in all areas. If I try to force myself on others as a loud pushy salesperson I will frustrate myself and them. I often have to get myself back on track to remember it is the consciousness of better service I want to offer. It is a consciousness of appreciation I want to offer. It is a consciousness of customer care I want to build. The rest happens as we set the cause of better business in motion.
One of the things I noticed in my sales career is that the minute I started to think about how much I was going to make on a particular deal, the transaction started to get difficult. I would quickly get back on track and remember I was there for service, to assist and to build a relationship. This focus goes to work immediately to remedy the situation.
I love the idea of people beating their way to our doors when we build this better mousetrap. Emerson goes on to say that what we “are” speaks so loudly that others can’t hear what you are saying. I am in sales and this struck a real chord with me. It was important to offer a good and fairly priced product but it was up to me to build this better mousetrap with ongoing thoughts and feelings of life working for me by working through me. To make sure my behavior matches my philosophy. I had to remove the victim idea out of my thinking that life happens “to” me and not through me. This idea, is one of the most limiting ideas we can have. To view life as a victim is to deny we have any power in our lives. It is saying,”what’s the use?” I have no power to build anything better. I am stuck with this mousetrap because I’m Irish or Black or Gay or Catholic or any other limiting definition. Re-define yourself and you re-shape your life. Or as Gandi says it, “we must become the change we want to see”. To become the better mousetrap is to insure catching the things we want in life.
I moved to Atlanta many years ago. At times, it was difficult to make sales calls in this culture. I felt as though I was a Yankee trying to get people to accept me. I was having a hard time and sales were slow. I was sitting on the floor of my aerobic class and thinking about home and feeling bad and feeling sorry for myself. In that moment I decided to try something different. I told myself from that moment on I would stop criticizing southern people and start finding good things and tuck that away in my mind. I looked around the room and sure enough my first opportunity showed up. There was a very pretty young lady over dressed for this aerobic class. She had a color co-ordinated outfit that fit perfectly. Not one hair on her head was out of place. Her make-up was perfect. She even had a single strand of pearls on. She looked like she was going to the opera not a sweaty workout. My first though jumped to how stupid and southern of her to look that way. I then thought do I want to keep my status as an outsider or be part of this wonderful, exciting, growing part of the world. I had to build a better mousetrap. I then started to re-think how she looked. I decided it was great to look at someone so well groomed and I would see someone well dressed in class even if the rest of us looked like slobs. This small mousetrap repair would lead to a business overhaul. It is deliberately using the law of attraction. It really changed my experience doing business in Atlanta. And by the way, she and I became friends in class and I really enjoyed knowing her.
We tend to emphasize the negative things in life more than the good things. I use a quote from the writings of Ernest Homes that what we are seeking is seeking us. So what am I seeking? It is reasonably safe to say that we think about what we are seeking. We like to think that our consciousness will certainly know that we do not want negativity in our lives. This isn’t true. Our consciousness is the receiver not the decider. It is like a radio tower sending out messages to the Universe. Again, life happens through us and goes out to operate for us. It is up to us to give our ongoing thinking, feeling nature the best we can come up with in any situation. To send out messages that we are building a better mousetrap and we need the raw material to do so. The raw material of opportunities, of being in the right place at the right time, of meeting the right people under the right circumstances this is building a better mousetrap with the right raw material. This is the law of attraction in action.
In building a better mousetrap the real power lies in the decision of where we put our attention. Where do we focus this laser power we have? In business I keep away from too much knowledge of my competitors. I focus on what I can do not on trying to beat their deal or show I am better. I just state my case. I know who I am. If I believe I will do my best and that I am honest my internal mousetrap will catch what I am after. I really need to focus on my mousetrap. The world beats a path to the door of the one who KNOWS IN THEIR HEART, he or she is honest and will do their best. That is building a better mousetrap.
The beauty of this knowledge lies in the fact that as we keep to this truth we build a better life. This better life may even involve leaving what we are presently doing and move on to something better for us. I was told if you want to get out of something then really get into it. At first it didn’t make sense but now it does.
The beauty of this belief is we are no longer dependant on any particular, person, place or thing for our good. When I am going after business and I don’t get it, I have a choice either to be a victim and say “why me?” or what is the good in this situation that I am not seeing? If I made an obvious mistake, I learn from it and move on. The human tendency is to hang on to that experience and feel bad and dwell on it thus putting rejection and loss into our mousetrap consciousness thus “catching” more of the same experiences.
It is very simple? It is not very easy? Simply put, when Mother Teresa was asked why she didn’t attend an anti-war rally and she answered, she would only go to a peace rally as she was against nothing and was for peace. Do we know what we’re against better than we know what we are for.
The beauty of this is I have the power to create my own economy. I build a better mousetrap with the belief that each positive action I take with the intention of good service will result in good for me. I do not look to any particular person, place or thing for that good. I know I will attract into my life that which I know is true for me. Of course there are ups and downs in any business. The idea is not to live in the valleys or the peaks but to live in your beliefs of knowing your personal economy is always at work for you as long as you are working it with building that better mousetrap.
One of the things that originally confused me in the writings of Emerson was him insisting we pay our debts. That Idea seemed so basic and a little preachy to me. Pay your debts. I think I now understand the idea. I think he is talking about giving back to the world what we have been given. In other words we all have something to offer. Even if it is something as simple as smiling at someone on an elevator.
