Hip-Hop, Yoga, and Being Super Rich

Guest post by Barbara Diane Beeler

Think of the “godfather of hip-hop” Russell Simmons and you definitely think RICH. He founded the music label Def Jam as well as clothing lines such as Phat Farm and American Classics. With a net worth estimate of $340 million, he is the third richest figure in hip-hop, only behind artists Diddy and Jay-Z. But do you also think of yoga and spirituality when you think of Russell Simmons?

Simmons is the author (along with Chris Morrow) of Super Rich: A Guide to Having it All. His business website www.rushcommunications.com relates his many business successes, which “have spanned music, film, television, fashion, video games, online and financial services” and his activism, which “has encompassed all of the areas touched by his businesses, including poverty, education, social justice and inclusion.”

It’s easy to daydream about being incredibly rich, but Simmons is more than just about having a lot of money. He grew up in a lower-middle class African-American community in Queens and recently was named one of the 25 most influential people of the last 25 years by USA Today. He has two beautiful daughters he adores (and a beautiful, well-known, and accomplished ex-wife Kimora Lee Simmons). Not only does he practice yoga, meditation, and philanthropy, he also eats no meat. He believes that there is a connection between his spiritual practices and his worldly success.

The title of his book Super Rich might make you think it’s all about accumulating money, but to Simmons that term means “the state of needing nothing.” That’s powerful! THE STATE OF NEEDING NOTHING. Imagine being in that state. Surely, you’d feel super rich. But how do you achieve that state? Simmons says that we have to “clear out the clutter and quiet the noise” that keeps us from “hearing” or connecting with the happiness…or the richness…that is already inside of us.

He says that we attract the world to us by giving until the world can’t live without what you have to offer. Huh? To get rich, you just give away what you have? YES! He quotes yogis: “You never lose what you have given” and says that if you “just show the world a fraction of the sweetness and honesty that’s in your heart, it’s going to come running after you.”

What else can you do to attain the STATE OF NEEDING NOTHING?

• Access stillness…that “quiet, peaceful mental state that allows you to be completely present in life.” Then you can become “totally connected with the inspiration and imagination that’s inside [you].”
• “Stay focused on your work without any expectations for, or concern with, the fruit of your labor” and “operate out of a zone of pure focus and clarity” like Michael Jordan did on the basketball court.
• Be a business yogi and “only do shit you believe in. Period!” Vegan Simmons, for example, says he would never invest in a restaurant that serves meat. If you are a yogi, you won’t do work that creates instability or suffering in the world. Let go of the results…and watch what happens!
• “Be reborn every day.” Simmons went from being a drug dealer to a mega-rich businessman, yogi, author (he previously penned the New York Times best seller Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success), and humanitarian. How did he do that? He “began moving away from [his] unconscious state and toward enlightenment.” He says it is important to “get open”…to be fluid and creative and never rigid.
• Build bridges…with people of other races, religions, beliefs, etc…that will bring people together. Recognize that we are all connected.
• Practice and realize the power of acceptance and love of others and what is.
• Enjoy and be grateful for the material things, but don’t become burdened by or attached to what you have. Instead, achieve balance in life.
• “Make a real commitment to being conscious and compassionate.”  He quotes the story of theBhagavad Gita and Arjuna’s final words to Lord Krishna: “Through your kind conversation, I’ve woken up and am conscious of who I really am.” Simmons says that even if you fall short in all the above things, if you are conscious and compassionate, you will…like Arjuna…become more awake, which is “central to all your success.”

Simmons says that, armed with the knowledge in the book, we can be like Arjuna and:

To fight not for what you can get for yourself, but what you can give to others.

To fight not for your own abundance, but for the abundance of others.

To fight not for your own security, but for the peace and safety of others.

To fight not for your own joy, but for the happiness of others.

To fight not for your own upliftment, but for the enlightenment of others.

