by Susan Gammage, Baha’i Life Coach
In my Bahá’Ă-inspired life coaching, many clients wonder about the role of service in their lives. I often hear: I don’t have time to add another thing to my already busy life. So why is it so important?
In the Bahá’Ă Writings, ‘Abdul-Bahá tells us:
By assisting in the success of another servant in the Cause does one…lay the foundation for one’s own success and aspirations . . . (’Abdul-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol. 6, #6, p. 44)
I like to use this story, which I found in a book called “The Simple Truths of Service”, by Ken Blanchard and Barbara Glanz. It illustrates how service can be as easy as a state of mind, and can be implemented into our life, in every action we take.
No one can make you serve customers well. That’s because great service is a choice. Years ago, my friend, Harvey Mackay, told me a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point. He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey. He handed my friend a laminated card and said:Â “I’m Wally, your driver. While I’m loading your bags in the trunk, I’d like you to read my mission statement.”
Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said:
Wally’s Mission Statement:Â To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest, and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.
This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!
As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, “Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.”
My friend said jokingly, “No, I’d prefer a soft drink.”
Wally smiled and said, “No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.”
Almost stuttering, Harvey said, “I’ll take a Diet Coke”
Handing him his drink, Wally said, “If you’d like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustratedand USA Today.”
As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card. “These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you’d like to listen to the radio.”
As if that weren’t enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of the day. He also let him know that he’d be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights, or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.
“Tell me, Wally,” my amazed friend asked the driver, “have you always served customers like this?”
Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. “No, not always. In fact, it’s only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day. He had just written a book called You’ll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you’ll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, ‘Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don’t be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.’
“That hit me right between the eyes,” said Wally. “Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.”
“I take it this has paid off for you,” Harvey said.
“It sure had,” Wally replied. “My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I’ll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don’t sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can’t pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.”
Can you see how this story demonstrates how serving others, helps us too?
I’d like to end with some quotes on service, from the Bahá’Ă Writings, which have helped my life coaching clients:
In the first, we learn that God sees our services and loves us for them:
I bear witness to the services thou hast rendered Me, and testify to the various troubles thou hast sustained for My sake. All the atoms of the earth declare My love for thee. (Bahá’u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u'lláh, pp. 309-310)
In the second, we see the power of service to change us into something much better than we could possibly imagine:
The power of God can entirely transmute our characters and make of us beings entirely unlike our previous selves. Through . . . ever-increasing service to His Faith, we can change ourselves. (Shoghi Effendi, Spiritual Foundations, p. 17)
What are your experiences with being of service? Post your comments here:
by Susan Gammage, Baha'i Life Coach
In my life coaching practice, I’m often asked what the Bahá’Ă Writings teach about setting goals and keeping focused on the most important tasks. Each day, there are dozens of tasks calling our names, at work, at home and in our Bahá’Ă communities. With life being so busy it’s easy to lose focus on the big picture. Shoghi Effendi offered some guidance when he said:
[They] must approach their task with absolute detachment, and must concentrate their attention on the most important and pressing issues. (Principles of Bahai Administration, p. 67)
But, how many times have you gone to bed wondering what you actually accomplished that day? Or have you ever felt like your day was somehow wasted?
To avoid these feelings, you can try a few different methods to get yourself back on track. Rather than bemoaning your wasted time, resolve to regain your focus and get back on task.
There’s a famous quote about focus by the great philosopher Confucius: “If you chase two rabbits, you catch none.” True, there might be people who are able to multitask and do it relatively well; but more often than not, people who split their attention between two different tasks have a more difficult time completing both tasks well. That’s where detachment becomes so important.
Here are five ways to regain your focus and get back on task:
1. Eliminate the distractions. Get rid of the barriers that are causing you to avoid getting things done – it’s that simple! Forget about checking email every five minutes; those emails will still be there when you complete your task. Make a list of distractions and eliminate!
· Turn off the phone and let the voice mail take over.
· Close the blinds in your office.
· Turn off the music if you find yourself singing more than working.
· Simply closing the door to your office can give you more privacy and more focus.
2. Prioritize your work. Rather than working on projects simultaneously, take one thing at a time, focus on it, and worry about all the other projects later. Ultimately, you’ll get a lot more done and you’ll finish it more quickly. You’ll also be recognized by the high quality that you deliver when you’re free from distractions. As the Bahá’Ă Writings teach:
“Leave the important for the most important” (Shoghi Effendi, Quickeners of Mankind, p. 109)
· Find a way to prioritize that works best for you. Choose either the project that has the earliest deadline or the one with the least components so you can finish it quickly and get it out of the way. There are pros and cons to both systems so tackle it whichever way works for you.
