The Diamond Cutter

My word for 2015 was Collaboration and did I ever learn a lesson in this area! As I reflect on my performance, I think I was strong in some areas and weak in some others.

What I wrote as my goal for choosing a partner in January of 2015 now makes me laugh! Here it is!

The 3 most important aspects of a Collaborative Partner that I outlined are the following.

Choose a partner that is organized enough that they not only show up for appointments on time, but are able to have timely emails back and forth that are clear and succinct.

Honesty is a must. The partner needs to be emotionally and mentally able to comprehend so they are able to be honest, with their self and with you. This is not always the case. Sometimes people respond to the “stories in their head” and are not able to hear what you are saying. This can be timely and cumbersome.

Willing to commit to a contract. When you have business collaboration, a contract is important. Conversations you have prior to the contract may not be your final agreement. You need to have it in writing. If there are issues that come up after the contract, then amend or have an addendum to the contract.

What I have learned from 2015 is that it is not about the partner I chose. They are only mirrors. It is about me!

Recently I have been reading and understanding at a deeper level from The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Managing your Business and your Life.

There is a Soul Group that I have been in for several years. We are reading this book and working on ourselves. My friends are women I trust and have been able to be vulnerable with about my own short-comings and also about my resistance. What I am learning is that finding the best Collaborative Partnerships do not come from creating a list of what qualities they will have, but to understand my own imprints and attract the best people and situations.

If you are having some difficulties in any area of your business I strongly recommend this book.

Having said this, I am extremely grateful to Chet Caskey, the author of Spooky Spokane. My collaborations with him have been delightful and abundant! http://www.twodogcitytours.com/

Collaboration has been my word for 2015 and I have been practicing creating projects with others. I find that my style of communication is direct and my perfectionism is showing up. I am highly detailed oriented and highly present (partially my training as a counselor) and this year I am realizing that where others see a pine tree, I see each needle and pine cone.

My Soul Group is reading The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Managing your Business and your Life. In Chapter 7 the authors give 47 business problems and their solutions. The solutions are always an “imprint” that the business owner has that creates this problem. This belief is in alignment with what I hold to be true. What is happening in our lives is a reflection of ourselves.

One of the shorter examples from the book I can share (its more extensive in the book) is “Business problem #34. People around you are unreliable. You give them a job, and you’re never quite sure if they’re going to come through for you. The Solution here is . . . “the main actions you can take to assure yourself the perception (and therefore the reality) of reliability in the staff around you is for you to be constant and dependable in a very specific context: in your marriage or similar family commitments. It’s not fashionable nowadays to talk much about this kind of reliability, but according to the law of the potential in things and the imprints of our actions, this is one of the most important steps we can take in assuring stability in our personal and business lives.”

This book is really helping me practice what I believe. There is so much blaming of others, but the greatest changes come from making changes in myself.

What changes do you need to make in your own life to attract what you desire?

The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Managing your Business and your Life