Unexpected Success

In my life there have been a number of times when I have experienced what I call unexpected success. Things turned out better tha
I thought they would. At times the success seemed to come when I wasn’t even trying, and then when I would try to repeat the success I would fail. For many years I didn’t understand why my greatest success often came when I wasn’t expecting it. I have finally come to understand what brought me the unexpected success, and how to repeat the process on purpose. Below is an excellent example I have taken from my book, “Unexpected Success.”

I was asked to facilitate a professional course that was being taught in Alaska. I had not been to Alaska, but it was a place I had wanted to visit since I was a teenager. Many times I had seen photo or videos clips of Alaska and thought, “I would love go there!”
Given the pay structure for this opportunity, I realized I would not be making much money on this weeklong trip, and my costs might exceed my pay. I felt impressed to go anyway, and decided I would enjoy myself and not worry about the money.
We stayed in Girdwood at the Aleyeska Resort in July. It was a beautiful location. I kept finding myself looking around the location in awe; it really was breathtaking. Along with the course I was facilitating, several site-seeing trips were scheduled. We were able to see some of the most awesome sites I had ever seen! We rafted among icebergs; we rode a train with glass on the top and sides through the beautiful countryside. We did some hiking, we went on a boat and were able to see otters, bald eagles and a lot of other wildlife. It was really an amazing trip; I had a hard time turning my camera off. Every time I turned around there was something else I wanted to catch on film.
About half way through this week, there were a number of students in the course who mentioned conce
s about making money with the material they were learning. I had organized and taught several workshops on this very subject and approached the organizer of this event to mention that this workshop would be really good for the group. He brought it up to the group, and it was decided that those who wanted to could stay two extra days and attend my workshop. Not everyone could or wanted to, but most of the group opted to do so. I ended up making over $10,000 that weekend teaching this workshop, and initially I didn’t even think I would break even on the trip. I tried to promote the same workshop series when I got home, but didn’t have near the same level of success. So, what allowed me to have this unexpected success in Alaska, and why didn’t it work out as well when I tried to repeat it at home?
First, I took inspired action. I followed the inspiration to go to Alaska even though it didn’t look like it was financially in my best interest. I also followed the inspiration to act when I saw an opportunity to be of service to the group I was meeting with.
Second, I decided I would take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy myself. I loved where I was at nearly every moment of the trip. I was in a constant state of awe and gratitude in my surroundings. I was constantly in a very high vibration of love, excitement, joy and wonderment.
Third, I was unattached to how much money I would make. I trusted there would be enough for me to provide for my family, I did not worry about money or anything. I wasn’t worried about the fact that I wasn’t going to make much money. While there I took advantage of every opportunity to enjoy myself, regardless of cost. I ate expensive food at nice restaurants, went site seeing, and didn’t once flinch at the cost of it all. Most of the time I wasn’t aware of the cost, I was just going to enjoy myself with this opportunity to see Alaska.
Fourth, I had a desire to help. When I approached the event organizer about adding my 2-day workshop to the event, I was motivated by a desire to help those attending. I wasn’t trying to find a way to make more money. I was giving and I was unattached to what the response would be. I was OK whether the people were interested in what I was offering or not. I wasn’t needing them to say yes, so I wasn’t worried about their response. I was at ease and relaxed.
Fifth, I did not set any specific goals for making $10,000 that week. If I decided before I left that I was going to find a way to make $10,000 before the week was out, I would have stressed myself, I would have worried about how to do it, doubt would have lowered my vibration, I would not have enjoyed myself, I would have been frustrated the first few days when nothing appeared to be happening moving me towards my goal. If the workshop idea still came up, I would have been stressed presenting my idea to the event organizer and probably would have sabotaged this opportunity. My main goal was to enjoy myself and see what I could of Alaska.

Success comes when we align with correct principles. This experience is a good example of these principles. There are universal laws in place, and when we align with those laws, success easily flows. Imagine starting a campfire; there are laws of physics in place governing the process. The laws of physics don’t care whether it is easy or hard to start the fire. The wood doesn’t resist burning when you do it right. Also, the wood won’t volunteer to catch fire if you are doing it wrong. Simply obey the laws in place, and you can easily start a fire every time. Success can comes more easily as we follow the laws and align with correct principles. Often we sabotage the success we desire with fear and stress, worrying about how and when our desires will be achieved. We fear that if we don’t know how and when, then there isn’t a how and when. Our ego likes to micro-manage our success and take all the credit. However, I didn’t make the success in Alaska happen, I simply got myself out of the way, aligned with correct principles, didn’t sabotage the process, and watched it unfold. As we focus on joy and truly live in a vibration of joy and wonderment, things turn out better than we planned, we experience unexpected success, and life truly is joyful. And a joyful life is what we should want the most anyway.