Russell Simmons, hip-hop, fashion, and multi-business mogul, yogi, father, UN Goodwill Ambassador, vegan, and philanthropist, ends the book by saying:

When you are devoted to fighting for these things with a smile on your face and love radiating out of your heart, then all these things will be yours. You will have it all. You will be Super Rich.

How refreshing to see someone who truly is super rich in every way practice what he says. Thanks, Russell Simmons.

Heart-Centered-Projects

The Planning Game

Fundamentally planning is about designing the steps between a current situation and a chosen future. Specific linear results are expected from each action taken. Have you ever noticed that specific, linear, expected results are rare? Consider that this is because as soon as an action is taken, external resistance or internal doubt may arise. Resistance or doubt will alter the action’s course and often deflect it from its original trajectory.

What to do?

- Clean up, to the best of your ability, any internal doubt that may stand in the way of your being aligned with your soul vision and your connection with divine source.

- Pay attention to feedback from divine source and then, to the best of your ability, plan your plan.

- Maintain action or change action based on correct perception of any external resistance.

A Few More Things……

- Be responsible for understanding the game you are playing.

- You are playing the game of business.

- The goal of the game of business is to have you be prosperous.

- Being prosperous, in the game of business, includes profit (even in a not-for-profit).

- In order to win (reach the goal), you must understand the rules.

- You can play the game with your own values, style, finesse, and integrity within the rules.

- Rules in business are mainly about how to keep score.

- Scoring can increase your ability to win the game.

One Last Thing……

Always remember that you are enough with or without the game.

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Find your answers, not the “right” answers

 

Strategic Thinking

I discovered Men with Pens several years ago and have been on-goingly impressed. I am truly excited to now be working with them (look for my new web-design in 2011!) Their renegade style coupled with substance resonates with me.

A recent post on the MWP blog hits the mark regarding the importance of doing your business, your way. Following is a excerpt:

If you want to build and grow and succeed in business….you need to stretch your thoughts and think beyond what you’re being told to do.

Get those textbooks from all the experts, sure – but use them as a springboard, a starting point.

Muse, ponder, ask questions, explore. Contemplate what’s being done and what could be done differently, or better. Think about what works for other businesses and compare that to what might work (or won’t fit) for yours.

Don’t assume the experts have all the perfect answers and template instructions to success – they only have the perfect answer of what’s worked for their business. You can replicate some of what they’ve done, sure, and you’ll achieve a certain measure of success, yes.

But imagine what might happen if you went beyond what they did.

Find your answers – not the “right” answers.

Poke at the “what ifs” and explore calculated risks. Try out new ways of pulling in clients or getting raves that no one has done before. Be untrendy and reject what’s cool. Look instead for what’s smart or efficient or effective. Chase money and results, and leave extra work and expenses in the dust.

If you want to succeed, you have to question the “rules” and the “musts” that other people tell you. You need to improve on textbook methods and rote strategies to reach even better results. MWP Post “Are You Barely Passing with Your Business Philosophy?“

Remember the basics, look deep within and design your own strategies for success!

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Allow Business Basics to Work for You

Consider the pre-construction of a building. The potential exists for an infinite number of blueprints setting forth the specifications for an infinite variety of buildings.

Beginning with the intended use of a building (be it a conservative home or landmark skyscraper), blueprints are carefully drafted to ensure that the completed structure is in alignment with the original vision and intention.

While designing to meet any specific use or aesthetic desires, an architect makes certain that each set of plans embodies and conforms to a relatively much smaller set of engineering principles. Principles from which there must be no deviation. Principles having to do with ropes & cables, sticks & stones, shape & strength; which in turn form the basics of a sustainable structure.

Similarly, business blueprints must also embody and conform to a small set of principles. Principles having to do with products & safety, accounting & taxes, quality & efficiency; which in turn form the basics of a sustainable business.

As a firm foundation upon which to rest, adherence to the basics allows for creativity, flow, sustainability, and infinite possibility.

Basics form a bedrock of support.  Allow them to work for you.

