To achieve success means to reach an upliftment in some personal dimensions.
That works in a similar way to the organizations.

General consideration
The perspective of economic independence is just part of one of the four pillars which sustain the construction of the success building.

From the oriental point of view, success is linked to inner enlightment.
If we think like that, we may consider that the light comes from inside.
That is quite different from the western concept of success. Viewed commonly by being on a stage, receiving the light of several spots , like in a play.

The oriental view of success – applied to the organizations – means that the “light”, which we may see as the bright ideas, satisfaction, harmony, well being, happiness, dynamism, enthusiasm co-existing “within” the organizations, is in there, inside the core.

Well, seeing like that, if we move forward in our observation drill we may visualize an environment prepared for constant renovations, where creativity blossoms naturally and powerful tools are used in order to maintain the good aspects as well as to destroy the bad ones.

First pillar – Physical level

Yes, the material level is one of the four pillars. We do live in a material world, with its tools and rules. Money is one of the most important energies that make this material world works.

Surprising view
The way SPi sees it, money is one of the energies, not the only one, not the most important, but yes, an important one.

What does that mean?
To see money as one of the important energies means to accept that within this physical dimension, there are others with a similar degree of importance.

Here we are going to mention some of the physical considerations.

- Physical body
On a personal level we are the body keepers. Each one of us is in charge for taking care of our own bodies. That means to be responsible for caring for all parts of it, naturally.
In the same way, in a company, each one is in charge for keeping all parts of the physical structure of the company. The building, its structures, spaces as well as everything that is in there.

Inside and outside the organization each person should be concerned about these aspects.

- What do I eat? How do I eat? (food)
- How much water do I drink? How do I drink? (water)
- How do I breath? With which concern? (air)
- How is my physical posture? How much do I stretch my muscles? (body)
- How do I talk? How much? (talk)
- To what extent am I a good listener? How much do I pay attention to the speech of others? (listen)

Inside the organization level, each person should be concerned with some general aspects, not only related to oneself, but to several people, maybe.

- Illumination – How is the light? Too dark? Too clear?
- Structures – Is the building (or room) well organized (physical level)? If not, how could it be organized in order to make other people and myself feel more comfortable in it?
-Temperature – Is the temperature pleasant? For me? And for others?
- Spaces – Are there enough space to move around? Is the furniture matching? Is this space cosy and pleasant?
- Corridors – Are they illuminated? Too depressing? How to make people feel better when walking through them?
- Stairs – Are they safe? Is there enough light? Do the plants match?
- Colors – What do I think of the colors used in my room? Ceiling? Walls? Could I do something to make it better?
- Pictures – Do I have any in my room? Are they inspiring? No, why to keep it there? Any picture that could inspire myself and others?
- Air – does it flow nicely? Do I feel it? Is there any furniture blocking the air flow? Too windy? What can I do to avoid it?
- Furniture – Do I feel comfortable with the ones around me? Why not? What can I do to feel better?

Second pillar – Mental level

The mental level is the stage where the best and the worst express themselves. Sometimes we experience brightness in the mind, at other times darkness.
All the thoughts and feelings go through it.

Considerations
We may imagine the mind as a big garden where we may go to several different spots. Nice lakes, beautiful flowers, greened fields, inviting trails and many attractive sceneries may be brought to our minds.
We may also keep the dark side of some experiences in it. Both, the pleasant and unpleasant experiences may be experienced there.
The frames of the mind may lead one to opens horizons or to jails. To experiences such as full freedom or fully limited or even out of control.

Training
The mind may be trained to be well used.
That is what the yogis do. They become rulers of their minds. They learn how to strengthen it. They do learn to respect their own minds and day by day they do their homework to reach levels of coolness, peace, happiness, strength, power, joy and so on.

All these fruits are born through real work plans, with certain level of discipline as well as of pleasure. Those work plans mold their field of actions and are taken seriously.

In the organizations with many people, the state of mind is reflected by the reunion of all the individual states of mind.
To create and sustain a high mental attitude -felt by the customers, clients, associates and competitors, any organization must work continuously. It is not just by chance that such high level of mental attitude is gotten. The personnel as well the high hierarchy of the organization shall be tuned in common horizons.
The very basic common ground for achieving that are high moral values.

Dangerous edge
Most times the main goal seeked by the organizations is to make money. That works as a common ground for such companies.
Of course their level of satisfaction will be linked to their goals. If they get enough money, or even more than expected, their level of satisfaction will be high. Otherwise they may enter in depression if they start feeling far from the stablished goals.
The economic success is one of the goals to be chosen by the profitable organizations, but if it is the only one, even though the org may be economically rich, it will be very poor in many other fronts.
When people feel far from their goals they start getting lost. Bad thoughts and feelings start popping up and spread all around. The work environment gets damaged.
What happens then? That starts being felt by the customers, clients, families and competitors. That is the worst marketing relations any company may have. It is the start of the end for many. A transformation is possible. That must be lead by the intellect and high standard mental attitudes must be in charge of molding this transformation.

In the same way waves of bad thoughts started the process of going down, the opposite way is possible. But it is harder than the “going down process”.