We all have a unique gift. Our work situation offers us the opportunity to give that gift. If we look at our work situation in that light it becomes much easier to get through the day. For years I felt I had to do a particular thing or my gifts were not being used. The truth is no matter what situation we are in we have the opportunity to express those gifts, even if it is in a small way. The idea is to give the gifts not matter what the circumstances and we are thus creating a path to have these gifts recognized and used in a larger way. The perfectionist in all of us insist that if it’s not perfect we can’t do it.
In writing this booklet my ego insists I write a New York Seller’s list best seller or don’t do it. The truth is if I want to build a better mousetrap for myself I have to give what I’ve got at this time. Working in a full time sales position and leading a demanding life requires much time. I give this writing what I’ve got when I can give it. It’s a rather free feeling to know I am giving my gift or sharing the Emerson Truths and it doesn’t have to be a big deal. It’s just a gift. It’s what I am attracted to and enjoy knowing and sharing. It’s the same for all of us. The world will beat a path to our doors as we work on what we can offer at a given time without the perfection. Just keep giving what you’ve got. Do the best you can do in each situation in each situation is the Emerson Philosophy.
The quote say build a “better” mousetrap not the best one in the world and beat all other mousetraps. We are enough just as we are.
The idea of a better mousetrap or a better anything appeals to most of us. Who doesn’t want something better than they already have? It is human nature to improve and make better. It’s in our D.N.A. Thus it follows, the path to success is to offer something better to our clients and customers. It is something that makes their lives better, something of value and something authentic.
With Ralph Waldo Emerson as my partner I am reminded that the “process” of improvement is as important as the improvement itself. In other words the “how” is as important as the “what”. Knowing this leaves very clear directions, in order to build a better mousetrap the builder must improve first and be a better “builder”. Thus if things are gong to improve it must start with me. I have to be a better mousetrap builder if there is ever to be a better mousetrap. A concept we seem to have lost as a culture at times, look at some of our leading industries.
Emerson states this idea with these words. “A man contains all that is needful to his government within himself. He is made a law unto himself. All real good or evil that can befall him must come from himself. I must believe in the possibility of improvement before I find it in my life. Not always easy in a world of naysayers and smallness. There is tremendous power to be found in this belief. It is the model of any of the great achievers of our time. Models include, Bill Gates, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, Jonas Sauk, Albert Einstein etc., etc. etc.
This tremendous power is found in moving from a victim to a creator. RWE calls it the government within ourselves. Not being subject to life like a ball being bounce around but rather taking the cards we are dealt and playing a winning hand.
At Christmas time my mother use to make butter cookies. She would put the soft dough in a cookie press and push the dough through a funnel shaped end. Screwed on the end was a particular shape. The shapes were Christmas trees, reindeer, stars, and other symbols of the season. I think of that press often and remember if I want a different shaped cookie I have to change the insert at the end of the cookie press. This is a simple idea but a powerful one. If you don’t like the shape of something it’s up to us to change the insert.
I love the quote from RWE “Life is a river whose source is unseen”. Life keeps coming while we are alive. No situation is forever, no person, place or thing can keep us in a hold position forever. Life like a river keeps flowing. Even if we are dammed up in any situation the force of life breaks through without exception. Life is like the dough in the cookie press or water in the river it does not resist and will go into the shape of the container. We are the containers.
RWE puts it this way. “Life is a river whose source is unseen. Life keeps coming to us. Sometimes we stop looking because we don’t like the shape of it. Change the end of the insert, you attitude, because the dough is the dough, life is life. Shape it the way you want. This belief will enhance you life beyond your dreams.
A teacher of mine once said “Life does not happen to do you it happens through you and is for you.” Very strong words. Once fully understood and accepted this belief fuels the force behind any improvement in our lives.
What often looks like a negative situation in our lives can be the crack that lets the light in. As RWE says, “There is a crack in everything God made.” I live this thought because it teaches us life is not perfect. If we seek perfection on the outside we will live a frustrated, unhappy life. How often has it happened what seems as an unhappy event or loss grows us into whole, strong, compassionate, willing humans that live fully?
I once heard that Persian rug weavers intentionally make a small mistake in the hand weaving of their rugs, that is only visible to the trained eye, to remind themselves that only God or the Universe is perfect not us.
In my mid 30’s I was living in the Midwest. My world as I knew it was crumbling. The economy was deteriorating. I had financial and legal problems. I was forced to seek another job and an offer came from Atlanta, Georgia. I never thought I would live or work there. It was one the best things that ever happened to me. Had I not been under such pressure I would never had accepted it. It was a knot in my carpet that added to the rich texture of my life.
We cannot improve anything in our lives until we improve ourselves. The world will beat a path our door when we are better “mousetrap builders” The best way to improve our mousetrap building skills is to integrate the belief that life does not happen to us but through us and is for us. This belief signals all of the life about our ability to build a better mousetrap.
“Every wall is a door” is one of my favorite Emerson quotes as it summarizes this chapter on belief. Life will treat you how you believe it will treat you. It can’t happen any other way. When the “knots” in your rug show up as problems, money shortage, job loss, divorce, sickness or injury see a door and one will appear. It can’t work any other way.
Once I believed, “I have what it takes” and I can make it better” doors began to open. The next step was to walk through the door to create a new experience of building better mousetraps or in my case, building better business and personal relationships, resulting in building a better consciousness for myself resulting in a better life. This building process involves our “internal mousetrap” which we all have.
