Begin to Notice Things that Happen which YOU didn’t Plan…

Throughout the course of your day be aware of things that happen which you didn’t plan, glad surprises, things that start to bubble up that when you step back and look at it, you might say to yourself, “Well, I really didn’t plan that, but that sure was a good thing that entered into my life. That something behind me was conspiring to make me move left when I was planning to move right.

Begin to notice the flow of life that you can’t control but of which you are aware and open to. As you enter the state of being, you are more and more available to it, you more and more see it.

In the beginning, it may even look like a mistake was made, but when you step back, it’s like, wow, that wasn’t a mistake, that was the way it was supposed to happen.

In 1992, I lost my job and was forced to start as a freelance graphic designer. During the first three month, I was pretty desperate for money. And in such a time, I was called by an MNC to discuss a brochure design for the product they were planning to launch.

First day, the discussion lasted between me and three other product managers for over 3 hours. At the end, I was asked to come over next day to continue the discussion. In my mind, I was saying, “You guys have a paid job. But what about me? I had just enough money to pay Parking Fee for my two wheeler. (Those days, it was just 50 paisa parking fee for two wheeler.)

Well, I patiently went for three days and participated in the discussion. At the end of the discussion, I was asked to quote for the design and artwork charges for that A5 size four page brochure.

I started calculating in my mind, that even if there were six revisions in the brochure artwork, at the rate of Rs. 10 per B/W printout, I would spend maximum Rs. 120 for front and back artwork. Then I added Rs. 100 for petrol & parking. (I used to drive a moped back then.) So the total expenses were coming to Rs. 220. I said, let me add 30% as my margin. That became Rs. 266. Rounding it up I was planning to ask for Rs. 300 for that job of Four Page A5 size brochure. And as I was about to open my mouth, as if something behind me stopped me. And I ended up saying, “Can I give the quotation tomorrow?” They said, “No problem.”

As I was walking out, another product manager called me. She said, she too had some work for me. As I pulled the chair and sat down, she got a call. She got into the phone call, and what do I notice? There was a quotation lying on her table from one of the leading ad agency for 4 page brochure design. I focused to read the value upside down. The fee they were asking for was Rs. 35000.

During the course of my discussion with her I casually asked if it was okay that I ask for Rs. 35000 for a four page brochure design. She said, I was asking like big agencies, which would bring in unnecessary comparison.

Then I asked, if Rs. 16000 would be a fair price to ask for? She said, “Yes!”

And next day I got my first order for designing a four page brochure for Rs. 16000! And then there was no looking back. People loved my work and that year, my design billing from that one company alone was thrice the amount of my annual salary.

So when I step back, it was like wow, that was the way it was supposed to happen.

Think and share with me what opened up for you by reading this post. Feel free to share it with everyone who deserves to read this.

 I wish you a happy Holi and Tuesday today!