Abundance is a concept often debated in spiritual and entrepreneurial circles.
Entrepreneurs commonly use the catch-phrase “thinking BIG,” but they really mean the same thing.
Abundance is tough to define because it’s one of those unique ideas that must be experienced to really be understood … it can’t just be explained.
Yet the most encouraging part of adopting an abundance mindset is how it can connect you to people with totally different set of beliefs and values.
It instantly sustains inclusivity even with people who are dramatically different.
POP QUIZ: What do Mother Theresa and Donald Trump have most in common?
The answer is their abundance mind-set.
Donald Trump says, “If you’re going to think anyway, you might as well think big.”
Mother Theresa said: “The more we discover the magnitude and abundance of God’s gifts, the more we will find ourselves.”
Again, the abundance mindset creates connections.
Bucky Fuller had this to say about the abundance mindset:
“The condition of planet earth is abundance. Our belief in either scarcity or abundance determines how our financial, legal, political and military systems are set up or exist at all.
Scarcity and abundance are foundational and contextual ideas. They each give rise to a distinct system of thought and a number of rules, characteristics and measures which only make sense within their own system.”
Above all, the abundance-mindset is a choice. In other words, you choose to look through the lens of scarcity, or through the lens of abundance. There is no in-between.
“Do … or do not. There is no try.” ~ Yoda
Because there are are so many differing opinions about abundance, my colleagues and I have decided to conduct this worldwide survey get more opinions - your opinion - on this highly debated topic.
My JV partners, Alex Mandossian and Scott Martineau are hosting the Virtual Abundance Expo next week, so I figured this a great opportunity to host a survey and attract the best single sentence that clearly defines abundance.
What to do now: Please use the comment box to write your definition of abundance. The survey ends at 5pm PDT on Monday, July 27th, right before Jack Canfield’s keynote speech for the Virtual Abundance Expo.
All the definitions will be gathered and tallied the next day and five finalists will be chosen for the final vote.
If you are one of the five finalists, your definition of abundance will be personally evaluated by our Virtual Abundance Expo faculty.
The top vote-getter with the clearest and most concise definition of abundance will be personally interviewed by Scott and Alex as a honorary faculty member for Virtual Abundance Expo.
So what do you say … are you game?
If you are game, then take a peek at these 9 abundance quotes to get your heart and mind moving…
“The only factor becoming scarce in a world of abundance is human attention” ~ Kevin Kelly in Wired
“Nothing amuses me more than the easy manner with which everybody settles the abundance of those who have a great deal less than themselves.” ~ Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)
“Abundance is, in large part, an attitude” ~ Sue Patton Thoele
“Abundance of knowledge does not teach men to be wise” ~ Heraclitus (540 BC - 480 BC)
“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 - 1945)
“Unfortunately, the balance of nature decrees that a super- abundance of dreams is paid for by a growing potential for nightmares” ~ Peter Ustinov (1921 - 2004)
“Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into” ~ Wayne Dyer
“Expect your every need to be met. Expect the answer to every problem, expect abundance on every level.” ~ Eileen Caddy
“Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance” ~ Epicurus
Now it’s your turn … type in what you feel abundance means to you. Go ahead … the simple act of thinking about it will instantly improve your day.
Click here to register for the Virtual Abundance Expo now!
San Francisco Rocked! This last week I had the good fortune of attending the TSS (Teleseminar Secrets) Reunion in San Francisco. There were 150 of us from a possible 500+ that made the trip to connect first hand and experience Alex Mandossian in person. We had all graduated from his 8 week teleseminar training in the last few years. It was outstanding.
Best experience ever! Never have I attended a live event where the participants were so open, connected, tuned in and turned on. I made a lot of valuable contacts and even more importantly some delightful new friends and colleagues. I also learned a revolutionary new goal achievement system, MAINLY(TM) by Raymond Aaron. This was particularly extraordinary as his life’s work dovetailed with my concept that a goal (as we have learned to set them) leads to almost certain failure and it is desires we must focus on overall. His system is flawless, simple to apply and proven. Wow!
Gurus galore! Of course one of the highlights was meeting Alex in person. I have had the privilege to learn from him off and on over the last decade but this was to the next level. I also got to catch up with Mari Smith, “the Pied Piper” of Facebook, and my private instructor on social media. (Yes, I learn from the best, so I can share it with others like you!)