We have all been in a room full of people and then someone in particular enters the room and the atmosphere changes. It can change either for better or worse. If it is for better then the room relaxes and people smile more and anticipate a better experience. If it is for worse then shoulders tighten, volume in the room drops, and anxiety increases. What is it this person brings into a room? It is invisible but powerful. It is their consciousness. It is who they really are. It is their internal mousetrap. As Emerson has stated what we are “thunders”. It can’t be hidden, even under the most carefully designed social veneer.
Not too long ago I took a class in NYC with the Dali Lama. When he came in the room I became emotional. I felt his presence very strongly even though I didn’t have any personal contact or history with him. I felt this presence even though I was in the last row of a big theater and did not have a deep knowledge or what he taught or stood for. His presence filled the room. With his entrance into the room, a simple classroom becomes a cathedral or a sacred place.
We all have a consciousness. It is our inner mousetrap. It is up to us to build a better one as we go through life. It is a step by step, feeling by feeling or a thought by thought process. You are building your mousetrap right now as you read this page. We have what it takes to make it better. The process of improving what we have is all of our personal responsibility resulting in the fulfillment of our destiny or avoiding it. The choice is ours.
For many years I thought it was my personal responsibility to save the world. I realize now by building a better mousetrap with each thought and action everyday is making my mousetrap or consciousness either better or worse. We can light up the world one room at a time. I can’t save the world but I can make my world a better place. I have the same amount of life as the Dali Lama has. I have the same amount of life as the Budda had. I have the same amount of life as Jesus had it’s how it’s used that makes the difference.It is up to me to use my thinking, feeling nature in a directions that results in having this better mousetrap. The best way to solve the problems of the world is not to be one of them.
The great thinkers, teachers and inventors, knew how to effectively use this law.
Some teachers call this mousetrap idea the law of attraction. We attract into our lives what we think about all day long. Our feelings are very powerful, our thinking leads us to feel a certain way. In one of Emerson quotes he say “We become” what we think about all day long. This is a very powerful idea which most people resist. It is easier to blame or be a victim than to stake our claim in life. Real power is ours to use when we recognize we have it. I do not say real force but real power. Force is an outside concept but power is an internal idea.
In sales I use this idea all the time. If I build a consciousness of service I will always have customers as the world seeks better service in all areas. If I try to force myself on others as a loud pushy salesperson I will frustrate myself and them. I often have to get myself back on track to remember it is the consciousness of better service I want to offer. It is a consciousness of appreciation I want to offer. It is a consciousness of customer care I want to build. The rest happens as we set the cause of better business in motion.
One of the things I noticed in my sales career is that the minute I started to think about how much I was going to make on a particular deal, the transaction started to get difficult. I would quickly get back on track and remember I was there for service, to assist and to build a relationship. This focus goes to work immediately to remedy the situation.
I love the idea of people beating their way to our doors when we build this better mousetrap. Emerson goes on to say that what we “are” speaks so loudly that others can’t hear what you are saying. I am in sales and this struck a real chord with me. It was important to offer a good and fairly priced product but it was up to me to build this better mousetrap with ongoing thoughts and feelings of life working for me by working through me. To make sure my behavior matches my philosophy. I had to remove the victim idea out of my thinking that life happens “to” me and not through me. This idea, is one of the most limiting ideas we can have. To view life as a victim is to deny we have any power in our lives. It is saying,”what’s the use?” I have no power to build anything better. I am stuck with this mousetrap because I’m Irish or Black or Gay or Catholic or any other limiting definition. Re-define yourself and you re-shape your life. Or as Gandi says it, “we must become the change we want to see”. To become the better mousetrap is to insure catching the things we want in life.
I moved to Atlanta many years ago. At times, it was difficult to make sales calls in this culture. I felt as though I was a Yankee trying to get people to accept me. I was having a hard time and sales were slow. I was sitting on the floor of my aerobic class and thinking about home and feeling bad and feeling sorry for myself. In that moment I decided to try something different. I told myself from that moment on I would stop criticizing southern people and start finding good things and tuck that away in my mind. I looked around the room and sure enough my first opportunity showed up. There was a very pretty young lady over dressed for this aerobic class. She had a color co-ordinated outfit that fit perfectly. Not one hair on her head was out of place. Her make-up was perfect. She even had a single strand of pearls on. She looked like she was going to the opera not a sweaty workout. My first though jumped to how stupid and southern of her to look that way. I then thought do I want to keep my status as an outsider or be part of this wonderful, exciting, growing part of the world. I had to build a better mousetrap. I then started to re-think how she looked. I decided it was great to look at someone so well groomed and I would see someone well dressed in class even if the rest of us looked like slobs. This small mousetrap repair would lead to a business overhaul. It is deliberately using the law of attraction. It really changed my experience doing business in Atlanta. And by the way, she and I became friends in class and I really enjoyed knowing her.
We tend to emphasize the negative things in life more than the good things. I use a quote from the writings of Ernest Homes that what we are seeking is seeking us. So what am I seeking? It is reasonably safe to say that we think about what we are seeking. We like to think that our consciousness will certainly know that we do not want negativity in our lives. This isn’t true. Our consciousness is the receiver not the decider. It is like a radio tower sending out messages to the Universe. Again, life happens through us and goes out to operate for us. It is up to us to give our ongoing thinking, feeling nature the best we can come up with in any situation. To send out messages that we are building a better mousetrap and we need the raw material to do so. The raw material of opportunities, of being in the right place at the right time, of meeting the right people under the right circumstances this is building a better mousetrap with the right raw material. This is the law of attraction in action.