Image of “Metatron, Allow”
Acrylic and gold gesso on canvas, 5 x 5′
© 2010 James F. Jereb
All Rights Reserved.

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Deliver Profound Mutual Benefit

Learning how to be in love first with yourself and then with your customers, allows you to consistently view from the heart and unconditionally give.

An unconditional way of doing business is the opposite of a conditional or depending way. Conditional business is a usual way to do business –I give you this, you give me that –because you need me, you depend on me, and I need you, so I depend on you.

Unconditionally buying yourself first reminds you that the truth is you need nothing else but yourself. If you need nothing other than yourself, this is true of your customers as well. This means that nothing other than profound mutual benefit is worth offering.

In the space of unconditionality, both you and your customers expand. As you relate to your customers unconditionally, you will always be looking for the extraordinary in the the ordinary; allowing you to access and develop your own extraordinariness and deliver profoundly.

The more you are motivated by love, the more fearless and free your actions will be ~Dalai Lama

Read more about how to deliver profound mutual benefit with your strategy in the eBook Becoming a Source of Good

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Interweaving Creative Force, Action & Attention

Fundamentally, planning is about creating the steps between a current situation and a chosen future. To paraphrase Julia Cameron, who so brilliantly addresses our creative urge in The Artist’s Way …we are compelled because we are ourselves creations; infused with an indwelling creative force. Creative energy is a gift – we are meant to design new creations as a gift back. Refusal to do so is counter to our true nature.

We intuitively know how to form creative energy into a structure that has the potential to attract what we need and desire. Steps are taken; energy turns into form i.e. a spider spins a web, an entrepreneur writes a business plan. Often, frustration occurs when as soon as the structure is designed, we continue to expect specific linear results (hello ego!) and become lost and identified with goals and the structure itself. How can we relax when our structure demands that there are customers to capture, products to be sold, and bills to be paid?

One option is to go after our targets no matter what – stomping over competitors and employees, short-changing or deceiving customers, destroying the planet and ignoring our values. Another option is to recognize and get over the fact that after we plan what we want, the specific linear results from specific actions phase is over.  Now we can RELAX, pay attention, and know that all good things will come.

Evolving business concepts proactively interweave creative force, action & attention. When we design frameworks, it is natural that not only will some success show up, but external resistance and internal doubt will also arise. Once the structure is intact, it is imperative to to be attentive, enthralled, fascinated, and non-judgmental about EVERYTHING that shows up in our web. We must then be willing to intervene if necessary, let go and modify external actions with the feedback we have received from the universe / environment. We also must be willing to acknowledge and clean-up, to the best of our ability, fear and doubt that may arise within ourselves and our team. Planning and letting go is the equivalent of ego and sacred attention working together- ensuring honorable, joyful, and sustainable bottom-lines.

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Deliver Transformative Services

Originally uploaded by mpodolak

When you deliver a product or service, you are participating in a shared reality that exists between you and your customers. There is an intimate agreement about the shared reality. There is trust and communication about the mutual benefits of your interchange. This is communion; a sharing of spirit.

Within the space of communion, there is a natural evolution that is set in motion. It is a given that this evolution is a growth process for both you and your customers. Consider approaching the development and delivery of your products and services with a conscious commitment to evoke evolution and transformation.

Any evolution is a process; a growth pattern. You set the evolution in motion by fulfilling a specific need or desire for your customer. From that point forward, you are in a unique position to evoke evolution. When you evoke, you go beyond simply participating in the reality between you and your customer, to deeply influencing (impressing) upon the reality.

In order to evoke vs. participate, add an element to each and every one of your products & services that meets not only the immediate desire of your customer, but a “higher desire” as well. Always reflect back to your customer a vision of their highest self. For example, if you are selling “A” laptops, delivering it with the clear message that your customer has everything to do with why this laptop is so fantastic, meets a higher-desire recognition that “A” laptop users are smart and savvy. When your “A” laptop customer configures their laptop, invite them to join an on-line community of smart and savvy “A” laptop users. These higher desire attributes impress upon the growth pattern of evolution –deepening the relationship with your customer, as well as evoking qualities of co-creation, self-esteem and community.

