Balance in Business

We live in a world of extremes. Listening to many popular motivational speakers, you'll hear them tell you to go after your dreams with reckless abandon, to focus on your goals and let nothing stop you from attaining them. While that might sound like a courageous way to live, it isn't always the best advice. I advocate for a balanced approach to achievement: an approach found somewhere between "pure ambition" toward our dreams and "pure acceptance" of the here and now.

In order to truly be 'zen' you must be grateful for what you have now. Living, breathing, and striving for a perfect moment in the future can be dangerous, so just make sure whatever dream you're chasing, it's a dream where the chase is as enjoyable as the catch.

In a business environment, people will look up to you if you're a relentless visionary and a dream chaser, but they'll never follow you if you can't savor the moment. Why? Because you'll be insufferable to work with. So, pick a goal and go after it, but let destiny be your guide and be okay with wherever the journey takes you. In hindsight, how many things have we set out to accomplish that weren't as worth our time as we once thought? You might think landing a new client, breaking a bottleneck, or getting a promotion will open that door to corporate nirvana, but often when you get what you want, it only opens a door to new problems. If you aren't happy now, you likely won't be happy when you get that thing your happiness hinges upon.

You should not only be okay with things not working out the way you always hoped, but you should enjoy that occurrence. How boring would life be without any detours? Becoming sad when you think about the unpredictability of life is why so many people fall victim to those so-called experts who tell us we can have whatever we want if we just spend money on them and their belief systems.

The hard truth is that you can work for whatever you want, but whether or not you can actually have what you desire is up to both you and the universe. Often times the universe diverts our course in an unexpected direction. To focus on the benefits of life's divulging paths, instead of the frustrations, is simply a better way to live. Those who can see anything in a positive light are statistically more likely to achieve their goals than those who can see anything negatively. Richard Wiseman's "Luck Factor" is a great study on the power of positivity and its proven affect on an individual's luck. In summary, it is important for us to set goals and have aspirations, yet we must aspire to enjoy this very moment. If we can embody both vision and gratitude, we'll be leaders and beacons. So, we must avoid the extremist attitude of "I can do anything," and embrace the grateful attitude of "I have what I need." Use greatitude to fuel your focus, passion, and energy; and help you achieve those dreams.