New initiatives and launches in the works! Got refocused and targeted and will be initiating new tools, great educational systems, and much more in the weeks upcoming. I also had the delight to meet Gail Doby, a design colleague and the prestigious head of Design Success University. You can never have too much education in the mastery of success!
More than a third of our lives are spent in pursuit of our livelihood. Too often this is not a celebration but instead an obligation and a decision by default. We are put on a career track before we even know what we truly want to pursue and by the time we figure it out we have already achieved a level of success and financial reward that to start anew would mean setbacks and sacrifice. Unfortunately without the willingness to take risks and sometimes take a new path, we wind up living our work life by default rather than by our own design.
Regardless of where you find yourself in your career there are ways that you can celebrate that commitment and benefit from your unique skills and abilities (even if your genuine talent rests on another path.)
Lunch with the Bunch
Both for business owners too busy in their own fields to connect to others and for those in corporate America who feel pigeon holed in their own specialties, mix it up. That is make a point once a month to lunch with others outside of your expertise. For business owners this means connecting in a meaningful way with other entrepreneurs in other fields. It can create new perspectives and allow us to see new ways to do old things. As a member of corporate America take a look at what other areas of expertise your company offers and connect with some of those individuals. It will give you a broader understanding of what your company brings to the table as well as provide opportunities to explore unique synergies amongst diverse divisions.
So often we are too close to the forest to see the trees. Broadening our circle of influence is a successful way to expand our own potential and affiliations.
Supplier Thank You
Do you regularly say thank you to those that supply your business? Even if corporate do you know what your company does to say thank you to vendors? No business can survive in a vacuum and while we all are suppliers to someone else, we often forget that we are kept afloat and our success depends on those that supply us. I often send or deliver boxes of Godiva chocolates to my vendors as random thank you. I don’t wait for the holidays as we all are inundated then, it is the season for thank you. What about the rest of the year? When the ladies at my drapery workroom are really slammed, I’ll send in pizza for lunch and at least twice a year I send flowers for no reason at all, just to brighten their offices.
Think about your printer, your computer tech, your advertising executive, the cleaning service, the phone repairman, the security system expert. When was the last time you showed them thank you, not just said it.
Celebrate your career by being gracious with others.
Women/Men on the Move
There are many opportunities to grow your mind and your career if you pay attention and make the time. There are roundtables you can become an active member of, and groups for both men and women dedicated to grooming top executives or cultivating entrepreneurship. These are great chances to connect with others beyond your field and learn about their expertise and find potential synergies. It is a question of whether you are ready to lead the same life everyday or create a new and unique experience daily. All of life is about growing and it is only when we stop growing that we truly start to die. Pushing our boundaries, challenging out limitations, and growing our potential can give us a present beyond our dreams and a future without limits.
Continuing Brilliance
Many of us have requirement for continuing education built into our careers with necessary certifications or levels of achievement. Even without this it is essential that we stay on top of the latest developments and introductions with classes offered by professional industry organizations, trade shows, guest speakers, and more. We often do this early on in our careers but then get caught up in our success and progress and forget to continue our brilliance. We leave these opportunities on the table for those in the early stages of their careers and in doing so run the risk of becoming the dinosaurs we read about.
Technology can make learning more accessibly and convenient but it can’t replace the synergy of a live group and often more is gained by discussion and listening to other queries than by the actual lecture itself.
Celebrate your career by expanding your mind and maintaining your edge.
Conferences to Connect
Anyone who has been knows that trade shows and conventions are a lot of work. I don’t mean just for those that do the planning but also for the attendees. There are always tough choices to be made between sessions to attend and then there is all the connecting you want to take advantage of. I often find that the true experts are most accessible at these events. It seems everyone else thinks they will be unapproachable so don’t even try, leaving a wide open entrance for me to share in their experiences. Try this next time you attend and event and single out one or two of the presenters you’d like a minute with. Sometimes you can wrangle an hour of their time consulting or snag a seat next to them at lunch or dinner and glean a tidbit or two that can transform your journey from the on ramp to the fast lane.