Think of your products & services as an invitation to an intimate interchange with your customer vs. an exchange –this is the access to communion. An interchange is spirit-to-spirit vs. an ego-to-ego exchange. If you choose to hold and maintain the interchange of communion with sacred gloves, you impress upon the evolution implicit in communion. Impressing with loving consciousness is the opportunity to influence the highest evolution for business, the planet, and humanity.

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Patience Pays

 

Originally uploaded by jaboopee

Patience pays, wait, let the hand of God work for you, and all good things will reach you ~Yogi Bhajan

Fundamentally, planning is about creating the steps between a current situation and a chosen future.  Steps are taken –containers / structures are created i.e. a spider spins a web, an entrepreneur writes a business plan.  Often, frustration occurs when as soon as the structure is designed, we continue to expect specific linear results and become lost and identified with goals and the container itself. How can we relax when our structure demands that there are customers to capture, products to be sold, and bills to be paid?

One option is to be patient, trust ourselves, and relax anyway. When we are patient, we can pay deep attention, remember who we are, adjust accordingly, and allow all good things to reach us.

On a recent trip to Bastrop State Park near Austin, my husband and I stayed in a cabin in the woods. On the back porch was a picnic table set in tight quarters on cement with waist high stone walls. Four mornings in a row I walked thru the area to do my yoga by the water. Every morning there was a spider web spun from the same side of the bench to the same stone wall. Every morning I walked on the other side of the bench, so a not to disturb the web. When I was done with yoga, the web was gone. The spider seemingly made adjustment for visitors! (OK, maybe it just closed down shop at daybreak). I imagined her setting up shop sometime in the middle of the night, patiently waiting to receive – basking in the moonlight -never expending an ounce of energy more then she needed to, including any mind games about why she has to deal with people in the morning.

Evolving business practices proactively interweave attention, action, and adjustment.  Patience is a practice of deep attention and is access to balancing allowing and receiving. A practice that pays to the bottom-line and beyond.

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The Principle of Wheat

Ripening Wheat

Running a business is a creative process at every phase. There is never a point in any business where every single detail is known. Creating a business plan is about designing a strong framework in which the business can operate, while at same time allowing enough flexibility for conscious observation and spirit-filled revision.

Once a plan is produced, it is a given that weeds of error, such as faulty observation, old habits of thought, and so on will sprout just as quickly as seeds of wisdom and foresight. Remember the parable in the Gospel according to St. Matthew concerning the wheat and the tares? It is a story of the successful application of revision:

“So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, ‘Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in they field? From whence then hath it tares?’ He said unto them; ‘An enemy hath done this.’ The servants said unto him, ‘Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?’

“But he said, ‘Nay, lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root out also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, gather first the tares, and bind them into bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Based on my studying the lessons of B.O.T.A., my understanding is the principle of wheat is about accepting with love and compassion everything that shows up once a plan or project is set in motion. It is about being 100% revision-responsible without pouting, blame or revenge — this is the true power of the principle of wheat.

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Renewable Energy Sculpture in front of Houston Public Library

Originally uploaded by ANVAR – SO BUSY RUSSIANTEXAN ©

Laura West, host of the Joyful Business Blog recently wrote about packaging your services in a way that enhances your energy.  I call this R.O.E. = Return On Energy. I have changed Laura’s post up a tiny bit, but here it is mostly word-for-word –an inspiring read if you don’t want to feel depleted “holding-up” your business…..

One of the most important intentions in your business, even in a passion-based business like yours, is to make a profit. Yes! ~you do want to make money while making the world a better place by contributing your magical gifts. In order to keep contributing and changing the world in your unique way through helping your clients, you need to also be financially successful. Your gift, in the form of products and services, is the seed, your business plan the tree, and financial success a must-have-fruit!

