Business Lessons from Baghdad in 885 C.E.

It’s the year 885 C.E. In the Islamic world of that time, in Baghdad, the jurists held power. What that meant was very strict interpretation of religious law was how the society was run, and for the Sufis, who were the mystical lovers of God, things were a little dangerous.

Abu al-Husayn an-Nuri, a famous Sufi saint of that time, wrote poetry from the perspective of his own intoxication with the Divine, speaking of “passion” and “love” in relationship to devotion to the One. This got him and his companions in trouble with the authorities, and one jurist in particular eventually convinced the ruler, the Caliph, to convict an-Nuri and his companions as dangerous heretics, and sentence them to death.

Okay, cheery little story. But what does it have to do with business? (And what did an-Nuri say to the executioner?)

We live in a time where corporations rule the world. The top international corporations hold more financial resources and run bigger budgets than 95% of the countries. And the few governments that have budgets on that scale, government representatives meet with corporate representatives every day. It’s hard for me to distinguish where one ends and the other begins.

Unfortunately, I think that there are many parallels here. Where rule of law, where ‘what’s effective’ is the sole measure of success, as it has for many of these corporations, something in my heart feels lost. As my business has grown, as I watch my clients’ businesses grow, it’s easy to get caught up in these corporate strategies and structures, because they are so darn useful.

I think about the years I spent doing street-level activist work on a daily basis, and the passion I had then. But, I had no structures. If I had had the marketing and business structures then, I know my effectiveness would have been much greater.

Structures and strategies are multipliers- they aren’t creators. What are you multiplying?

One of my clients was considering a strategic alliance with someone who is fairly influential, and my client could have benefitted, even though my client didn’t really support what this other person was doing. I support strategic alliances- they are a great strategy for building your business. However, that’s all they are- a strategy. They multiply what’s there. My client, when he looked in his heart, saw that he didn’t want to multiply the effect of allying with this person.

When the executioner came to an-Nuri and his companions, an-Nuri asked to be killed first, and then to spare his companions. “O young man,” said the executioner, “the sword is not a thing that people desire to meet so eagerly as you have welcomed it, and your turn has not yet come. Do you prefer death to life?”

An-Nuri answered, “Yes, for my religion is based on preference. Life is the most precious thing in the world, and for my brothers’ sake I wish to sacrifice the few moments that remain for me. One moment of this world is better than a thousands years of the next world, because this world is the palce of service, and th next world is the place of proximity (to Oneness) which can only be won through service.”

Giving up an opportunity that is presented to you on a golden platter can seem like financial suicide. But, it’s when you just accept what is offered because ‘it’s a good idea,’ without discernment, that’s the killer. Remember- structure is the multiplier- but what are you multiplying?

For my current marketing classes, the ones I’m promoting right now, I’m doing everything ‘right.’ Good promotional emails, good web pages, good offers. But when do batches of applications come flooding in? Only after I’ve spent time in spiritual practice.

It sounds wacky. And, without all of the ‘correct’ marketing structures, I wouldn’t be doing nearly as well- I know, because I used to not do as well even when I did my spiritual work. But, without the core of the Love and service, all of those structures are just dead branches- they don’t bear fruit.

Okay, so you need structure, and you need spiritual practice- how much is working too hard, and how much is ‘praying for dollars,’ which doesn’t work so well either. Where is the balance? And what happened to An-Nuri after he spoke to the executioner?

Keys to Structure versus Love

• Too much of a good thing?

Chances are, in the realm of business, you are probably overly comfortable with either spiritual practice, or with structures and doing. You may be someone who is happy praying, meditating, Remembering all day long, but sitting down to work out your website content… ugh. Or, you may be just the opposite- plotting, planning, writing, and doing, until you are exhausted. And, in either case, you may be just seeing a trickle come in.

Whichever you are more comfortable with- try the other side for awhile. Try delving into the uncomfortable realm of learning about internet marketing, sales conversations. Or do the impossible, and stop to do spiritual practice two hours before a deadline. Either way, you might be surprised by the results…

• It’s simply elementary

Every business strategy is, at it’s core, simple. Can you explain the essence of your business or your marketing plan, in three sentences or less? I don’t mean all the particulars- I mean the essence. Strategic alliances are when two, or more, businesses promote each other to their own markets. Second Journey marketing is when you repeatedly give value and invitations to people who need what you are offering, until they are ready to buy.

If you are overwhelmed by your business strategies, reduce them to their simplest components, to their essence, and you will see at the core they are how certain structures support certain relationships. Focus on the relationships, and the structures that are needed to support them will start to make more sense.

• Shhhh…. don’t tell anyone.

Every business has a sacred core, in the same way that you have a sacred soul in your heart. This sacredness calls forth a protectiveness, a quietness, a respect that often creates a hush, similar to that found in ancient churches, or deep forest glens.

Cherish and protect that core- that’s private time between you, the Divine, and the few who can cherish that. That sacredness nourishes you- nourish it, and return to it as often as you can.

Oh, and An-Nuri? The executioner was so moved, he stopped the execution, and told the Caliph. The Caliph had an examiner who questioned the prisoners extensively, and found them completely versed in religious law- they knew the structures. But they also knew love. “If these men are heretics, then no one is a believer on the earth,” declared the examiner, and the Caliph freed them. A fairy tale? No, it’s not. I invite you to share stories with me of when you’ve combined heart and structure and seen the results.

Share examples of when you have tried to mix heart and structure.