As I searched for some inspiration about this week’s blog, the theme of “fear of action” in my recent business coaching and consulting engagements came to mind. As I thought about that theme, my screensaver suddenly popped up – with pictures from a memorable trip. At this very same time last year – I had gone on a retreat to Teotihuacan , Mexico to explore the pyramids of the ancient Toltec’s (precursors to the Mayans) and their philosophies and approach to life. Upon reflection, that screensaver made me realize how appropriate this was for an article on how to conduct business – Toltec style.
Before I integrate the idea of how the Toltecs are relevant to business, let me point out that the Toltec way is not a religion. It is a way of life that can dynamically change how we see our world, and ourselves. There are no rules, no doctrines. It is more a path of action offered for your review, and it gives each one of us an opportunity for self-improvement and self-empowerment. Everything I have seen in this approach is also compatible with the wisdom of masters and spiritual paths from all cultures, religions, and philosophies.
The self-empowerment process of the Toltec uses your awareness to discover how you are distorting your situation, perhaps sabotaging it, then deciding if it serves you, and changing it if it does not. Your skills in finding and healing wounds from the past will improve, your relationships will improve, and you will soak in more happiness - isn’t that everyone’s impulse anyway – whether in personal relationships or in business?
For those of you who may be familiar with the works of Carlos Castaneda who wrote in detail about Toltecs of the past - their rituals and power seeking methods of the supernatural - this is not the Toltec way I am describing.
I was led to make a trip to Teotihuacan (simply called “Teo” – a maze of paths and several large pyramids pointed at the sun and moon) by the best selling book – the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, MD, himself a Nagual, from a long family lineage of Toltec shamans.
Don Miguel describes a living energy system in the human mind that generates and feeds on fear. This fear is created by our own self rejection - we are conditioned into societal beliefs, domestication of the mind so to speak, from early childhood, that to many of us seems “normal” or goes unnoticed. Our ego mind (“Inner Judge”) creates the fear to keep us protected. It is this FEAR - fear of being accepted, fear of failure, fear of being rejected, etc, that Don Miguel calls the “Parasite” that keeps us from our personal freedom. Through awareness, understanding, and re-conditioning you become the “The Spiritual Warrior.” As the Spiritual Warrior, symbolically you become like the Jaguar, stalking in the jungle of your inner mind, searching out the Parasite, including its fear, judgments and other distortions. The intention is to remove their influence so that you can experience true freedom and happiness. You ultimately choose self acceptance and love over self rejection and fear.
So how does this relate to our business subject? How you relate to yourself in life is how you relate in your business environment. In my business coaching and consulting engagements, FEAR and CYNICISM are the two major OBSTACLES TO SUCCESS I have encountered.
Many of my business clients – some entrepreneurs, some corporate senior managers, take the safe road – either indecision - status quo - out of FEAR of FAILURE. They don’t realize that this fear is coming from the Inner Judge who says “Stay small, don’t risk, don’t change and you will be safe”. Understand that failure is just a component of success. It is there to sharpen some skill or knowledge you simply did not make yourself aware of at that time – an experience to grow from. It is NOT a reflection on your talents, your abilities or your acceptance as a person. Being aware of the ‘failure’ experience and looking at the root cause of your pain are the first steps in the Toltec business – having the courage to change based on that experience, asking questions, forming new strategies, expanding – are the measure of the Toltec Warrior.
Another is a FEAR of MONEY – the fear that money will run out, or that losses will occur if certain actions are taken. Too often, the power of money controls them , failing to ask themselves if what they are doing makes sense for the longevity of the company, rather than living for another day. As they have been domesticated to think that working harder and longer hours each day is the answer, they reinforce this mindset through perceived ‘bad consequences’ and as a result are unable to change. If they took a personal inventory, as the Toltec Warrior would do, to identify this cause, they might say “Does this make sense”? All too often, instead of trusting their inner wisdom, that genius that is unique in all of us, most go with the crowd. They do things because they model behavior on others, whether they are companies or individuals.
As a Toltec master would say - You have been outer directed for so long that being inner directed is a challenge.
You learned not to trust your feelings and emotions – now you can un-learn them.
The Toltec path in business is about getting in touch with what is truly real – your inner truth. Your feelings are your truth. Know you are always right for you – there is nothing to defend. You do not have to get it “right” for anyone else. You define what is your truth, not based on beliefs or emotions – but on wisdom that is calling out to you from within. How does this play in the business world? Ultimately a business leader , after weighing all the information presented, will need to rely on his/her intuitive sense, a sense that the decision is based on wisdom, not what all the outside noise may be saying. I learned in business experience to trust my intuitive side for my decisions, especially because it is so critical to put yourself in the mindset of your employees and your clients – what are they perceiving is their problem? How do they view you? How do you engender trust? What are their body motions telling you that their words aren’t?
Another consequence of awareness of these fears, then releasing this behavior, is the fact that you now make room for creativity. Without this reconditioning, the Inner Judge is controlling the patterns of fear to the extent that you are not open to creative impulses. However, by delaying your reaction to negative emotions, you give yourself a chance to think and to ponder a possible different path or decision.
Overcoming cynicism is an equal task to overcoming fear. The Toltecs say - Whenever you judge, you are seeing yourself as the victim. The path to empowerment is the knowledge that we are only self-perceived victims because we have created ourselves in this light. We create our own doubts and cynicism. All of us have doubts. Our doubts often times paralyze us into indecision. “I am not good enough” or “I can’t do this”. Perhaps it is “What if the economy falls as I invest in my company, or I hire new workers?” In order to grow your business, you have to have self growth in this area. Recognizing that all of this is just “busy” talk, an avoidance to the real issues – it goes back to the FEAR of FAILURE, and hence analysis/paralysis. First of all, you can’t forecast the future, you have to know that you have the power to chart your own course, and to have acceptance for what you have decided. I know I have breathed easier when I decided to overcome some cynicism, to move forward with my plans, and to actually visualize the result and obstacles. When you do that, and also imagine the consequences and really feel them - the FEAR of action dissipates.
Lastly, I want to focus on the ramifications of Don Miguel’s The Four Agreements book, his definitions of the Agreements, and its relevance to business:
Agreement 1 – BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD
Most importantly, to be impeccable with your word is to never use it against yourself.
Putting yourself down will stop the creative process in your business. With other, speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Your word is your bond – you will create consistency in the delivery of your service or product, and create a trust with your clientele, empowering you to expand. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth.
Agreement 2 – DON’T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY
In business, as a leader, you have to let things roll off your back - nothing others do to you or say to you is because of you. It is their perception or belief. Being attached to your opinion is where freedom is lost. When you are immune to the opinion of others, you can clearly focus on objective – avoiding drama and time spent at the water cooler.
Agreement 3 - DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS
It is critical to your business to communicate with others as clearly as you can with your intentions to avoid misunderstandings. In my eBook, Small Business Success by Design, I talk about the importance of follow-up and verifying the communication links with employees and clients to firm up next steps, actions, or consequences. Also, have the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want from your employees , vendors , and clients. You will see huge strides in your business success when you do this.
Agreement 4 – ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST
You will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
If you have a small business or are a corporate manager interested in learning more about Toltec wisdom, OR , if you are interested in getting together for a journey to Teo to experience the path of the Toltec , please contact me at
dennisc@emipartners.com
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