The World of Being in Business - a.k.a.: The Forcefield
I invite you to consider that when you step into the world of business - either as an owner or employee - that you step into a forcefield. (The definition of forcefield: an invisible barrier of exerted strength.)
By its very nature, a forcefield is relentless, never-stopping, never-ending, insistent, AND most of all, invisible.
We call this The Forcefield of Business (and each industry has its own unique forcefield within The Forcefield of Business).
The Forcefield of Business is made up of inherited views, beliefs, attitudes, interpretations, standards, and norms that end up comprising the “reality” in which we then think, operate, and act as business professionals.
When we examine this invisible Forcefield and how it impacts us, we give ourselves access to enormous freedom, new opportunities, and creativity.
Fundamental Aspects of The Forcefield
The first thing to let yourself see and experience is that when you step into a forcefield it impacts you completely. And, you must adapt to the forcefield. It’s like if you walk into a windstorm you must tilt and contort yourself and walk in such a way to avoid getting blown over. However, the wind isn’t “out to get you.” Or if you walk into a rainstorm you get wet but the rain isn’t personally looking for you to get you wet! In other words, The Forcefield of Business (like the windstorm or rainstorm) is completely impersonal yet it impacts you, your relationship with others, and your relationship with life personally.
It impacts your spiritual self, your economic self, your physical self, your romantic/relationship self, your family self, your psychological self, and your fundamental worldview.
You can start to see it by asking yourself these questions:
What is the “way that it is” in the world of business?
How do I have to be in this Forcefield?
Who do others become for me in the Forcefield?
What is the predominant experience?
Some Common Answers to the Above Questions
Inside the Forcefield, it is labor and time-focused. We often ask ourselves: “How can I get more done and produce more? How can I get more out of others?” Meanwhile, there is the common experience that there is never enough time to get it all done.
In The Forcefield, we often feel as though “I have to produce,” and we adapt ourselves to producing in a marketplace that is fast-changing, competitive, and ruthless. Sometimes, we even feel like we have to manipulate or be a little shady, dishonest, or unethical.
We definitely, very often feel as if we have to subvert what’s important to us (family and health in particular) in order to make it in The Forcefield.
In the Forcefield other people often become commodities - we end up looking for what we can get from them or how they can forward our own agenda. They become an object, a production unit, a sale, or an impediment.
In The Forcefield, I believe that “anything is possible if I am self-reliant, stay positive, and work hard enough.” So, I work harder, I read books to become more disciplined and productive, I grind, and I ignore the millions and millions of people who worked their asses off their whole life and the future still did not turn out for them.
There are predominant moods in The Forcefield - a lot of resignation, fear, anxiety, despair, survival, and inadequacy. We frequently experience not being enough. We live in distrust, and our self-worth is often tethered to our business success.
The Forcefield of Business tends to require being aggressive and forceful. It often feels like it is attacking our gender – if you identify as female you have to be less female and if you identify as male, you have to be a provider and if you don’t you are invalid.
What are you present to right now, just from reading about the experience of being in The Forcefield?
Pitfalls To Watch Out For
When people first become aware and mindful of The Forcefield, the first inclination is to make it wrong and try to change it, avoid it, or resist it. I know I have gone through this process several times myself.
However, resisting it or making it wrong will only make it more real and leave you even more stuck in it. So how do we operate after becoming aware of The Forcefield?
On your own, it is extremely difficult to create something of value to your heart and soul and protect it from the destructive nature of The Forcefield. You will need to surround yourself with an environment of people who are committed to Living True to their Soul’s Purpose and a meaningful company mission (Ultimate Intent) in a world that pulls for The Forcefield. (We call this creating a Network of Contribution).
We propose that becoming aware of The Forcefield as what it is - an inherited collection of views, beliefs, attitudes, interpretations, standards, and norms - on an ongoing basis will provide access to new thinking, innovation, possibility, and real autonomy. What becomes possible is reimagining the business world, the marketplace, your industry, and your company.
Reflections on The Forcefield
Here are some questions for you to consider while digesting this topic:
How is your life’s purpose and your Ultimate Intent (company mission) relevant to the forcefield? (Hint: It’s not)
What are some of the behaviors you have adopted to exist and survive in The Forcefield that you want to quit?
Why is distinguishing and mastering The Forcefield of Business important?