If I had $1 for every time I was asked how to succeed in business (or make enough money to achieve a specific lifestyle), then I’m sure I would have enough to buy a very significant toy. On second thought, I wouldn’t buy that toy but instead donate at least 2-3 water wells to my favorite charity Wisdom Spring. That would make me very happy. And that is the answer to this perpetual question: Do what makes you happy!
It may seem like a trite cliché but in the last 28+ years since I graduated university, I have discovered that there is nothing more true than learning that “when you do what you love, you never work a day in your life.”
I love marketing. I love creating something out of nothing and the balance of both right brain and left brain requirements. As stated in a previous blog, marketing is one part art, one part science and one part luck. You have to work diligently at both the art and science in order for the luck to manifest. You will need to first figure out what you love before you can work your bliss.
Finding your bliss is not as easy as you may think. It took me decades to realize the most simple of observations in myself and I hope you can learn from my mistakes. I won’t bore you with my stories of the past but suffice it to say that mistakes and successes too numerous to remember all culminated in one day just meditating on the word “why”.
If you are interested in a simple exercise then:
- I invite you to get comfortable: no distractions, no interruptions for at least 20 minutes in a place where you feel the most stress-free. Sometimes playing music softly in the background helps as well.
- Sit or lay down with your eyes closed and get into a meditative state (just breath slowly and deeply 3-5 times; in through the nose and out through your mouth.
- Start by thinking of nothing; just try to picture the color black and shut out all mind chatter. Some people like to use mantras (you can find these with a quick Google search). I just focus on one word…balance. Softy repeating the word balance in my mind repeatedly while letting go in the color black.
- When you feel yourself melting into stillness, become open to what you truly love: start with the people in your life, then the places and finally the things. Try not to focus on any one thing just let them pass through the theater of your mind.
- When images start repeating and you are ready to return back then picture yourself as you are physically (sitting or laying in your comfortable space) and open your eyes.
Now the interesting part. Ask yourself the following questions and base your answers solely on what you just experienced but be honest with yourself and not change your answers to suit what you think it should be as opposed to what you just experienced:
- Were there any patterns to the types of people you envisioned? Their attitudes, education, morality, social skills,…?
- Were there any patterns to the types of places you envisioned? The weather, culture, food,… ?
- Were there any patterns to the types of things you envisioned? The cost, quality, quantity,…?
- Were there any patterns to the types of activities you were doing? Were they creative, repetitive, scientific,…?
Your answers to these questions will help you uncover your bliss. It will take a little effort to translate this exercise into something you can excel at but it will be there. How to succeed with this will be the subject of another blog.
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