In building a better mousetrap the real power lies in the decision of where we put our attention. Where do we focus this laser power we have? In business I keep away from too much knowledge of my competitors. I focus on what I can do not on trying to beat their deal or show I am better. I just state my case. I know who I am. If I believe I will do my best and that I am honest my internal mousetrap will catch what I am after. I really need to focus on my mousetrap. The world beats a path to the door of the one who KNOWS IN THEIR HEART, he or she is honest and will do their best. That is building a better mousetrap.
The beauty of this knowledge lies in the fact that as we keep to this truth we build a better life. This better life may even involve leaving what we are presently doing and move on to something better for us. I was told if you want to get out of something then really get into it. At first it didn’t make sense but now it does.
The beauty of this belief is we are no longer dependant on any particular, person, place or thing for our good. When I am going after business and I don’t get it, I have a choice either to be a victim and say “why me?” or what is the good in this situation that I am not seeing? If I made an obvious mistake, I learn from it and move on. The human tendency is to hang on to that experience and feel bad and dwell on it thus putting rejection and loss into our mousetrap consciousness thus “catching” more of the same experiences.
It is very simple? It is not very easy? Simply put, when Mother Teresa was asked why she didn’t attend an anti-war rally and she answered, she would only go to a peace rally as she was against nothing and was for peace. Do we know what we’re against better than we know what we are for.
The beauty of this is I have the power to create my own economy. I build a better mousetrap with the belief that each positive action I take with the intention of good service will result in good for me. I do not look to any particular person, place or thing for that good. I know I will attract into my life that which I know is true for me. Of course there are ups and downs in any business. The idea is not to live in the valleys or the peaks but to live in your beliefs of knowing your personal economy is always at work for you as long as you are working it with building that better mousetrap.
One of the things that originally confused me in the writings of Emerson was him insisting we pay our debts. That Idea seemed so basic and a little preachy to me. Pay your debts. I think I now understand the idea. I think he is talking about giving back to the world what we have been given. In other words we all have something to offer. Even if it is something as simple as smiling at someone on an elevator.
We all have a unique gift. Our work situation offers us the opportunity to give that gift. If we look at our work situation in that light it becomes much easier to get through the day. For years I felt I had to do a particular thing or my gifts were not being used. The truth is no matter what situation we are in we have the opportunity to express those gifts, even if it is in a small way. The idea is to give the gifts not matter what the circumstances and we are thus creating a path to have these gifts recognized and used in a larger way. The perfectionist in all of us insist that if it’s not perfect we can’t do it.
In writing this booklet my ego insists I write a New York Seller’s list best seller or don’t do it. The truth is if I want to build a better mousetrap for myself I have to give what I’ve got at this time. Working in a full time sales position and leading a demanding life requires much time. I give this writing what I’ve got when I can give it. It’s a rather free feeling to know I am giving my gift or sharing the Emerson Truths and it doesn’t have to be a big deal. It’s just a gift. It’s what I am attracted to and enjoy knowing and sharing. It’s the same for all of us. The world will beat a path to our doors as we work on what we can offer at a given time without the perfection. Just keep giving what you’ve got. Do the best you can do in each situation in each situation is the Emerson Philosophy.
The quote say build a “better” mousetrap not the best one in the world and beat all other mousetraps. We are enough just as we are.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Belief 1: Believe in Yourself!
"To believe in your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your heart
is true for all mankind-that is genius." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
In the mid 80’s in a crowded classroom at the women’s club in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, I received some information that would change my life forever. I knew as I sat there that this information would greatly improve my life and believe me there was room for improvement at all levels. I was enrolled in a Ralph Waldo Emerson Philosophy class.
What I learned in this class would stay with me for the rest of my life. In the years that followed no matter what occupation I was in, where I was living or what the economy was like I prospered with this philosophy. In this class I decided to make Ralph Waldo Emerson my business partner. In order to by his business partner I had to follow his principles and apply them to the way I would do my business. It worked.
Principles are reliable unlike opinions or trends. Principles are not subject to person, place or thing. This means no matter what the economy was like or where I was, I could prosper. I did not have to be born to a certain family or live in a certain area or belong to a certain church or country club. Principles are valid and do not require membership or approval as he refers to it, I did not bend down to societies or badges.
The first principle of belief I learned in my class was to “believe in yourself”. As the above quote suggests, believe in your own thought. I didn’t know how to do this or even begin. However, the idea of this was very exciting to me. I could believe in myself. I didn’t have to take any class or join any club or get anyone’s approval to believe in myself. The real value of this idea was the fact that I already had what it takes to do this.
I loved the idea that I had what it takes. Much of my life had been spent in chasing for the right connections, the right approvals, the things that I thought were missing in order to succeed. The realization that I had what it takes made me sit up in my chair and pay attention. I was on a new journey, a new direction that would move me from struggle to success. How I would do this is found in this Emerson quote, ”Trust thyself, every heart vibrates to that string”.
The quote of trusting yourself can be found in the life of every successful artist, inventor, teacher, or business person. In my life I was not taught to trust my heart but actually the opposite. I was taught the opposite not to harm or limit me but to protect me. The general message we receive in our culture is “conform” and you will be accepted and you will reap the controlled benefits of conformity. This is the game is had learned well but had done very poorly with as I was always wanting something that I believed I didn’t have and thus my neediness was a self-fulfilling belief.