3. Tell everyone to respect your time. There are many nice and respectful ways to tell people to back off. If you’re finding yourself in a time crunch and can’t seem to get away from others, consider letting them know that you need time to finish some important tasks. There are a lot of different ways to do it – just make sure you do!
· Set times that you’ll accept phone calls and even visitors. Tell them to contact you by email and then set a regular time to check your email.
· Set business hours during which people can expect you to return their calls or emails.
4. Set some limitations with your internet access. The internet is wonderful but it can be a huge time waster, especially if you work at a computer all day long. Regain your focus with some self-imposed rules.
· First, close all those windows you’re not using. Avoid MySpace or Facebook, quit searching on eBay, and leave messenger alone!
· Establish certain times each day to use these fun things and just focus on what you have to do. You’ll quickly accomplish more!
5. Have confidence in your abilities. This may seem like a really small thing when it comes to focusing and getting back on task, but believing that you can get everything done that you set out to do puts you in a positive frame of mind and you’ll be less distracted with stress and worry.
· Have confidence that you can complete each task with ease and believe in your ability to deliver. If you’ll just have the confidence, you’re sure to have the focus!
Now that you’ve been introduced to five ways to focus and get back on task, it’s up to you to take action and learn how to focus your thoughts. If you’ve got to get stuff done, follow these steps so you can put yourself – and your goals – first!
What helps you to focus and get back on track? Post your comments here.
by Susan Gammage, Baha'i Life Coach
In preparing for the official launch of my life coaching practice, I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a Baha’i-inspired business different and how can I implement it into my own business? Recently I came across this blog posting, which answered a lot of questions, and I use it here, with permission. You can see it at: http://verdanta.wordpress.com/2008/08/31/the-new-business-model-bahai-style/
In my last blog, I explored the idea of service to the Faith within the structure of a for-profit business. I tentatively concluded that yes, this was an acceptable thing. But that’s not the end of it, is it? Obviously, many traditional ”old world” business practices would be inappropriate in an enterprise that endeavours to spread the word about Baha’u’llah.
What would be appropriate? Now that is an interesting puzzle indeed!
I have actually been working on a business plan for Verdanta, and in it I was asked to describe the corporate culture. What would it be like to work there? So this isn’t just a pie out of the clear blue sky question. I really want to know, what makes a Baha’i business different?
Two things spring immediately to mind: the first is operating the business based on the writings of Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l-Baha. The second is the spiritual consequences of doing it wrong. I guess the place to start is exploring what they have to say that’s relevant to the situation.
Well, Baha’u’llah told us that ”Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues,” so that’s probably a good place to start. A Baha’i business must be impeccably honest. Dealing honestly with suppliers, customers and employees, paying bills on time, and following through on commitments all fall within that maxim. But so do not fudging numbers, not lying by omission, and not taking questionable “gray area” tax deductions.
Abdu’l-Baha has said that “With education [the inner reality of man] can achieve all excellence; devoid of education it will stay on, at the lowest point of imperfection,” so constant and continuous education must be built into the structure of a Baha’i business. Everyone in the organization should be allowed - and encouraged - to learn about new things, to gain new skills, and develop latent talents. Personally, I can say that starting a business is a completely new thing for me, and I learn so much every day that my head hurts from all the neural pathway construction!
Baha’u’llah has also stated that “Work done in the spirit of service is the highest form of worship.” I don’t know about anyone else, but if the work I do is equivalent to worship, then I’m going to make darn sure I’m working to the absolute utmost of my ability. Which means excellence and perfection must be the norm, not only for the members of the organization, but also for all products produced by them.
And since unity is the central principle of the Baha’i Faith, unity must also be a primary goal within the organization. Most companies today have no clue what that might look like, let alone harbor any realistic expectations of achieving it. But if you can’t think it, you can’t achieve it. Fortunately, “So powerful is the light of unity that it can illumine the whole earth.” And where unity is the expectation, it can be accomplished.
Of course, backbiting would have no place within a healthy Baha’i business, because “backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul.” The company culture should be shaped such that everyone knows backbiting is unacceptable.
I could go on and on, but what I notice in writing this is that a Baha’i business must strive for the same spiritual perfections that individual Baha’is strive for.
Hmmm. One last quote comes to mind, and that is ”Bring thyself to account each day, ere thou art summoned to a reckoning.” It seems that I must not only bring myself to account each day, I must also bring to account the dealings of my business, for they ultimately reflect back on me and my spiritual progress.
