How to Outsmart Your Competitors

I was running late this bitterly cold Monday morning. I was wearing my brand new navy blue suit and shiny black shoes ready to make probably the most important presentation this year and, guess what? I'm running late. "Why? Why now?" I yelled gritting my teeth. "Not today of all days. Not today!" I slammed the door to my car, kicked the front wheel and in a very irritated mood started to head for nearest bus stop cursing quite loudly, finishing off with, "I just bought the battery last week, and it's already dead. I can't believe it." I haven't been on a bus for years, and it had to happen today of all days. What a life! My thoughts were in disarray, confused and in shambles. What if I arrive late? What would happen? Would I lose the contract I've been working on for the longest time? Cursing repeatedly under my breath I walked towards the back of the bus, took a seat and stared out of the steamy window. I decided the next forty minutes were destined to be the longest, most uncomfortable and frightening minutes of my business life. In an effort to get my mind off the contract that I might lose to another competitor, I opened the book that my business partner had given me for my 35th birthday. I previously attempted to read it, but couldn't get into it. I kept it in my briefcase for show. It just did not resonate with me. "Since I can't clear my thoughts, I might as well flick through it. I've got to get my mind off the presentation and the contract," I declared a little louder than I had intended noticing the two teenage girls sitting in the seat in front of me giggling aloud. I hesitantly opened my brief case and took out Wallace Wattles' book entitled The Science of Getting Rich. Reading bits and pieces here and there, I eventually stopped, froze and announced, "Wow! This is incredible." The lady with the red suit and matching red shoes nudged me with her shoulder, stared at me in amazement, eyebrow raised, and allowed a smile to appear at the corner of her mouth. "You just had an 'aha' moment, did you?" she politely asked. "Did I ever," I replied and gave her the book to read what I just read. I could almost hear her read the words off of the page: "There is a thinking stuff (energy) from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, permeates, penetrates, and fills the inner space of the Universe. A thought in this substance produces the thing that is imaged by the thought. "Man can form things in his thought, and by impressing his thought upon formless substance can cause the thing he thinks about to be created. In order to do this, man must pass from the competitive to the creative mind; otherwise he cannot be in harmony with the Formless Intelligence, which is always creative and never competitive in spirit." "Very profound," the red-haired lady said as she closed the book, crossed her legs and stared into my eyes. We exchanged stares for what seemed eternity. "Do you mind if I write the name of the book and author? I must get this book." She finally broke the silence. She fidgeted in her hand bag and took out a pen and colourful pad and wrote the details down, then hurriedly called for the bus to stop. "See you tomorrow. Same time, same bus?" For some inexplicable reason, I nodded. "See you tomorrow. Same time, same bus." I calmly sat back and enjoyed the remainder of my journey, repeating over and over the words, 'always be creative and never competitive'. Such words of wisdom! After all, there's plenty for all of us in this abundant Universe. I closed my eyes for a few minutes as I took in a deep breath of inspired thought, the I opened myself up ready to receive more, more creativity. You might be wondering if I made the presentation and if I was awarded the contract. As you might have guessed, I did arrive late, but I made up for my tardiness by making a most superior and creative presentation. Be creative – not competitive!