Doing Things We Don’t Like to Do

    When we made the decision to move to Florida, I was blessed to have the choice of starting my business over again, or simply retiring.  I gave it a lot of thought, weighing the pros and cons, and finally decided to see what the universe would offer up with a little elbow grease and genuine intention.

 

    One of the reasons I debated starting up again was because of the key activity that I would have to pursue:  cold calling.  I know very few people who like to do it, and I’m one who usually dreads it.  So I had to look closely at my resistance to the process and ask if there was a spiritual intention that would justify (and not just rationalize) my intruding on people’s lives and asking them to give me some of their precious time.

 

    As a newcomer to the state, I realized that I was making networking or relationship calls.  I noticed that I was looking forward to connecting with people, getting to know them just a little, and to let them know a little about me.  Every appointment would give me the opportunity to learn more about Florida, about the public sector, about the people and the culture.  Each conversation allowed me to plant the seeds for future relationships, whether they were business, personal or both.  With that in mind, I identified cities that were within a reasonable (meaning no more than 1.5 hours) distance from Poinciana.

 

    As I began making calls, I kept my introduction short, saying I was new to the state from California, and I wasn’t selling anything.  Could the person give me no more than 20 minutes to introduce myself, then tell me about the public sector in Florida, and offer suggestions of organizations or individuals who might want to talk with me?  The only somewhat difficult call so far has been to a woman in charge of training at a large city.  She candidly told me that she didn’t have 20 minutes to meet or have lunch (which I didn’t suggest) or do anything of the sort.  That she had no administrative help and had no time for people who wanted these kinds of meetings.  I felt a great deal of compassion for her and told her that I appreciated her candor.  She then spent the next five minutes providing an “information dump” of things I should check out.  And she concluded saying again that she didn’t have time to talk with me!  But in fact, our conversation was very helpful and she made some wonderful suggestions.  Afterward I felt even more compassion for her being overloaded and unhappy; her negativity was not about me, but about her work situation.  At some level, I think she wanted to be helpful, and I think she sensed my concern for her.

 

    One of the most delightful calls was this morning.  A Human Resource Director had not returned my original voice mail, but I called him again and we talked for a few minutes and he asked if I could meet him tomorrow and we’d have a cup of coffee and he’d make suggestions of places and people I could contact—and I should be sure to come casual, since tomorrow was “casual day” and I’d make them all uncomfortable if I dressed up!  His humor and generosity touched me, and I’m looking forward to spending time with him, not just as a networking call, but because of his engaging spirit.

All of my calls and appointments so far have been rewarding experiences.  Some have been brief and business-like, but always friendly.  Other meetings we’ve also talked about hurricanes and the growing diverse community in Florida.  And all of the meetings have honored and appreciated my desire to learn, to connect with others, and to continue to share the work I love to do.

 

    Living a spiritual life for me is all about these experiences.  I try to frame every experience as an opportunity to connect with others.  I try to be as authentic as I can, so they can see “who I am,” with my love for empowering people and for reducing the conflict in the world.  Each meeting is a chance to be in a place of “not knowing,” to open to whatever presents itself and embrace it, no matter what unfolds.  It’s a place where the divine can manifest through positive energy, empathy, and shared experiences.  I’m grateful for every opportunity to grow, to learn and to connect with others.