Words for Rashaa (and inspiration for the rest of us)

The only way to take control of your life, raise your standard of living and move beyond merely surviving is to create your own unique product or service that you offer to increasing numbers of people in exchange for the things of value that you desire. This simple formula applies to countries as well as people. A self-sufficient economy has its own products or services of value to export to the world. Similarly, a self-sufficient individual has something of value to exchange in the global marketplace. That thing of value is based on your natural talent, skill, or interest—in other words, your passion!

Here’s an e-mail exchange that occurred this week following the airing of a radio program on which I was interviewed.

Hi Walt,

I am Rashaa, “creator” 🙂 of Pink Chocolate Vegan Cupcakes. I wanted to thank you for your feedback on The McKenzie Business Forum talk radio show today.

I’ve heard very few people tie spirituality to business or anything related and that was refreshing to hear. I also want to thank you for your candidness as to why you wanted a different life for yourself [I told Rashaa I want the freedom to see movies in the middle of the day]. That admission alone was priceless for me! There are a few things in life I would never include as my reasons for wanting to start my own business such as loving to be outside absorbing the heat from the high noon sun, there’s just something about that time of day for me and the thought of being inside punching somebody’s clock is saddening for me. The sun reminds me of God. The sun does these amazing things for my existence so I don’t want to be confined in a building most days of my life, missing God. Wow, I’ve never said that to anyone but myself…..
Some things you suggested today I haven’t done, like target health stores with my cupcakes but some of that is because I know it’s premature at this point of my journey and I’m actually not sure I want my product in stores…that’s more of a long-term goal.

…My other main reason for Pink Chocolate is sitting on my lap demanding I read Thomas the Train so I will wrap this up. However, I am testing the mail order idea of my cupcakes and would like to ask if you would allow me to send you the Pink Chocolate Cupcakes Box Set which includes everything you need to bake wonderful vegan cupcakes (except for the muffin pan and oven)? I’ve haven’t researched it thoroughly but I can’t say I’ve heard of anyone doing this with vegan cupcakes so maybe I’m on to something. Again, thank you for today, I feel even more motivated and encouraged….

—rashaa, www.pinkchocolatecupcakes.com

Hi Rashaa,

I’m glad I could be of motivational benefit to you. As James Taylor proclaimed in song, “That’s why I’m here!”

I’ve waited a day to send this to you specifically so I could share with you what I did today. As you may have heard on the radio show, I’m currently spending my time on the island of Saipan—a little piece of paradise in the Pacific. I just came back from spending an hour sunbathing and communing with the sun (details of my degree of undress shall remain undisclosed). The sun does amazing things for me, too. I feel more alive and “real” when I am able to bask in it.

There are those who will tell you that the sun is not merely a “reminder” of God, but the cosmic manifestation of the creator. The reason you feel saddened when away from the direct rays of the sun is that the unnatural environment of most office and work environments (stale “conditioned” air, artificial light) keep you out contact with your source. (visit www.lawofone.info)

One of the best things you can do for your entire being is to spend an hour in direct sunlight every day. Don’t let the sunscreen companies fool you. Sunlight does not cause skin cancer. In fact, people would ascend to higher levels of health and mental acuity, reverse osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, and lower their risk of cancer if they would make exposure to direct sunlight a regular part of their daily routine. (no shades, and especially no glass in between you and the sun) (Visit mercola.com and naturalnews.com and search for “sunlight”)

But, I digress. My main reason for writing is that some of the thoughts in your letter and during our talk on the air call out for response.

Answer the right questions.

There are three questions that are ultimately of lasting importance to all of us.

1. Who am I? 2. Why am I here? 3. How shall I survive?

Every other question with which we busy ourselves is simply distraction. Finding out who you are, why you are here, and devising a means of survival are the only real issues. While many people choose to separate the pursuit of answers to those questions, the most efficient course, in my opinion, is to combine them. In other words, link your identity (who I am) to your purpose (why I am here) to your means of survival (how I shall survive). In other words, turn your passion into profit!

Since we live in a capitalist society, we must sell in order to survive. We sell our time, our talents, our products or services. If you had a plot of land you owned outright, didn’t have to pay property taxes, and could grow and build what you needed to survive, there would be no need to sell anything. But, given that we must sell to survive the way our society is constructed, doesn’t it make sense to be as efficient as we can? Find your purpose, discover your passion and use it to survive and thrive, and you feed three birds with one seed! (I’m not one for killing them with stones!)

