There seems to have been a new work ethic lurching about in recent years. It looks something like this: “If it seems difficult, or if it seems like hard work, then you are doing it wrong.” The Law of Attraction people really seized the day with this one: formulate your desire, set your intention, and you are ready to go, go, go! As I have mentioned before, the fabric of the universe will bend and mould itself to your will in an effortless fashion that just demonstrates that the One, the Almighty, and the only God is on your side.
You too can be the chosen one if you just open yourself to the universal power and luscious goodness that courses through this abundant universe.
But it might be best to ignore the deformed, the deranged, the Africans, the war refugees, the earthquakes, the just plain ugly, and all those damned IEDs. These sorts of things can undermine a perfectly good theory. Just attract the good stuff. That’s right, just the good stuff.
And let’s invoke the power of Einstein to support us on this quest. After all, did he not proclaim the universe to be a friendly one? So, if we just mention quantum physics and mirror neurones, we have the supporting scientific proof, don’t we?
Now, I suspect that a lot of this ideology can probably be traced back to the corporate buzz of a few years ago. “Work smarter, not harder,” those men in crisp suits and lavender shirts advised us. It was their desire to decrease costs and decrease expenditures and thus increase the profit margins. It’s not a bad idea, but as with all things, when costs are decreased and expenditures reined in, the recipients of those former costs and expenditures don’t get paid. But it might be best to ignore that part of the equation too. Just focus on the good stuff. That’s right, just the good stuff.
But then the personal development industry got ahold of this blue-sky thinking too. Ever wondered about those corporate lifestyle dropouts who themselves seem so keen to repackage Office Newspeak? They sell it back to the wage slaves as a gospel of liberation, complete with promises of personal and financial freedom to boot. Thus, what the collared workers listen to in corporate meetings this week will become your rehashed self-development workshop programme in a few years’ time.
But with an added component. In the personal development game, everything must be “effortless”, “easy” and “instant”. Overnight success is the name of the game.
So, think outside that box, downshift, and clear your mind of clutter. Reach for the sky and fill yourself with blue-sky thinking. Synergise and catch that low-hanging fruit. It’s easy in this game, and everyone can be a guru. It is all about getting what you want, fulfilling your potential, being true to yourself, and aligning yourself with the universe.
The thing with this effortless and overnight success concept is that so many, many people are chasing it, and that worries me. And it worries me greatly. In personal development and alphabet therapies, there are so, so many people who have websites that create the illusion of great success and affluence, yet they are in fact broke, getting poorer, and are anything but successful in that business. Whilst I understand the advertising and marketing thing, I get that the effect is that a certain illusion gets created. No one wants to say, “Actually, I have no money and no clients, so please, please come and see me.” Of course, such behaviours will not lead to success.
As many therapists and coaches find, the obvious solution to this, of course, is to become a trainer and train other people in the stuff. It passes the buck and passes the burden.
Collectively, this leads many struggling alphabet therapists and personal development coaches to believe they are the only ones facing challenges, prompting them to attend more training sessions in an attempt to solve their issues. They attend training that offers success effortlessly. If this is you, you are not the exception to the rule. I honestly believe that you are the norm.
Go to Companies House and see just how many personal development and training companies have failed to submit tax returns or other financial documents, been struck off, or gone bust. You may be surprised at what you find. Read those documents carefully, then go back and read their websites carefully. See if you can see the mismatch.
Now, back to that “last week’s corporate bullshit is next week’s instant success training course” thing.
Remember that all too often, the people promoting such things are usually known as “former employees”.