The catch in life that Emerson teaches is you can’t keep what is not yours. To conform merely for the rewards of conformity puts you on a collision course with life. Be mindful please as I am not saying ALL conformity is wrong and every original thought we have is right. I am suggesting that believing FIRST in your original, unfiltered, thought has value and needs to be examined. In my business career some of the best ideas I had were thins that seemed to come out of left field. Some of the best marketing concepts were thoughts taken to work and passed by others that I admired and felt appreciated original thoughts. Tweaking and improving these ideas got great results.
How many times have you said to yourself, “I should have gone with my first thought”? We 2nd guess ourselves in a culture that demands conformity. Emerson teaches that “Imitation is suicide” meaning what we produce from a pure, spot within ourselves has value. The beauty is we already have what it takes to do this. Trying to imitate others or comparing myself to my competitors weakens my intention. Staying with the belief that I have what it takes moves me up the road.
I have found the best way to sell anything, if it’s property, merchandise, or ideas, is to first believe in the value yourself. If I believe that I am giving the best service along with the best possible price then I am standing on solid ground and come across that way.
The genius Emerson refers to has us doing the right thing at the right time. What a wonderful way to live. When we are in tune to this genius we pick up the phone and call the right person at the right time and get results.
When I first started to apply this principle to my selling career it was in the mortgage business in Atlanta, Georgia. I had just moved there didn’t know anybody and had to rely on cold calls for making contacts, this was very difficult as I had no connections. I was a Yankee in a Southern City.
Daily on my way to work I would pass this particular beautiful Real Estate office on the edge of town. One day I gathered up as much courage as possible and went into the office and introduced myself to a very unimpressed receptionist who informed me no soliciting was allowed there. The office was overwhelming. I felt like such a hick in this beautiful white marble office, with Chinese planters, oriental rugs and vases of fresh flowers. I left with my tail between my legs.
As I began to practice the idea of having what it takes and believing in myself something happened as a result. One Friday on the way to work I just felt I should stop in that office one more time, plus I was in a good mood as it was Friday and wouldn’t care about being rejected as much. I went in the office and a miracle occurred the receptionist had called in sick that day.
I quickly went and stood by the mail boxes in a side room and tried to figure out my next brilliant maneuver to meet some real estate agents and possibly offer my services. On the wall of this mail room was a big picture of Vince Lobartti as former Green Bay Football coach with many of his quotes below the picture of him. I began reading his very strong, inspirational quotes.
All the sudden as if jerked back to realty I heard a strong, southern,feminine voice say, “You like Vince Lombartti?” I turned around and it was a short, well coiffured, meticulously dressed lady with red leather, jewel encrusted slippers on. She was very short but had a big presence.Her sudden appearance what seemed like out of no where startled me into complete honesty. I blurted “as a matter of fact I do like him”. I went on to tell her, but I think I have to like him as Football in Green Bay, Wisconsin is not only a game it is a religion. She laughed. I explained, I had attended school up there and was in his daughter’s class. The packers used my dorm for their summer camp and I played cards with a couple of them. Now this was way before ball players were under multi-million dollar contracts and superstars, they were just ordinary people back then.
The next thing I remember is the look on her face. It was like someone had told her she had won the lottery. She took me by the hand and with a religious type whisper said you really knew some the players when he was the coach. Yes, I said. She then confessed to me that Vince Lombartti was her hero. She told me she was the broker of that office and managed it and used his inspiration to run this office. She then took me by the hand and led me to one agent after another and introduced me as “Vince” who lived in Green Bay and knew packers when the other “Vince” was the coach there. The introduction was done in the manner of a minister doing a service. Her message was very clear to her agents….Get to know Vince.
That break opened more doors for me that a full page ad in the Atlanta Constitution Newspaper. I was known as the other “Vince”. I could have not pulled this off unless Ralph Waldo Emerson was my business partner. I believed in my own thought, my own intuition, my own feelings about stopping at that office even if I had been told by the receptionist, it would be of no good to stop there.
My inner genius, that we all have, urged me to stop at this office and I listened against the odds. I began to rely on this inner genius more often and had many victories maybe not as memorable as this one but memorable just the same. There were times when it seemed to be shut down or out of touch and I also learned what caused that.
There is a big secret that we need to know if we are to gain access to this inner voice. Honesty at all times under all conditions keeps this voice activated. If we try and hide something it begins to shut down. As Emerson again suggests, “Be, not seem” What beautiful strong advise. I am so tempted to tell half truths or not come completely clean. Every time I do the results are that I am on my own I have no support from the unseen business partner. You can’t believe your own thought or feelings if they are in any way clouded by untruth. It is very subtle but very powerful.
Be and not seem it possibly the best advice you will ever get. It worked for me in every circumstance I was ever in. To act like you like someone when you don’t is doing you more damage than good. To use any type of negative review of someone else to get the business is again more damaging to you than to your customer. Birds do come home to roost. Doing anything that creates anything other than a win-win deal will harm you in the long run. Believe me I can show you the scars. As Emerson suggests, “What you are speaks so loudly that I can’t hear what you’re saying.
One of the things I do when working with a potential client is to find a common denominator. I would search for clues to tell me things they liked or didn’t like so I could agree with them or act interested in what they found interesting. This is a good way to establish a business relationship if done honestly. However, many times I would make things up just to show my client how much we had in common. It doesn’t work. Be….not seem.
