Three years ago, a woman wrote to me and said, "You are so lucky to be able to do what you enjoy." That struck me as a very strange comment, and I've been thinking about it ever since.
First, I'd like to point out that there was no "luck" involved. I chose my career. It's true that I love what I do, but that doesn't mean that it's all fun and games. In fact, my teenage son disdainfully calls my work "menial labor". A typical day may include answering e-mails, updating the website, preparing seed orders, packaging seeds, weeding and watering the garden, photographing flowers, harvesting and cleaning seeds, testing seeds, and paying bills. If I'm lucky, I might find time to eat and take a shower.
Okay, maybe the work isn't very glamorous, but what about fame and fortune? It's true that my website is popular with gardeners, and I get lots of praise. But fame gets stale really fast. Most people write to me because they want advice, and I take the time to respond. But I don't get paid to give advice. I call that part of my business "charity work".
As far as money goes, I didn't make a single dime in the first three years of my business because all of it went into buying seeds, plants, a digital camera, and computer equipment. I didn't get paid for designing the website, either. I've lost track of how many thousands of hours I've spent writing the seed descriptions and articles. Two years ago, I finally started to make a profit. Now I'm making enough money to improve my family's financial situation.
Is this a glamorous job? I don't think so. Then why do I do it? You may as well ask, "Why do birds fly? Why do singers sing? Why do flowers bloom?" It's not just a job. It's my life. The seed business has never been about achieving fame or fortune. It's not a means to an end. It's a journey, not a destination. And it has been one of the most exciting and rewarding journeys of my life. I look back at what I've accomplished, the things that I've learned, and the people I've met. I never imagined it could be so wonderful.
So, what is the secret of my success? I think that I am successful because I feel joy in everything I do. In that sense, I have been successful from the very first day. It doesn't matter whether I'm pulling weeds, counting seeds, or answering e-mails. No matter what I'm doing, I focus my attention on the task at hand, and I put my heart into it. I feel the joy of being in the Now.
Of course, there have been brief periods when I temporarily lost track of my true purpose and the feelings of joy and peace. One such incident happened about a year ago when I was feeling overwhelmed and bored with too many seeds to package. I decided to hire help. The woman I hired only cared about the money, not the seed business. She wasn't even a gardener. She mixed up some tomato seeds, and several customers ended up with cherry tomatoes instead of the large-fruited variety they had ordered. When I confronted her about the mistake, the woman couldn't understand why switching the seeds was a big deal. She got defensive and said, "If you want the job done perfectly, then hire someone else. I quit!"
For a long time, I couldn't figure out why she had reacted that way. I was paying her a remarkably high salary for a job that requires very little skill or education. Heck, even my kids can do it! I finally realized that the problem was that she felt no joy in what she was doing. I've come to the conclusion that it's not what you do that makes you happy, but how you do it. Is your job simply a means to an end? Are you just working for money and waiting for retirement? Or is there joy in each little task, no matter how insignificant or menial it is? Joy is found in little things. It comes from within. It is your feeling of love and the power of your presence in this moment.
Last week a friend said, "You need to take your seed business to the next level." She told me that I should hire employees to do the "menial tasks" like packaging seeds, so that I can concentrate on "running the business" and making more money. I tried to explain that it's not my goal to make Diane's Flower Seeds into a big corporation. Of course, I like to make money, and sometimes I get tired of packaging seeds. But going to the "next level" would only be exchanging one set of problems for another. I enjoy sitting at the kitchen table, packaging seeds and listening to books on tape. I'm doing what I like and getting an education at the same time. I don't want to give that job to someone else. After all, I don't hire a weeding crew to weed my garden. The menial tasks are like meditation for me. When I'm doing these quiet, little things, I feel relaxed and happy. That's when I'm most likely to think deep thoughts and receive inspiration from God.
When people talk about taking my seed business to the "next level", they are thinking of my business as a means to an end. It's useless to try to explain to them that my business is already achieving its purpose, which is to bring joy to me and other people. If taking it to the next level means hiring people who hate their jobs, then I won't do it because that would defeat the purpose of my business. I’m not interested in becoming the CEO of a big company because I know that it wouldn’t make me any happier than I am right now.
Is there joy in what you are doing? If not, you have two choices -- either change what you are doing, or change how you are doing it. The only alternative is to be miserable. A boring job may be transformed into a spiritual practice by giving it your full attention. Put your heart and your feeling of love into everything you do. It will transform your life.
People often comment on how much they enjoy my website. I think the real attraction of the website is that it was created with love. My loving attention goes into every article, every seed description, and every picture. The purpose of the website is to share that love with others. When you buy a packet of seeds, you know that loving attention went into every step of the process that ended with the seeds that you are holding in your hand. Of course, that doesn't mean that I don't make mistakes. I'm only human. But most mistakes can be avoided by focusing on the present moment.
Yes, I'm lucky to be able to do what I enjoy. I'm enjoying the journey of life.
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