What follows is a story that explains the power of the 7 Graces. I have focused on the first Grace, the grace of connection because it is the lynchpin that connects the other six graces, no pun intended. It is also essential to creating sparkly conversations. David Gray’s image illustrates how connection works very well.
At the beginning of 2012, I sat in a meeting room at PwC with two potential business partners at that time. We wanted to build the collaboration properly so we used an exercise from Neil Crofts’ book Authentic Business on how to articulate your purpose and find out how aligned you are. In essence mine was the desire to change the way we do business in the West. My potential collaborators both found my purpose statement too woolly and it was not long after that we realised that there was no future in working together.
However I really thought I was on to something and yet at that point I had no idea how to articulate that further. It was a few months later that I started reading tweets and posts on facebook by Lynn Serafinn about the the 7 Graces Global Conference that was taking place in June. I just knew that I had to go. It was so refreshing to hear someone voicing what I had thought for a long time.
In a nutshell what Lynn was saying was that we needed to change the way we marketed and sold our products and services. The whole purpose of the conference was to explain to people how this could be done. Although the quality of input varied over the 2.5 days, the energy in the room was electrifying and on the last morning, we all witnessed a miracle. We were talking about collaboration and we did an exercise and suddenly we had created the 7 Graces Global Garden – a magical place where we could all come together and share our own specific gifts. Since then I have witnessed the transformation of my business and I can honestly say that I am enjoying working for myself now in a way that I never did the first time around.
So what is the difference? I put it down to the way that I apply the 7 Graces to the way that I do business and for that I will be eternally grateful to Lynn because she articulated a way for all of us to own heart-based businesses and make a profit in a way that was congruent with our values. Also for me it is about playing to my strengths. I love meeting new people and connecting with them and then connecting them to others in my network.
One of the few rules I have in business is that it is about relationship first and business second. When I meet people initially be it online or offline, my intention is always to find a way to connect. I only ever talk about my business if the other person asks about it and I always find out as much as I can about their business and see what I can do to help them get to the next level. In that way I am very lucky because I have a huge number of contacts via FB, LinkedIn and Twitter so I often find myself acting as a connector. It’s that old adage the people buy from those they know, like and trust. It is more than just being visible; it is about taking time to get to know people in an online community. I discussed this recently after receiving a notification that an online contact had posted the same phrase in six different groups without stopping to check in and read and comment on other posts.
For all these reasons, I am sure that is why connection is the first of the seven graces. It is the glue that binds together what follows. You may feel that you already do this and yet are not having the same level of traction. If so, ask yourself how connected do I feel to myself and to Source? Why? Because many people starting out in self-employment make the same mistake. They are keen to find their tribe, those who love what they do and will buy from them, to the point that their focus is on connecting with others to the exclusion of anything else. Others sense this even if they cannot put their finger on it and so step back and don’t engage. It is vital that we connect to ourselves and to Source first because only then can we connect to others much more authentically. If you are wondering Source is anything that gives you a sense that there is more to life than our human existence be that nature, Universal light, energy or God.
That’s it from me for now. Curious to know what you make of this so do leave your comments below.
Hey Kate,
you’re totally right first serv then earn – it’s an old german sayying –
I also try to help wherever I can, but building a business takes a lot of time too,
plus I’m testing my SEO-skills aside of the normal work too.
I hope it pays out at the end – as I’ve started from scrath in ’09 in the age of 50 there’s not too much time left.
Congratulations – you’ve started a very good platform for more Connection here.
Keep it up 😉
So how’s it going five months on Andy? I hope you are finding success through serving others first. I would love to know more about how it is all going. I have started writing articles on here about how to do it. Hope you enjoy them and find them helpful 😉
A wonderful post Kate.
Connections build relationships and relationships are built not on one-night stand transactions, but on longer term commitments by each to the success of the other. It’s this commitment to the other that creates more value for each. Connection and relationships always trump transactions, on a personal level and for business success.
Thanks for your thoughtful words Cindy and it always makes my heart sing to find others who share similar values because as we work together the new paradigm for doing business will become a reality 😉
Hi Andy thanks for your comment and what you say is absolutely true. Building a business takes time. Good for you taking the plunge at 50 that gives us all hope 😉 Look forward to seeing you again soon.
for sure Kate, I’ll be back … to see how you’re doing – if ever I can help, just drop me a mail.
Thank you Andy really appreciate that and had meant to comment on your comment so to speak but am learning as I go.
Katie, I love your story. You already had the desire and the intention to, as you put it, “change the way we do business in the West.” The Divine connected you with the people and resources to make that a reality. Connection is not only the cornerstone to creating a sustainable and profitable business, it’s the cornerstone to a satisfying, Spirit-centered life.
Paula you put it so well and how uplifting and encouraging it is to read your words after a day of rejections whilst at work. Thank you 😉
Bless your heart! Think of it as sifting and sorting, sifting and sorting, rather than rejections. You are sorting just as the folks on the other side are, looking for lined up connections. You made great progress today! Sorted out lots of the less-than-lined-up connections!
Now that is a great way to view it thanks for your words of wisdom Paula 😉 So true.
I love this! Especially: “When I meet people initially be it online or offline, my intention is always to find a way to connect.” Words of wisdom. Thanks, Kate!
Bless you Sue and thanks for being part of my journey to get to this point. I am going to do a post on each of the Graces which seems relevant as we start to write the curriculum.
Lovely Kate and from the heart and that’s what counts – love that you’ve got your site up and running now – well done to you and Meg by the sounds of it… Philip
Thanks for your wonderful words as always Philip 😉 and yes getting this far is very much thanks to the marvellous Meg. She is now a member of FB Healerzone so do get to know if you can as she is a generous spirit.
So true about connection being the glue that binds the rest of it together. Great post. Keep up the awesome. 🙂
A wonderful post, @twitter-29199230:disqus. I like especially how you say that “connection is the first of the seven graces [because] it is the glue that binds together what follows.” Without connection with Self, Source, others and the inner purpose/flow of our business there really is no way to create any kind of true “success”, whether financially, emotionally, intellectually or socially. I’m so delighted you are such a cornerstone of our 7 Graces Project, and that I have the opportunity to work with you in co-creating its training course. I know the connection between us will in turn help create greater connection around the planet.
How kind of you to say that Lynn and I have that feeling too that as the connection between the three of us continues to strengthen and grow, it will ripple out and impact positively on others’ lives too. Thanks for taking the time to comment and there will be more to come – a post on each of the Graces.
Wonderful article Kate. I especially like what you say about connecting with yourself and Source first to be able to connect with others authentically. My stroke has taught me that…about moving from the masculine, ego based “what’s in it for me” mindset to a more feminine heart-based place where it’s more about “how can I serve others?” Thanks again!
And thank you Erica. The more of us that believe this and work from that place and share examples of what it has brought us, the greater power and influence the message will have. Let’s keep riding that wave 😉
Love it, Kate and it’s so true! – particularly this comment – they are keen to find theire tribe, those who love what they do and will buy from them, to the point that their focus is on connecting with others…..’ I find myself backing away from people who present me with their business card and start introducing themselves and their business without even engaging with me to any degree. I appreciate it may be nerves at first particularly if they are new to marketing themselves but it comes back to the principle of Laws of Attraction.
Some insightful points here Carol. What I have noticed is that the more I appreciate those around me from a place of authenticity, the more that comes back to me as I long as I give and connect with no expectations. It is powerful stuff. The other thing I would say is that as the appreciation increases, so does your vibration so you attract higher vibrational stuff in.
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