My success with the Real Estate Lady was based on complete honestly. I think I was so open as I was unprepared to make anything up. I blurted the truth right out of me. If I had tried to figure out some way to impress her and find something we both had in common it wouldn’t work. One of the things I had the most difficulty with is realizing that walking away from certain deals or transactions would benefit more that if I got them. This is where this business alliance with RWE is so valuable.
Emerson’s philosophy is a plan, a map, to gain access to this genius we all have. This potential is endless and has prospered countless people who have successfully tapped into this rich gift. I’ve got what it takes is turning on our light gaining access to our God given genius. We’ve got what it takes. This belief is very simple and very powerful use it well.
is true for all mankind-that is genius." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
In the mid 80’s in a crowded classroom at the women’s club in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, I received some information that would change my life forever. I knew as I sat there that this information would greatly improve my life and believe me there was room for improvement at all levels. I was enrolled in a Ralph Waldo Emerson Philosophy class.
What I learned in this class would stay with me for the rest of my life. In the years that followed no matter what occupation I was in, where I was living or what the economy was like I prospered with this philosophy. In this class I decided to make Ralph Waldo Emerson my business partner. In order to by his business partner I had to follow his principles and apply them to the way I would do my business. It worked.
Principles are reliable unlike opinions or trends. Principles are not subject to person, place or thing. This means no matter what the economy was like or where I was, I could prosper. I did not have to be born to a certain family or live in a certain area or belong to a certain church or country club. Principles are valid and do not require membership or approval as he refers to it, I did not bend down to societies or badges.
The first principle of belief I learned in my class was to “believe in yourself”. As the above quote suggests, believe in your own thought. I didn’t know how to do this or even begin. However, the idea of this was very exciting to me. I could believe in myself. I didn’t have to take any class or join any club or get anyone’s approval to believe in myself. The real value of this idea was the fact that I already had what it takes to do this.
I loved the idea that I had what it takes. Much of my life had been spent in chasing for the right connections, the right approvals, the things that I thought were missing in order to succeed. The realization that I had what it takes made me sit up in my chair and pay attention. I was on a new journey, a new direction that would move me from struggle to success. How I would do this is found in this Emerson quote, ”Trust thyself, every heart vibrates to that string”.
The quote of trusting yourself can be found in the life of every successful artist, inventor, teacher, or business person. In my life I was not taught to trust my heart but actually the opposite. I was taught the opposite not to harm or limit me but to protect me. The general message we receive in our culture is “conform” and you will be accepted and you will reap the controlled benefits of conformity. This is the game is had learned well but had done very poorly with as I was always wanting something that I believed I didn’t have and thus my neediness was a self-fulfilling belief.
The catch in life that Emerson teaches is you can’t keep what is not yours. To conform merely for the rewards of conformity puts you on a collision course with life. Be mindful please as I am not saying ALL conformity is wrong and every original thought we have is right. I am suggesting that believing FIRST in your original, unfiltered, thought has value and needs to be examined. In my business career some of the best ideas I had were thins that seemed to come out of left field. Some of the best marketing concepts were thoughts taken to work and passed by others that I admired and felt appreciated original thoughts. Tweaking and improving these ideas got great results.
How many times have you said to yourself, “I should have gone with my first thought”? We 2nd guess ourselves in a culture that demands conformity. Emerson teaches that “Imitation is suicide” meaning what we produce from a pure, spot within ourselves has value. The beauty is we already have what it takes to do this. Trying to imitate others or comparing myself to my competitors weakens my intention. Staying with the belief that I have what it takes moves me up the road.
I have found the best way to sell anything, if it’s property, merchandise, or ideas, is to first believe in the value yourself. If I believe that I am giving the best service along with the best possible price then I am standing on solid ground and come across that way.
The genius Emerson refers to has us doing the right thing at the right time. What a wonderful way to live. When we are in tune to this genius we pick up the phone and call the right person at the right time and get results.
When I first started to apply this principle to my selling career it was in the mortgage business in Atlanta, Georgia. I had just moved there didn’t know anybody and had to rely on cold calls for making contacts, this was very difficult as I had no connections. I was a Yankee in a Southern City.
Daily on my way to work I would pass this particular beautiful Real Estate office on the edge of town. One day I gathered up as much courage as possible and went into the office and introduced myself to a very unimpressed receptionist who informed me no soliciting was allowed there. The office was overwhelming. I felt like such a hick in this beautiful white marble office, with Chinese planters, oriental rugs and vases of fresh flowers. I left with my tail between my legs.
As I began to practice the idea of having what it takes and believing in myself something happened as a result. One Friday on the way to work I just felt I should stop in that office one more time, plus I was in a good mood as it was Friday and wouldn’t care about being rejected as much. I went in the office and a miracle occurred the receptionist had called in sick that day.
I quickly went and stood by the mail boxes in a side room and tried to figure out my next brilliant maneuver to meet some real estate agents and possibly offer my services. On the wall of this mail room was a big picture of Vince Lobartti as former Green Bay Football coach with many of his quotes below the picture of him. I began reading his very strong, inspirational quotes.
