Last Friday at a yoga practice our teacher told us about a Japanese XIII century philosopher Dōgen, famous for his extensive writings and teachings of Buddhist practice and enlightenment. Dōgen once said:
A trickle of water, if consistent, wears away rock.
Today's popular culture is increasingly tempting us by overnight success: think X Factor contestants, desperate to change their fortunes overnight, new products being advertised to death, rather than building a long-lasting relationship with consumers. Some entrepreneurs are impatient to make a quick buck, and stock markets reward myopic strategies.
And yet ancient wisdom tells us to practise consistency, take one step after another and repeat, emphasising the idea of gradual becoming. Sensei of the new age marketing, Seth Godin, wrote last week in his blog:
Trust is earned, value is delivered, concepts are learned. Day by day we improve and build an asset, but none of it seems to be paying off. Until one day, quite suddenly, we become the ten-year overnight success.
He is right, of course, although that's not to say that it's easy. Teaching your children empathy, increasing your brand awareness, mastering your first head stand takes a great deal of patience and faith. But when your daughter opens a box of chocolates and offers you to take a pick first, when your product becomes a household brand, when you can do a head stand without fear or support just like that - shift happens.
A trickle of water, if consistent, wears away rock.
Today's popular culture is increasingly tempting us by overnight success: think X Factor contestants, desperate to change their fortunes overnight, new products being advertised to death, rather than building a long-lasting relationship with consumers. Some entrepreneurs are impatient to make a quick buck, and stock markets reward myopic strategies.
And yet ancient wisdom tells us to practise consistency, take one step after another and repeat, emphasising the idea of gradual becoming. Sensei of the new age marketing, Seth Godin, wrote last week in his blog:
Trust is earned, value is delivered, concepts are learned. Day by day we improve and build an asset, but none of it seems to be paying off. Until one day, quite suddenly, we become the ten-year overnight success.
He is right, of course, although that's not to say that it's easy. Teaching your children empathy, increasing your brand awareness, mastering your first head stand takes a great deal of patience and faith. But when your daughter opens a box of chocolates and offers you to take a pick first, when your product becomes a household brand, when you can do a head stand without fear or support just like that - shift happens.
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