Monaco Revue -- The celebrity and lifestyle magazine with purpose

Columns: The Corporate Sufi

Azim Jamal is an inspirational speaker, management consultant, executive coach, and international best-selling author. His work has been recognized by leading thinkers in the field of human potential including Dr Deepak Chopra, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Jack Canfield, Brian Tracy and Dr Ken Blanchard. The Corporate Sufi applies timeless Sufi principles to the modern corporate world, examining the uncommon connection between an age-old philosophy for living and working in the 21st century.Visit www.azimjamal.com.

Do you follow the signs that come to you and persist until you succeed?

J.K. Rowling did this when she first envisioned Harry Potter and the wizard school in the mid-1990s. She was so excited and confident from within that she never let this idea slip away despite going through miscarriage, the death of her mother who was only 45, divorce, fired from her job - all after she began writing her book. She kept the vision and never let go of it even though it took her over four years to complete her first book. The Harry Potter series has gone on to sell over 400 million copies making her the second richest woman in the world. She followed and acted upon the sign that came from within!

How about you?

Do you pay attention to the signs you get and persist until you succeed?

As a leader, do you take into account the WIIFM factor?

A client hired me to speak to his very experienced sales team. This team had been to numerous sales seminars so I wondered what I could tell them that they had not heard before. I decided to speak to them about their personal needs before jumping into the sales tips. According to the CEO, the response was amazing! No one had taken the time to speak to them about their personal life. Most of the seminars focused on selling tips. Every human being carries a sign: WIIFM - what's in it for me? When you balance business with personal needs it becomes effective because we are holistic human beings and have multifaceted needs beyond just business. Unleashing your team's potential begins by understanding the team's holistic needs.

How about you?

Do you start from the perspective of your colleague, employee, customer, friends or family first (the WIIFM factor)?

Do you dig deep enough to find "water"?

Jalaluddin Rumi gives the example of a farmer who digs many holes in the ground but is unable to find water. If the farmer had kept digging in one place he would have found water. Rumi explains that this is representative of humanity. We do not dig deep enough to find what we are looking for.

How about you?

Do you have the patience to do what it takes to find what you want?

Are you giving to someone who needs you?

My father has been a great role model for me and always led by example. He never told me to serve the less advantaged, but I watched him do this as I grew up, so it was natural for me to serve. He has been an empowering and inspirational model for me and many others.

Today, at 79, he is weak and has to walk and eat very slowly. As you watch him, you can see a striking difference between his prime days and now. He needs empathy, understanding and patience from people around him.

If I cannot give this to him now, when will I? Balance allows you to spend time with your loved ones and stand beside them when they need you the most.

How about you?

Is there someone in your life, you need to give to?

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The Corporate Sufi
by Azim Jamal