All the sudden as if jerked back to realty I heard a strong, southern,feminine voice say, “You like Vince Lombartti?” I turned around and it was a short, well coiffured, meticulously dressed lady with red leather, jewel encrusted slippers on. She was very short but had a big presence.Her sudden appearance what seemed like out of no where startled me into complete honesty. I blurted “as a matter of fact I do like him”. I went on to tell her, but I think I have to like him as Football in Green Bay, Wisconsin is not only a game it is a religion. She laughed. I explained, I had attended school up there and was in his daughter’s class. The packers used my dorm for their summer camp and I played cards with a couple of them. Now this was way before ball players were under multi-million dollar contracts and superstars, they were just ordinary people back then.
The next thing I remember is the look on her face. It was like someone had told her she had won the lottery. She took me by the hand and with a religious type whisper said you really knew some the players when he was the coach. Yes, I said. She then confessed to me that Vince Lombartti was her hero. She told me she was the broker of that office and managed it and used his inspiration to run this office. She then took me by the hand and led me to one agent after another and introduced me as “Vince” who lived in Green Bay and knew packers when the other “Vince” was the coach there. The introduction was done in the manner of a minister doing a service. Her message was very clear to her agents….Get to know Vince.
That break opened more doors for me that a full page ad in the Atlanta Constitution Newspaper. I was known as the other “Vince”. I could have not pulled this off unless Ralph Waldo Emerson was my business partner. I believed in my own thought, my own intuition, my own feelings about stopping at that office even if I had been told by the receptionist, it would be of no good to stop there.
My inner genius, that we all have, urged me to stop at this office and I listened against the odds. I began to rely on this inner genius more often and had many victories maybe not as memorable as this one but memorable just the same. There were times when it seemed to be shut down or out of touch and I also learned what caused that.
There is a big secret that we need to know if we are to gain access to this inner voice. Honesty at all times under all conditions keeps this voice activated. If we try and hide something it begins to shut down. As Emerson again suggests, “Be, not seem” What beautiful strong advise. I am so tempted to tell half truths or not come completely clean. Every time I do the results are that I am on my own I have no support from the unseen business partner. You can’t believe your own thought or feelings if they are in any way clouded by untruth. It is very subtle but very powerful.
Be and not seem it possibly the best advice you will ever get. It worked for me in every circumstance I was ever in. To act like you like someone when you don’t is doing you more damage than good. To use any type of negative review of someone else to get the business is again more damaging to you than to your customer. Birds do come home to roost. Doing anything that creates anything other than a win-win deal will harm you in the long run. Believe me I can show you the scars. As Emerson suggests, “What you are speaks so loudly that I can’t hear what you’re saying.
One of the things I do when working with a potential client is to find a common denominator. I would search for clues to tell me things they liked or didn’t like so I could agree with them or act interested in what they found interesting. This is a good way to establish a business relationship if done honestly. However, many times I would make things up just to show my client how much we had in common. It doesn’t work. Be….not seem.
My success with the Real Estate Lady was based on complete honestly. I think I was so open as I was unprepared to make anything up. I blurted the truth right out of me. If I had tried to figure out some way to impress her and find something we both had in common it wouldn’t work. One of the things I had the most difficulty with is realizing that walking away from certain deals or transactions would benefit more that if I got them. This is where this business alliance with RWE is so valuable.
Emerson’s philosophy is a plan, a map, to gain access to this genius we all have. This potential is endless and has prospered countless people who have successfully tapped into this rich gift. I’ve got what it takes is turning on our light gaining access to our God given genius. We’ve got what it takes. This belief is very simple and very powerful use it well.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
“Life is a Festival only to the wise.” - RWE
Wisdom is a great gift. It can be found in many places. It can be found in libraries, universities, business setting, even in comic books and card shops. Wisdom is available to anyone seeking it. It has no set requirements. We are never without the availability of wisdom. The requirement is curiosity and effort. If we are not curious and without effort we accept what is handed to us. Unfortunately the world is rather stingy with wisdom. It gives us the best of the worse and the worse of the best. This is called average.
If in fact, life is a festival as Ralph Waldo Emerson (RWE) suggests wisdom is required. The trick is to move beyond conventional wisdom and learn something new. Without this we tend to repeat the same experiences over and over. We become average which is safe. We only have so many days on this earth to live; making each one count is wise. However we need information to make this happen. New information is necessary if we want to move beyond any present experience. Every inventor and creator knew this and practiced it diligently.
Wisdom as RWE describes it is not Intelligence. Intelligence is singular to our natural abilities. Wisdom is Universal in its expression. Thus wisdom is not dependant on any particular natural ability including intelligence. If this were true only the very smart, the beautiful and the talented would have wisdom which we know is not true. To have wisdom is to know the truth about any situation. To have this information is very empowering as it allows us to give our attention to the things that matter and leave the rest behind.
This Blog is meant to contain the wisdom of RWE. His wisdom has lived beyond his earthly years. It is legacy. This wisdom has personally guided me in hours of darkness and in days of goodness. Life is a festival, but only to the wise. He did not say only to the smart, lucky, beautiful, intelligent, famous, rich or talented. Wisdom is a ticket which we can always get.
In the bible is says with all your getting, get understanding. To understand something is to have wisdom about it. We spend many hours in our businesses and careers. It is a national shame to have so many people unhappy at work. Life is not a festival but a prison to those who are unhappy in their present work situation. Work is not a place to express themselves but a place to put in time to satisfy the system. This is a lose for all concerned.
The wisdom of RWE gave me the key to free me from this mental prison. It took many years and experiences to appreciate and apply this wisdom. It took curiosity and effort. It is a small price to pay for such good results. This wisdom works in all places, at all times and is all situations. It did in mine and in most days I attend the festival.
