As part of my ongoing attempt to help more people and expand my business, I have been studying marketing. What I did not realize is that in some ways spiritual teachings match up with some principles of good business. I experienced one of those principles today.
Today I was supposed to work at a metaphysical fair. Little did I know an email was sent out a while ago canceling the fair. As I arrived I immediately called the owner of the establishment. She explained to me that she had cancelled it a few weeks ago and sent out an email. However not only did I not receive the email, but I already had several clients schedule time with me in advance, and I marketed the event to my own clients. I was also scheduled to teach a meditation workshop at the end of the fair.
It was strange, but I knew somehow I could fix this. Dan Kennedy, who is widely known as a famous speaker in the marketing world, talks about the mark of a strong business men is being able to fix a disastrous situation quickly. Remembering that, and then also remembering the Taoist principle of acting appropriately when situations arise, I withheld judgment of the situation and worked immediately to find a way to fix the situation.
Luckily the office is closed on Sundays in the first place. I talked to the owner and we worked out a deal so that I could rent the space for the afternoon and still teach the workshop in the evening. I ended the day by seeing not only those who scheduled with me in advance, but gained a few new clients as well. The workshop was also a great success. All in all it was one of the more successful days I have had in the past month or two.
When it was all over my Personal Assistant asked me why I appeared so calm when I found out it was cancelled. I told her that I had a feeling it was going to be ok, and that I could do something to make it right. I then told her about what Dan Kennedy talks about and what the Tao Teaches.
It is important not to panic when things go haywire. Instead assess the situation and think outside the box. If you can do this, then you can avert disastrous business mistakes. If I would have just given up and went home I may have alienated several clients and wasted a valuable opportunity to (as we say in Alchemy) transmute lead into gold.
Michael Kilman
www.SpiritualAlchemyCoach.com