November 15, 2009
Have you ever tried to grab a fistful of water? It doesn’t work. The only way to gather water is to cup your hands, not grab at it.
I’ve been told that catching success is the same – you can’t grab at it. But you do have to find water before you can even cup your hands to catch it.
So I have committed myself to learning as much as possible about being successful – trying to emulate the masters.
It’s easy to do the basic things – positive thinking, creating appropriate fung shei and nurturing a money tree.
There are other more technical things you can try – and I have.
In 2005, with the publication of my first books, I took a course about how to make your book an Amazon bestseller. The jist of the course was to get as many people as possible to buy your book on one day by offering freebies if people order the book on that one day. You spend several months preparing for that one day – lining up your freebies, getting a mailing list and preparing your website for advertisement. Then the official day comes.
I got very little sleep the night before. Woke up early to begin tracking my progress. I stumbled to my office and found my money tree in the middle of the floor, leaves spread all over, dirt spilled and a tree on its side. It was an omen.
I did better than I would have done if I hadn’t made the effort – sold a few books. But, the amazon bestseller list, I did not make.
Four years later, my money tree is flourishing in my office, and yet, many of my recent projects are winding down. I keep finding water and I am not dying of thirst, but neither am I soaked in good fortune.
I wonder, having I been grabbing at good fortune though I tell myself I am cupping my hands and thankful for whatever good fortune lands there.
Winter is around the corner, a time to hibernate, rest and snuggle down with those you love. I think this will be true of me and my projects. Time to regroup, take an honest look at what I was able to accomplish, what went wrong and what lessons I learned.
Though my money tree flourishes, I have to remember that it is indoors, protected from the world. I, on the other hand, have put myself out there, and a bit worse for wear because of it.
This week I read in Buddha’s Brain: the practical neuroscience of happiness, love & wisdom that one cannot seek happiness, but it must grow out of doing.
I keep thinking I’m doing all the things that will bring me success and happiness, but perhaps doing with the expectation is the problem. So, for the next few months, I plan on not doing and not seeking, but being.
Once I get over this cold and finish my half-marathon in January and get that one manuscript completed and…
Okay, so I’m working on it, not doing it.
This week I will enjoy the time to hibernate and replenish my resources.
