6 Ways to make your marketing activities truly sacred Small business owners are busy people, there’s no denying that, and too often we get so caught up in the “business of the business” that we tend to forget that we are spiritual beings operating a spiritual business that is benefiting other spiritual beings. Sometimes doing what we really love just feels like ‘work.’ If you’re a soul proprietor, there’s probably no doubt in your mind that when you are working with a client or customer that the exchange is a holy one. You are probably fully present and aware during the exchange and you’re probably not thinking about or worrying about what comes next or what other activities are awaiting you in your overly-full schedule. But when it comes to working on our own business, whether it’s the bookkeeping work or filing tax papers or doing some marketing activities, we often feel stressed, anxious, and worried about all the other work that we need to do, too. Rarely do we gift ourselves with the full attention and sacredness that we give to the exchanges we make with others. So here’re some tips to help make your marketing work—or any of your work for that matter— a more sacred experience. 1. Reserve time to do your marketing. Set an intention and then make a commitment to yourself that marketing your soul-centered business is one of the most important things you can do if you want your business to be a success. There is no hard and fast rule about how much time you need to devote to marketing, only you can decide what works best for you. Set aside time daily to work on your marketing projects, preferably the same time every day. Just 15 minutes to a half hour is enough time to write a short article, make a few phone calls or send a handwritten note. Treat this time as you would an appointment with a client and know that what you are doing is letting people know—who already want and need what you are offering—that you are ready and available to serve them. Some people like to set aside just one day each week and devote several hours to their marketing in one creative stretch. Others like to do just a little two or three days each week. The important thing, of course, is that you are doing something to market your business on a consistent basis. 2. Make your marketing time sacred. If you want your marketing time (or anything you do, for that matter) to be a truly sacred experience, you must create sacred time in which to have the experience. Choose a time of day when you are least likely to be interrupted, then turn off the phone, close your e-mail program, and tell clients and others that you won’t be available during this time. Gather together your stationery, your marketing calendar, your calculator, and other tools you need to get your work done and create a plan ahead of time for how you intend to use the time. Decide how much time you want to devote to your marketing that day and, if needed, set a gentle chime to alert you when your time is up. 3. Make your marketing space sacred. Now that you’ve made a commitment to marketing your business on a daily or regular basis, you’ll want to make sure that the space where you do this is comfortable and inspiring. You may need to get away from your normal work space to get your marketing activities done. Make this space your sacred space by sitting in a comfy chair, put up pictures and quotations that inspire you, light a candle or incense, if you like, and take a few moments when you arrive in this space to just enjoy the deeper, more sacred feel of the place. Read the quotations or something else that inspires and uplifts your mood. (Maybe even your favorite marketing book.) Put on some quiet, gentle, inspiring or soothing music. Mozart is a good choice for thinking. This will help put you in a better frame of mind for being creative and help you get more done. 4. Create a sacred space in yourself. Now that you’ve reserved your sacred marketing time and created a sacred working space, take just a few moments to let go of the day’s events, any pressing work, and any other concerns you may have. Take a deep breath and create some sacred space where it is most important: in your head. To help remove all the mental clutter, simply sit quietly for a few moments, breathing slowly in and out. If thoughts come up, and they will, smile gently, let the thoughts go and return to your breathing. (You may find it helpful to have a notepad handy and a pen or pencil so that you can jot down any thoughts or ideas that you want to remember later so your brain is not worrying about remembering during this exercise.) After you’ve acknowledged your thoughts or written them down, then return to your breathing. When you are ready to start your work, take a couple of really deep breaths, feel the energy, and begin your marketing work. 5. Work with awareness. Think of the work you are doing as an energetic, interactive exchange between you and the clients you want to attract. Know that what you have to offer is important to a lot of people and that the sacred energy created in the exchange—you delivering your services or your products and your clients happily receiving and benefiting from the exchange—will create even more sacred energy that will get passed on to others in many forms. Know that your clients will work with you because they know, like, and trust you. Be aware that you have been placed on this planet to deliver something of such importance that only you can do it in the way that you do and that your clients are attracted to you because they know you are the only one that can fill their needs in the unique way that you do. Let these thoughts infuse your marketing and know that whatever you create will be perfect for attracting just the right kind of client to your business. 6. Express gratitude for your work. At the end of your work session, take a few moments before returning to your regular work day, to be grateful for having the skills, the abilities, and knowledge that only you possess; be grateful for all the people who are already enjoying what you offer, and be grateful for all of those who have not yet come to you. Be grateful that they are already on their way and that your interactions will be blessed and perfect. I hope that you find these simple sacred steps valuable in getting the most out of your marketing time. Here’s a big secret: you can actually follow these same six steps to make any experience more sacred whether it’s eating, walking, reading, having a conversation, playing with your kids, or romping with your dog—anything that you want to experience more fully.