The thing is, this must-have-fruit, should not come with an unjust price of draining your energy in any way, shape, or form –ever. You want to create energy-enhancing business models! There are ways of serving a variety of client needs while serving your need to develop a financially sustainable and flourishing business – all without depleting yourself physically, spiritually and energetically.

One thing you can do is to look at how you can bring your creativity into your pricing and services so that you make more money and give more value with out taking so much of your time that it starts to drain your energy. Here are six ways to create packages for your services, products, experience and knowledge so that you can joyfully serve more clients in less time and make more money doing it!

Strategy #1: Offer Options with Your Time
The idea here is to offer three ways a client can work with you – a small investment option, medium option, and top of the line option. Clients love choice. If you tell them that you have one price or one package, they will often not take it because the question becomes “Do you want this service? Yes or No?” With three options, the clients have a choice. The question becomes “Which one would you like?” This is a totally different question which will lead you to more clients. You’ll also be surprised at how many people will take the top of the line or premium option. This is a great way of stretching into new pricing options that might have been higher than you were used to charging.

Strategy #2: Package Your Process
Potential clients like to know that you have a process. It helps them to know what to expect from you so they can get their arms around the commitment. Most of all, it gives them confidence in you. When you share that you have a process, they trust that you know what you are doing. Funny thing is…they don’t really care about what your process is – they really care about the results for them. They just want to know that you have a system for what they are going through. For example, you may offer a six-hour package where you take them through five steps that will change their life or business. Or you may have a 90-day program or a four-week series. When you package your process, you will get more and better results from your clients as well. It creates a win-win. Your clients get more value and better results – and you get clients with amazing results – which feels great!

Strategy #3: Create Products From Your Process
Have you determined your five-step process? Now is a great time to put it into a workbook, an e-course or create an audio series. Some people may want to just buy the product and apply the principles or tools themselves. You’ll be surprised by how many people will buy the product and still want your help in taking them through the work. They need the accountability and partnership for success!

Strategy #4 Create A Membership Program
You attract people to your services who are at different places in their buying process. Many people want just a taste of what you have to offer. Maybe they are new business owners and aren’t quite ready to invest in an entire package with you, or they are just new to your services and want to experience more before they invest in a full program. Offering a membership program is a way of creating a community of these similar clients and giving them a taste of what you offer. You’ve seen examples of free membership clubs like Starbucks, an Amazon Prime Account, or airline frequent flyer mileage programs. Then there’s the small fee membership club that for $24, $47 or $97 a month they can join your membership club and get access to certain services. For example, you could offer a group teleseminar and then mail the audio CD and transcript to them each month. It’s a great way to get them in a relationship with you and usually once people experience your magic – they are going to want to upgrade and they’ll want more from you.

Strategy #5: Offer a Continuity Program
A continuity program is typically a long-term relationship where clients consistently get to work with you in a variety of ways. It’s often offered over a year. You can package together products, ebooks, audios, teleclasses, transcripts, online forums and even in person retreats to create a program throughout the year.

Strategy #6: Premium Programs or Platinum Style Programs
Look around you and you’ll start to notice how often the word “Platinum” shows up to describe an upscale or premium offering. Delta Airlines and their Platinum program comes to mind for mega flyers. A premium or platinum style program is ideal when you are ready to scale back your hourly work and create a premium program (with a premium price tag) for more one-on-one work, special retreats, or small group coaching. There are some of your clients who are ready for this type of intense work. The greatest reward is that the type of clients who come into this program are usually very committed to their success. Again, it’s creating a win-win program. They get flourish with big results, and you see the impact of your work! Every time a client commits to this type of program with me, just the power of this big commitment within themselves creates a jump in their business, new clients, a big PR opportunity or other major success.

What ideas has this post sparked in you for your business? Pay attention to your inspired energy. That’s where you want to start. Don’t try to do all these ideas at one time. Pick one idea and focus on it for the next 90 days. Clear, focused energy is powerful creation energy! Post in original format

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