2. Be true to yourself.

Rashaa, you are not here to adapt to what others think is appropriate. If, for example, your reason for starting your business is to spend more time with your cat, then so be it. You don’t have to modify it for anyone. Don’t be ashamed of it. You will be surprised—as you discovered yourself—that the most candid of responses are the most poignant and ultimately of most benefit to others. You connected to what I said about wanting to see movies in the middle of the day because it is my truth. We are all more alike than different, you see, and what is truth for me resonates with what is truth for you. We connect on the level of truth.

3. Set your own bar

What if I told you that experts say that it takes five years to learn how to tie your shoe laces? How would you respond? You would laugh at me, wouldn’t you. Why? Because you know for a fact that it doesn’t take five years!

I’m here to tell you, Rashaa, that it doesn’t take five years for your company to be successful. It can take five months, five days, or five minutes!

Let’s conduct an experiment. Ask someone you think is intelligent how long it takes to make a sale on a website once you launch it. Do that now, before you continue reading. OK, what did they tell you?

Now, I’m telling you that on more than one occasion, in less than 48 hours of launching a website, I made a sale. I’m telling you that in 1992 I wrote a 200-page book in four weeks, that continues to outsell all my other books. I’m telling you that I even sell products that don’t exist (at the time I launch the site), and people can and will “pay on a promise” of future delivery. All these things are realities I’ve discovered that go against what experts say about creativity, selling, and business success.

4. Listen to the right people

Rashaa, you’re listening to the wrong people! So, who should you listen to? Well, if your field of vision were wide enough, if your vantage point were high enough, and if you were sufficiently convinced of your identity as a creator, and the greatness within you, you would need only listen to yourself!

But, alas, you view the world through a prism of others’ construction, you stand on the shoulders of those who have not climbed as high as they could, and you’ve let others define who you are and what you can do. And so your belief in yourself and the possibilities that await lies dormant.

You are living a life disconnected from truth, and thus your business struggles and what you believe to be normal is limited. Notice how the simple statement I made (that shows I am fearlessly connected to the truth of what motivates made) affected your level of motivation. Imagine how much more creative, motivated and profitable you could be if you were connecting to truth like that on a daily level! There’s a reason why philosophers and spiritualists have said “the truth shall set you free.” Once you connect with truth in all its forms, you live a fearless life. You live a life unencumbered by limits that others accept.

5. Become a Truth Seeker

There’s a saying that “the only way to control someone is to lie to them.” Anyone who is controlling another person is lying to them. Conversely, anyone who is experiencing a life of limitations, scarcity, helplessness and who feels controlled by others has been lied to. They have been lied to about themselves, the world, their place in it, the power they wield as well as many other things.

People cannot manipulate you once you know truth. You cannot be fooled by marketers who would sell you drugs as a cure for disease, if you know the truth about what causes disease. You cannot be fooled by diet plan creators who would sell you shakes that make you lose weight, if you knew the truth about why people gain weight. You cannot be misled by experts who tell you what is possible in business if you know a different truth and the true basis of success. And you could not be fooled or controlled by people who would keep you away from sunlight once you know the power it has for creation and cure.

So, where do you start? Become a truth seeker. Resolve to question conventional wisdom. Commit to creating a new truth for yourself. Check out the sites I mentioned, and as you grow in your new belief of what’s real and what’s possible, you will find your reality changing in astounding ways. You CAN create the lifestyle of your dreams, Rashaa. Go for it. Your sun awaits!
—Walt

p.s. Yes, you may certainly send me the box set! My address follows.

Note: For more tips on overcoming your fears, acting on your ideas, changing the game, and creating a passion-centered lifestyle, visit www.passionprofit.com!

*Note: If you’re a rabble rouser on Saipan having trouble accessing the dhs.gov site, visit www.regulations.gov, download a copy of the regulations (Docket #: USCBP-2009-0001) and submit comments. They can also be mailed to: Border Security Regulations branch, Office of International Trade, Customs and Border Protection, Mint Annex 799 9th Street, NW, Washington DC 20001

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Until next week, remember, success is a journey, not a destination!

Walt F.J. Goodridge is author of 12 books including Turn Your Passion Into Profit. Walt offers coaching and workshops to help people pursue and profit from their passions. Originally from the island of Jamaica, Walt has grown several successful businesses in the US, and now makes his home here in Saipan. To learn more about the Saipanpreneur Project and Walt’s philosophy and formula visit www.saipanpreneur.com and www.passionprofit.com.
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