Be brave and take a chance. We too often are intimidated (even if we won’t admit it) by someone else’s perceived success and stature. There will always be those greater than us and those lesser than us, it is up to each of us to determine where we will stand.
Share the Wealth
Be generous with your time, your expertise and your rewards. When I taught “Interior Design as a Second Career” at Evening at Emory for over a decade I was always amazed when my students (busy professionals) exploring the interior design career told me that I was the first professional to truly freely share with them the inside scoop including salaries, hours and the nitty gritty. In fact my favorite compliment came from a gal who came up to me after class and thanked me for showing her that design was not for her but she had decided what was and was thrilled to have made the decision to pursue it. You see my job wasn’t to convince or sell anyone but just share my knowledge and experience wholly and completely so any one person listening could make up their own mind. There are others who felt empowered and encouraged by what I described and have decided to pursue it.
By simply being ourselves and contributing our personal experiences and wealth of talent to others we can make a world of difference.
More than a third of our lives are spent in pursuit of our livelihood. Too often this is not a celebration but instead an obligation and a decision by default. We are put on a career track before we even know what we truly want to pursue and by the time we figure it out we have already achieved a level of success and financial reward that to start anew would mean setbacks and sacrifice. Unfortunately without the willingness to take risks and sometimes take a new path, we wind up living our work life by default rather than by our own design.
Regardless of where you find yourself in your career there are ways that you can celebrate that commitment and benefit from your unique skills and abilities (even if your genuine talent rests on another path.)
Strategic Alliances
I have found that as an independent business owner, my business appears much larger and stronger by the strategic alliances I have formed with fellow businesses. The same applies to any corporation that aligns itself with other organizations to create a masterful synergy. As an individual, no matter where you work, you can create strategic alliances that will grow your own career. These can be fellow business people whose business goals complement yours and you regularly work together. It can even be a competitor with whom you are able to mutually appreciate the idea that there is enough pie to go around and the more you work together, the greater the share each of you gets.
Take a look around you both within the organization you work for or have created and outside of it to identify your strategic alliance partners. Usually it is an informal agreement, though at times you both may benefit from a more structured format with scheduled meetings and planned outcomes.
Give to Receive
The old adage “what goes around comes around” is all too true and so it is that by giving of ourselves, our expertise, our talents and abilities that we truly become rich and will receive the bounty of others. Establish charitable goals for your business, your department, or your position. Make your contributions unique and measureable, though it is likely their value will be infinite. Focus on giving and you will be surprised at the gifts that will return to you. Too often we can get caught up in looking for the return. Rarely does it show up as we might expect but bigger and better than imagined.
Mentoring
Not everyone can be an effective mentor but it is an invaluable gift to others when you can. I have sponsored many an intern over the last decade plus and find it incredibly rewarding to be able to show them a true view of my career path and help them see what parts they excel at, where they need further study, and what path they may decide to pursue.
Mentoring can be formal or informal in structure. It can mean a lunch monthly, a phone call twice a year, daily interaction such as with an intern, or a once time meeting of minds to share hopes and dreams, experiences and lessons learned. Mentoring is as much about teaching as it is about learning from those coming up.
These are just three of the many ways available to celebrate your career by sharing your knowledge, expertise, and wisdom with those around you because together we will go farther.
Where are you the most productive? Do you find that your productivity is often based on the time of day and on your location? I know I get a lot more done in the quiet of my mountain escape than I do in the crazy energy of Atlanta! In Atlanta my schedule is more often loaded with sourcing for clients, site visits, speaking engagements, airport trips, and catching up with friends (oh and YES, dating, LOL). So I plan five day stays here in Highlands to get it all on track and moving forward. How can you plan your most productive times and emerge successful?
Mapping fun! This is my YEAR of YES, and that means I have to make a lot more time for my dream list. I’m planning a visit to Connecticut in May to see dear friends and then a trip to Bonaire for scuba certification and to see the house I did a few years ago for clients. They both scuba and train, but I’ve never seen the house! Rumor has it the neighbors and friends have given it rave reviews. What are you doing to plan regular fun in your life?
Heading into Hotlanta this Saturday! Got a date Saturday night (yes, we met on match.com and this is our first face to face!) Sunday, I’m meeting a friend for the last day of the Flower Show and brunch at Canoe. I’ve got client biz on Monday, then Tuesday reconnecting with my favorite design group for lunch and a look at Insidesign, http://www.myinsidesign.com/.
