Someone recently told me that the “Practically” part of my business name bothered them. They don’t want their business to be enlightened part of the way, they want the whole thing.
I guess I should add a disclaimer. Something like “No claims of enlightenment, partial or complete, are made by the business known as Practically Enlightened Business or its owner.” Whaddya think?
Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment. Lao Tzu
I believe that finding the magic formula for your business means combining some practical know how with some, hmmm, how to say this…with things that might not seem practical. Maybe even things that feel enlightened.
Let me give you an example.
I was working hard on a project and it wasn’t going smoothly. Every step took me three times longer than it “should” have. I got tenser. My progress slowed.
“Help” arrived in the form of my black lab. Murphy decided his head belonged in my lap. He kept a steady rhythm with his tail against the filing cabinet. Kathump, kathump. Not easy to concentrate.
Then a cat showed up and walked across my keyboard. Three times.
Then my laptop froze.
Once I decided my dog was smarter than me, I backed away from the computer and took him for a walk in the woods around my house.
And guess what? When I returned things moved along. I felt refreshed. The obstacles I’d been facing disappeared. And my project got completed.
Enlightenment must come little by little – otherwise it would overwhelm. Idries Shah
I’d like to say I’ve never repeated the cycle again. But the truth is that Murph has to remind me regularly to stop and smell the roses. (Actually he suggests stopping to sniff dead animals. I’ve declined his advice on this topic.)
For me taking a walk wasn’t really practical. I had a project and it was stamped with a deadline. Okay, I gave it the deadline. But it did have a deadline.
Often the thing that will help you the most might not look like a practical solution to your need or problem. Things that don’t seem “businessy” end up adding to your bottom line more than that suggestion from your favorite business guru.
I’m not saying you don’t need the practical stuff. Yep, it’s important. But sometimes being impractical is just what you and your business need.
So what impractical things help you and your business? Share them here.