Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Meditation Brings Business Renewal

As a seeker of solitude in my busy entrepreneurial workday, I use yoga, Pilates, a good old-fashioned run in the park, and anything else I can think of to calm my nerves and keep my head clear and focused. I have worked hard to keep my body fit and my business running smoothly. I have also found that the same principles used in the meditation practiced during yoga can be used to strengthen my business.

While meditating during a yoga class several years ago, the instructor told us to feel that every movement is a new beginning. This made me think of my own business, which was just a fledgling startup at the time. In my day to day struggle as an entrepreneur, every project and each new contact could potentially take my business in a new direction. after making this connection, I knew that meditation had a lot to teach me about business. Since then, Ive learned to apply some of the basic principles of meditation to my business and you can do it, too.

Start employing meditation principles in your work life by viewing your business as a living being. Each direction the being goes in is, in fact, a new beginning. View this positively since life, just like business, is ever-changing and accepting that is a necessary part of enjoying your life and your business.

It is also important to pause throughout your day and really feel your body. When you are stressed out at work or you feel your shoulders or back stiffening after a tense meeting or an especially taxing day, take the time to make yourself physically comfortable. yoga has taught me to sit erect, with my spine straight, my feet planted firmly on the floor, and my hands relaxed in my lap and that I should breathe diaphragmatically. When I have had a rough day or when I need a break, but cannot leave my office, I take a deep breath and count to four. I breathe in and out counting four or five times to quiet my mind. I keep remembering to breathe normally. I try to relax and let the thoughts come and then let them go. As you practice, the interference you feel at first will subside and you will be able to experience only that moment fully. I must also remind myself to be patient. Many times using these simple acts during the day can clear my mind and keep me focused longer while reducing the physical strain that comes with sitting at my desk for hours on end.

While there is a lot more to meditation than just learning the techniques and motions, I find that employing what I learn at my gym easily transfers into my work life. meditation is an entire state of mind and a whole different way of looking at the world and the role you play in it. To help you understand this better, try taking a yoga class during the week. The cost (which might seem considerable for an entrepreneur with a strained budget) is worth it when you weigh the mental, physical and spiritual benefits. For more information about how you can renew and revive your business, visit www.flourishingbusiness.com.

Elizabeth W. Gordon, founder and President of The Flourishing Business, LLC, is a visionary leader who has a passion for helping others achieve their entrepreneurial dreams and enjoy more of the best in life. With a vast and diverse background in many business arenas, Elizabeth regularly has the opportunity to share her business acumen with clients, large and small. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Atlanta and the Board of Directors of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Atlanta. She is an Accredited Executive Associate of the Institute for Independent Business (IIB) and a certified life Coach.

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The Right Golf Club

During the many years spent wasting my time on the golf course, It has been my observation that some golfers can play with about any kind of swing...and some golfers can play with most any kind of clubs.

I think I fall into the first group. The few times I have built up the courage to go to a Pro for lessons, has been a frustrating experience for the Pro. The Pro usually walks away in disgust after a few attempts at analyzing the subtle mechanics of my swing. One pro even refunded my money and begged me not to tell anyone he had given me lessons.

Yet, somehow I managed to hit the ball and play with about a 12 handicap. How is this possible with a hack swing that is way to flat and way to short with the weight shift of a run away hippo. It's hard to say...but I think it is due to my excellent choice of clubs.

If you look in my bag, which always has a few too many clubs in it, you will find a hodgepodge mixture of this and that. Its something that just happened over a period of time. I really don't know how a person can play with a matched set of clubs.

IN MY bag

A Titliest D75D driver that I always carry. this titleist driver is the only driver I could ever hit with any slight consistency. I can hook the ball, slice it or hit it straight with this club...I just never really know when it's going to happen. Usually, there's another newer driver that I am trying out, you never know when you might find the Holy Grail.

A Hogan H40 3 wood. I used this club as my driver for years and I still fall back on it when the real drivers become uncontrollable...which is often. In fact, I can hit this club very consistently...I don't know why I even carry a driver. I guess it's a macho/ego thing.

A Cobra low profile utility wood. this is a good club out of the rough...depending on how the ball is sitting up. If the ball is sitting up too high, I sometimes pop it up...most embarrassing. Come to think of it, I probably should retire this club and just hit my three wood, but I can consistently hook this club and a hook out of the rough is a good shot the have in your bag. If I need to slice it, I grab my two iron.

Six through PW Cleveland SP2 irons. These clubs were made famous by Corey Pavin when he had his hot streak in the 80's. These are my money clubs and I love these irons. Unfortunately, they are very ugly with that tremendous offset shank. I had to endure a lot of ribbing when I first began carrying theses irons. My golfing buddies still call them garden tools.

Two through five wilson blades. These are the surving members of my first set of irons I purchased in the sixties...that four iron is really sweet.

A Titliest one iron just for looks. I feel closer to God when I have it in my hand. I also use it a lot on the practice tee...I figure if I can learn to hit it, the other clubs will be a piece of cake.

A pair of 588 RTG Cleveland wedges. I really like that soft patina the clubs acquire after a little age. The only problem is my shiny spot is on the toe.

I also carry an old Golfsmith high lofted sand wedge, about a 62-degree I think...I occasionally like to try that famous over the head, Phil Nickleson shot. I never have been able to hit it...but I still keep practicing. I think it's a real handy shot to have in your bag.

An early Ping putter, never could putt very well with it, but I really like the sound when you strike the ball. I think it annoys my opponents.

That rounds out my set of golf clubs...with the exception of a few other clubs that I carry just because. Good golf is just a matter of matching the club to your swing and since I may have several different, swings on any given day the clubs I carry are entirely necessary. The only thing holding me back from breaking into the seventies is the load restrictions on my cart.

For more information on Golf Equipment go to Crazy Eddie's Golf Equipment You'll find Thousands of golf items so cheap you can use them once and throw away or break over your knee if you like.

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Yoga Cl In West Sydney