Wow. How different would the world be today if all our leaders felt that way? Post your comments here:
by Susan Gammage, Baha'i Life Coach
The Bahai Faith teaches:Â “The attainment of any object is conditioned upon knowledge, volition and action. Unless these three conditions are forthcoming there is no execution or accomplishment.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 101.
If you want to stand out from the crowd or competition at work, then you need to be seen as an expert in your field. This takes knowledge, will and action on your part and not just walking around telling people that you’re an expert.
Everyone has the potential to be an expert at what they do. Here are a few simple steps that you’ll need to follow first to be recognized as an expert.
Educate Yourself
First and foremost, make sure that you’re educated on what you’re doing.
- Take evening courses at a local college or university to help further your education and keep you up to date on the latest knowledge and technology.
- Read more. It doesn’t matter what you do as a profession, you need to take advantage of the vast knowledge in the library or on the internet.
By expanding your knowledge you’ll also build your confidence. Tell me one person that was ever seen as an expert that didn’t believe in themselves and what they were doing. Can you name one? Not likely! With knowledge comes confidence.
Demonstrate Your Knowledge
It’s one thing to talk about what you know, but it’s something else entirely to actually do it. Let’s look at this quote from the Bahai Writings:
Deeds not words are what they demand, and no amount of fervor in the use of expressions of loyalty and adulation will compensate for failure to live in the spirit of the teachings.
(Shoghi Effendi: Living the Life, p. 4.)
Experts don’t walk around and brag about what they can do, they take action. If you encounter a difficult problem or situation, you’ll be able to take charge and find a solution.
- Be proactive. If a problem arises, take action right away to find a solution. If you don’t know the answer yourself, pray, consult and search out someone who does. Even experts need to learn new things and they aren’t afraid to admit it to others.
Learn to be a Great Communicator
People have to understand what you can do and why you’re the best one to do it. This means that you have to understand and foresee the questions and concerns of others, then prepare and articulate the answers and solutions to them.
- Great communicators don’t just boss others around. Use your communications skills to teach and empower your coworkers.
Always Act With Integrity
Don’t take credit for things you haven’t done and don’t take shortcuts. Skipping out on doing something the right way doesn’t make you an expert, however, this doesn’t mean that you have to do everything yourself.
There will always be things we’re not so good at. In those circumstances, you have to learn how to delegate those responsibilities to others who have the skills required to get the job done. Part of being a good expert is seeing the strengths of others and how their talents can be put to good use.
- Give others credit for a job well done. Wise leaders and the most incredible of experts don’t do everything themselves. They have a talented team around them who have the skills they themselves lack.
By following these simple steps you’ll become the person with the answers. These are the experts who become irreplaceable and well respected because they take action.
How have you developed expertise in your field? Post your comments here.
by Susan Gammage, Baha'i Life Coach
Did you know that the average person will change careers 7 times in a lifetime? So it’s natural for people to be considering what they want to do next. The key is to find one that you really love and enjoy. There are a thousand career options open to you today, so there is a great chance that you can find a line of work that you can excel in and which also gives you sustained gratification.
The following exercise will help you to determine your likes and dislikes as well as your career aspirations.
Please take your time in answering the questions, and as you answer, you will start to formulate some conclusions as to what is “right” and what is “wrong” in a career for you.
LIFESTYLE
Identify the key characteristics of your ideal lifestyle – what would they be? Challenge yourself to think of at least 10. (i.e. 2 hours quality time with the kids every night, earn $60,000 a year, 30 minute travel time to work, 2 holidays per year, work in a team, etc.)
Does/will your current career allow you to achieve your ideal lifestyle?
LIKES/DISLIKES
What are your likes and dislikes at work? Make 2 lists below.
What activities do you enjoy?
Which activities would you rather avoid?
Does your current job have more likes or dislikes?
STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
What are your key strengths and weaknesses? (Consider the following: experience, qualifications, training, ability, attitude and knowledge).
PERSONALITY
Does your current career fit with your personality type? Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
Do you like to learn by doing or by thinking and reflecting?
Do you like variety and changes to the work that you complete or do you like routine and certainty?
IDEAL DAY AT WORK
Describe in as much detail your ideal day at work - what sort of things would you be doing?
IDEAL CAREER – CHARACTERISTICS
Write a sentence or two which includes all of the above ideas, then based on all that you have written so far, determine the ideal career for you.
Assignment:
Research has shown that when you identify a goal and tell another person about it, you’re more likely to carry it out.
To hold you accountable for moving forward, I’d like you to set a goal from this new learning, and post it in the comments: , and then when you’ve achieved it, I’d like you to post that too.
Are you struggling with this assignment? I’m here to help! Contact me for a 30 min free get-acquainted session.
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