My gift to you is my interpretation of this wisdom. It contains your ticket to the festival. It’s up to you to attend. It is my hope this wisdom benefits you as much as it did me. See you at the festival.
If in fact, life is a festival as Ralph Waldo Emerson (RWE) suggests wisdom is required. The trick is to move beyond conventional wisdom and learn something new. Without this we tend to repeat the same experiences over and over. We become average which is safe. We only have so many days on this earth to live; making each one count is wise. However we need information to make this happen. New information is necessary if we want to move beyond any present experience. Every inventor and creator knew this and practiced it diligently.
Wisdom as RWE describes it is not Intelligence. Intelligence is singular to our natural abilities. Wisdom is Universal in its expression. Thus wisdom is not dependant on any particular natural ability including intelligence. If this were true only the very smart, the beautiful and the talented would have wisdom which we know is not true. To have wisdom is to know the truth about any situation. To have this information is very empowering as it allows us to give our attention to the things that matter and leave the rest behind.
This Blog is meant to contain the wisdom of RWE. His wisdom has lived beyond his earthly years. It is legacy. This wisdom has personally guided me in hours of darkness and in days of goodness. Life is a festival, but only to the wise. He did not say only to the smart, lucky, beautiful, intelligent, famous, rich or talented. Wisdom is a ticket which we can always get.
In the bible is says with all your getting, get understanding. To understand something is to have wisdom about it. We spend many hours in our businesses and careers. It is a national shame to have so many people unhappy at work. Life is not a festival but a prison to those who are unhappy in their present work situation. Work is not a place to express themselves but a place to put in time to satisfy the system. This is a lose for all concerned.
The wisdom of RWE gave me the key to free me from this mental prison. It took many years and experiences to appreciate and apply this wisdom. It took curiosity and effort. It is a small price to pay for such good results. This wisdom works in all places, at all times and is all situations. It did in mine and in most days I attend the festival.
My gift to you is my interpretation of this wisdom. It contains your ticket to the festival. It’s up to you to attend. It is my hope this wisdom benefits you as much as it did me. See you at the festival.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Are we losing ground?
Doing Business with Ralph
“For everything you missed you have gained something else and for everything you gain you lose something."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
As a student in a Catholic Grade School in Wisconsin one of my favorite activities was playing marbles during recess. We played “for keeps” which meant you kept what you won. This thriving gambling empire operated right under the watchful eyes of the good sister, monitoring playground activities. It was the peak of my day as I fed my gambling addiction with marbles.
The game was played in various corners of the playground not covered with asphalt as the playground doubled as a parking lot on Sundays for the church goers. Holes were dug in the dirt of various depths and widths. The game started with showing your stuff in its best light. Marbles were shown to each other and wedged between the thumb and index in the sunlight as to show them in their best light. Matches were negotiated, closely matched marbles were used in the game and the game was started. Purees were clear glass marbles, cat’s eyes had a red squiggle in them and steelies were steel ball bearings of great value and usually could negotiate a 10 to 1 value.
The idea was to get both marbles in the hole at the same time. If I got mine in I could go again and try to get my competitor’s marble in also and thus claim them both. If I missed it was the other guy’s turn. There was a skill required in getting the marble in the hole that would later be taught in High Scholl Physics. A marble going up a hill would require more of a push to get the tip of the hole and drop in and of course the opposite was true of a marble heading down hill. A shallow hole was tricky and the marble could go right through it if the right speed was not applied. Painful lessons were learned.
These physics lessons carried a heavy price when a 4th grader would lose a prized marble. A marble loser could easily be spotted in the line up after the recess bell rang. His head hung down and he carried his marble badly like a dead bird.
Later on in the world of business I would be aware of those same emotions in others and myself. Instead of marbles it would be dollars. Instead of a hole in the ground it would be a high or low bid. Instead of a flick of my finger the pressure would be applied with conversation or offered options.
However the feelings of the 4th grader marching back into class at St. Mary’s grade school or the commuter driving home after a long frustrating day, in traffic were the same. These are feelings of loss. These feelings drain us and make us put our lives on hold.
Ralph Waldo Emerson in this timeless wisdom suggests with the law of compensation that our losses will be transformed into winnings if we open ourselves up to see the real truth of the situation. I became a better negotiator on the playground when I didn’t have as many marbles to lose after I lost a bunch of them. I became more skilled at using patience before I flicked the marble toward the hole and increased my accuracy. I learned to avoid certain holes as I realized I couldn’t win in every situation and to look for the ones in which I had a better chance at winning. My losses transformed me into a “winner” at marbles.
We are in an economy in which many of us have lost many marbles. Maybe they were in a 401K or stock account or home value, it really doesn’t matter where the loss occurred, we have all experienced it. What matters are the skills we have picked up in the game. Perhaps patience, moderation, delayed gratification or other skills are the assets we now have in place of the lost ones. Focusing on these is more than a Pollyanna philosophy. This focus is what all great philosophy teachers, business leaders and human giants of all ages have used.
The truth of Emerson’s statement that there is something to be gained in all loss is a principle that is effective in all areas of life, be it a Catholic school playground, a real estate office or the trading floor of the stock market. It is up to us as an individual to integrate these principles into our lives.
We can either feel as though we are losing ground in our lives or realize we need to dig new holes for the game. A large bowl of marbles on the floor of my closet is an ageless testimony to this law of compensation.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Ralph Waldo Emerson Quote
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. "
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