Post date: Nov 02, 2010 1:55:15 PM
Have you read the book yet?
Seen the movie? Whatever you do, don't skip reading the book
in favor of watching the movie or you'll miss all the rich
storytelling the book has to offer.
Elizabeth Gilbert has written a book that many womenentrepreneurs can relate to. Some will enjoy her fun prosewith its mix of intelligence, charm, and wit. Others willresonate with the honest and transparent way she talks aboutthe good, the bad, and the ugly that led her to and throughher yearlong journey.There have been mixed reviews of the book. Oprah loved itand dedicated two episodes of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" toit. Maureen Callahan of the "New York Post" harshlycriticized "Eat, Pray, Love" and Oprah for devoting so muchtime to it.So what does this have to do with being an entrepreneur? Youmight be surprised.First and foremost, this memoir about Gilbert's yearlong
travels to Italy, India, and Indonesia underscores just how
much a woman's inner journey affects her outer life journey.
For the woman entrepreneur, it is also her inner journey
that makes her entrepreneurial journey so well worth taking
and ultimately determines the success or failure of her
business.
Five Quotations from "Eat, Pray, Love" to Sustain You along
Your Entrepreneurial Journey
1. "Stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone ought to
be."
That's a tough one for many women in general and women
entrepreneurs specifically. Because women are such community
and consensus builders focused on the good of the whole, we
often lack the backbone to just stand up and tell it like it
is.
In fact, that's the main theme of Gilbert's book: Tell the
truth. Tell the truth about who you are and what's important
to you. Tell it to yourself and to those important people
around you. And when you do, you'll find you've developed
the backbone you need to complete the entrepreneurial
journey.
2. "I am stronger than Depression and braver than Loneliness
and nothing will ever exhaust me."
This quotation is part of a much longer one that both calmed
and strengthened Gilbert when she was at her point of
greatest despair. Alone and crying out for the first time to
God, what she heard in response from deep within herself was
this: She was never alone, eternally loved, and always
protected.
As women entrepreneurs, haven't we all been there? Alone.
Crying out in the dark. Looking more for a connection than
for answers. Whether that calm, all-knowing voice actually
comes from God or from within, it is good to keep in mind
that we are not alone. Together, we are stronger than we
ever realized, with a deep reservoir of energy.
3. "'Tis better to live your own life imperfectly than to
imitate someone else's life perfectly."
This quotation from the "Bhagavad Gita" is a powerful mantra
for women entrepreneurs. Shades of what society once
considered women should be—perfect daughters, wives,
and mothers—still color our world today. Yet times
have changed. No longer is the right of passage for modern
women one of age (from girlhood to womanhood); it is one of
thought.
As a woman entrepreneur, you already have a strongly
developed thought form of wanting to live life on your own
terms. You already have as your driving forces independence,
wealth, and wanting to make a difference in the world. This
quotation reminds us that the perfection of the
entrepreneurial journey is in its imperfection.
4. "I am a better person when I have less on my plate."
What "Eat, Pray, Love" exhorts you to do is fill up our
body, mind, and soul with smiles. "Smile from your liver"
with what is pleasing to you. From an energetic perspective,
that which we focus upon is added upon. It may sound
clichéd to say, "Let go, let God." However, you must
find a way to let go of the little irritations that occur
throughout your day and move quickly past that which annoys
you to a more pleasing thought form.
5. "You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the
same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power
you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your
life so bad, work on the mind. That's the only thing you
should be trying to control."
The first time I read this, I laughed out loud! How true.
How true! Show me a woman entrepreneur who doesn't want to
be in control of her life, and I'll show you a woman whose
business is foundering.
The key is to select what thoughts to think. "...select your
thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every
day."I like how easy this quote makes it sound. After all,
controlling someone else's thoughts is not easy. It's not
even possible! However, controlling your own can be done,
can only be done by you, and is well worth the effort.
"Eat, Pray, Love" is not the first book of its kind nor will
it be the last. However, its popularity means that it struck
a universal chord of realization with many readers. As a
woman entrepreneur, this book is a timely reminder to you
about how important your inner journey is to your
entrepreneurial journey. If you want to run a successful
business, first learn to control your own thoughts. Let
these five quotations from "Eat, Pray, Love" remind you to
select your own thoughts each day, to smile both inside and
out, and to stay strong along your entrepreneurial journey.
About the Author:
Are you finally ready to own a business you truly love? Then
get instant access to your own free copy of Turn Your
Business Dreams Into Reality Toolkit at
http://YourSamuraiBusiness.com . Discover how to take your
passion and turn it into a profitable business with video
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path.