Consideration
Images are the hardest thing to be changed. Why?
Because the view of others change in a different speed from the source.

Dangerous edge
Trying to show changes to others and expecting they will see changes going on.
This leads to a superficial level and changes won’t happen at all, even if a company tries to change their appearance. It works the same as a sweat body, that hasn´t taken a shower wearing a brand new dress.
From far away it may cheat others, but transformation has not happened at all. Sooner or later people will get close and… the smell won’t be good.

Challenge
A transformation is possible, for sure, it always is. But that starts from inside out. Mental attitudes must be uplifted and get stronger. Working in subtle levels is necessary to reach such a goal.

During this process of transformation, efforts are needed. It is not the right time for marketing and shows. It is time for work, hard one. In the subtle level and in the production level.

Requirement
For a real transformation in any organization there must be commitment.
That is just gotten if there are respected leaderships. True ones. That must come from them to be extended and shared by all the personnel.
As an organization inspires the personnel’s commitment, a deep and strong link starts being established. That requires responsibility and demands from both sides – the leaders and the personnel.
The problem will be shared by all. All of them have that challenge: that is the start of the reconstruction of new times.

The third pillar – Spiritual level

What is the meaning of spirituality?
Spirituality means attitude!
The spiritual level is the level manifested by each one’s actions, thoughts, feelings, emotions, reactions and responses. It is through these interfaces that anyone shows its real spiritual level. They show the real high values they are being able to express.

Concept
Spirituality is different from religion.
Spirituality does not have to do with religion. It has to do with high values, qualities and talents.
Values are part of the spirit, whichever they are. Religion sometimes is not part of people’s lives.

Yes, religion has to do with spirituality, because they are based on values, whichever they may be. But again, not only religious people are spiritual people.
Everyone is a spiritual person – religious or not.

One may follow a religion and may reveal a lower degree of spirituality than a person who is not considered religious. If a person is Christian, Buddhist, Muslim or has any other choice, what really matters is how the person expresses his or her life.
I have met some people around the world who do not consider themselves religious. The fact is that coming to see their attitudes and postures facing problems my feeling is that they have a high degree of spirituality. The values brought in their attitudes are pretty enhanced.

Values brought in real life reveals one’s level of spirituality, may one be Brazilian, Canadian, British, Asian, black, yellow, brown or white.

Spirituality and the orgs
Each organization has its own identity. When any org starts establishing relations – may be commercializing products or services, facilitating solutions or solving problems, selling or consuming, inspiring dreams or repairing defects, it does not matter the way. The fact is that through any interface, an org is expressing their attitudes, their values.
Within that, the spiritual level is inserted. A very subtle level. Where values dwell, where qualities are allowed to grow up and to enhance or not. Where talents may come or not.
As far any organization has their values, they work as the fuel propelling their work plans, production, projects, goals and everything else.

Fact
The spiritual level of any organization is revealed at every deal, every goal, every step they take.

Consideration
Being aware of the spiritual side of the org is a need for survival. Some aspects have to be worked out inside the orgs. The basic requirement is: acceptance of the differences.
There is no one on the earth’s surface that may assure he is the owner of the truth. There are many degrees of interests and creeds.The world is facing changes and the religions are facing changes. Most people in the planet believe in God. Not all of them are considered religious.

Fact
Most part of the people who work within any org have their own creeds and believes. Maybe ninety percent of them have a religion, maybe one third of them are committed to their religion. The simple point is: they have some values they believe in. But not always they are encouraged to live that in the work place.

Effect
People learn to hide parts of themselves. That is not healthy for them. Is it healthy for the org? Most orgs have chosen this path, the aspect is that we are under changes in the world.

Question
In this transition time which policy is better – to keep hiding creeds and believes or to create a new reality, where ecumenical feelings could work together?

A way out
If an org wishes to deepen its values leaving the surface level, ecumenical feelings should be inspired among the personnel. Acceptance is needed.

Dangerous edge
If so, there must be space for that.
But a subtle line shall be considered. The seed of spirituality being accepted within the org must be expressed first of all through respect and acceptance.

Spirituality in attitudes shall be inspired and not rituals or verbal discussions between creeds. Ecumenical reunions working in a common ground is a way, but the subtle line must be respected. That may be seen as a challenge to all the spiritualists: learning to express their values, qualities and talents, respecting, observing and learning with each other. The most dangerous edge is the habit of comparison. That may kill any chance to face this challenge.

The fourth pillar – Subtle level

The subtle level is the one which may underpin any other.
It really works with the refinement of values, of intuition, the perception, the feeding ground for insights, the respect for small details, for small moves, the appreciation for simple things in all the other three levels.
From appreciation for breathing, stretching, colors, shapes, nature smells to love for reflection, silence, love for different views, for helping others in an incognito way and keeping the self interacting with life, respecting, listening and doing what is required to do.

Subtlety is the way. It is merged in all the other three pillars and it is what may make they exist properly. They will only have sustenance if subtlety exist within them.

author: Herbert Santos
site: http://listeningtothestars.com
image by Clix