What are you doing to find new resources?
Together we’ll all go farther! Prospering by Design, Are You?
This is the perfect time to invest in professional development. I know many of you are stressed about money right now. 2008 wasn’t easy for anyone. But when we don’t have a lot of business going on, we have time to develop ourselves, set new initiatives in motion and be that much more ready when the tide turns (and it will.) www.yourdesignsuccess.com
Your energy and insights have helped me to move my thinking about my business forward in a big way. I will continue to use the tools we have developed together and I am confident that they will serve my business and my clients well in the months to come. Your energy and clarity have been invaluable, and I appreciate your confidence in me through the weeks we worked together. Patrice Sweet, Stunning Spaces
This is the ideal time to look at mentoring, whether for 90 days, 6 months or ongoing. I have found that the right mentor makes a world of difference and have worked with a handful over the last decade that truly enabled me to drive my business to the top. If you are serious and want to review the state of your business and consider strategies for taking it to the next level and getting beyond where you may be stuck, get in touch. I offer a 30 minute confidential review at no charge. www.yourdesignsuccess.com
You make business fun! Your coaching keeps me on track and moving forward. Rupal Turner, Classical Feng Shui
This is the best time to join Design Mastermind! You will be able to get support and guidance in a monthly peer to peer call, access to teleseminars with business experts inside and outside of our industry, and the ultimate Designer Toolbox loaded with resources to make 2009 the year you get your business back on track and take it to the next level. www.yourdesignsuccess.com
Prospering by Design, ALWAYS (and I want to work with you to Profit from Your Passion TOO!)
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I want to get you started on your own list of COMMITMENTS for 2009, and thought that sharing just a few of mine might inspire you. I’d love to have you share your ultimate COMMITMENTS with me by email, melissa@melissagalt.com or just reply to this ezine.
TOGETHER WE’LL ALL GO FARTHER!
On HEALTH & WELLBEING: (Energy begets energy, and I want more!)
Meditate for 5 minutes 3x a day using an exercise called Buffers and Spheres (email me for details!) to promote ideal visualization of my dream life in all aspects. This keeps me balanced, centered, and focused.
Losing 15 pounds to gain better health, more energy and transform my personal image with style.
On ROMANCE & RELATIONSHIPS: (Okay, I know you all like my tales from the dating trenches!)
Take the time and effort to meet my life partner, best friend, and romantic mate.
Together we create a happy, healthy, wholesome and lasting relationship.
On HOME & INTERIORS: (I have too much style for one residence!)
Get a deal on my dream condo in Atlanta, it offers easy park access, fitness facilities, and a view.
Design and decorate my Atlanta condo for comfort, entertaining, and productivity.
On TRAVEL & ADVENTURE: (Life is an adventure to be lived, not a problem to be solved.)
Get certified in scuba diving and take a trip to Bonaire.
Venture to Egypt and take a barge down the Nile. Visit Quebec. Luxuriate in Tahiti.
On CAREER & PROFITABLE PASSION: (What I love is to show you how to profit from your passion!)
Graduate 100 professionals from Radical Business Transformations, and mastermind YOU to move forward into boosting revenues while gaining renewed satisfaction from your business.
Certify 500 design professionals from Virtual Design Business Boot Camp, mentoring YOU to achieve new heights in their business and turning their passion into profit.
This is just a sampling of my COMMITMENTS! I’d love to learn about yours. I am currently forming a DESIGNER MASTERMIND to take your business to the next level. You can participate in this with or without one-on-one mentoring. We all need the support, encouragement, advice and experience of those expert colleagues around us. EMAIL ME TODAY for details and to see if this is a fit for you.
Here’s to skyrocketing your success in 2009 and beyond!
Your energy and insights have helped me to move my thinking about my business forward in a big way. I will continue to use the tools we have developed together and I am confident that they will serve my business and my clients well in the months to come. Your energy and clarity have been invaluable, and I appreciate your confidence in me through the weeks we worked together.
You make business fun! Your coaching keeps me on track and moving forward.
On ROMANCE & RELATIONSHIPS: (Okay, I know you all like my tales from the dating trenches!)
