Author Archives: Akrura das

BECOME A MOST TRUSTED ADVISOR
→ Gita Coaching

BECOME A MOST

TRUSTED ADVISOR

By Akrura dasa

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A NEW ROLE

HOW TO BECOME A TRUSTED ADVISOR FOR LIFE?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SHOW TO PEOPLE?

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT YOU?

IT’S OUR ORIGINAL NATURE – THAT’S WHY WE WANT IT

HOW CAN PEOPLE GET CONFIDENCE THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL?

APPENDIX

CONTACT

The central theme of this little e-book is not meant only for some people. It is universal. It is applicable to many roles and many professions in life – to any business, to sales, if you are a preacher, if you are a teacher, counselor or coach, mentor or a consultant. It can be applied practically in every profession.

A NEW ROLE

What is this ebook about? It is about your new role, or a new perception of your role in various areas of your life. This is the summary: Whatever you do, position yourself in the hearts and minds of the people you serve, lead, teach, as the most Trusted Advisor for life. There is a term “life coach”. I have changed it into “lifetime coach”, a coach for the whole life. Similarly, Trusted Advisor for the whole life is your new role, a role that is very much needed in human society.

Becoming a Trusted Advisor means becoming a trusted authority. It means becoming a leader, a guide. Someone who knows how to help. There are many people who teach success principles. But there are very few people who can help you particularly for your situation in a very precise way, in how to use the universal principles of success and apply them to your situation. This is the kind of sincere and skilled trusted authority we want to become in any life role.

If you are a manager in a company, if you are a teacher in a school, if you are a parent, if you are a financial adviser, in any occupation you position yourself as the most trusted authority.

What does it mean? It means that people are convinced that you have their best interest at heart. They know that you wish all the best for them, and also for their families, friends, relatives, etc..

For example, if you are selling Srila Prabhupada’s books and you show people four books, and they say, “I will take only one.” And you can say, “Take your time, take one book. It’s ok. But there is much more in these other books. So you are basically losing if you don’t take all of them. You are losing an opportunity to gain a treasure of knowledge.”  In this way, you don’t want them to miss the other things you have that can benefit them.

You have these wonderful transcendental books. You have knowledge how to apply these books, how they can benefit from them. And they will benefit if they communicate with you more often. People are silently begging to be led. And you can become their guide. It’s a great service opportunity.

HOW TO BECOME A TRUSTED ADVISOR FOR LIFE?

Here I will give you some ideas. The first step is to show them that you understand them. You understand how they feel. You understand what they think. You empathize. And how do you do this? How they will know that you understand them? You put into words something that they feel for a long time, but they are not able to articulate. They are not able to clearly define what it is. They feel something is wrong? They feel something is missing. They feel something doesn’t work. And if you are able to put this into words and to express how they feel, they will see that you understand them. They will think, “He gets it. He exactly understands how I feel.”

If they feel understood, they will trust you. Because if you understand them, you can help them.

Do not be shy to strongly recommend what you think and feel is the best for them. It may be your friend, your client, your child, or your parent. People are silently begging to be led. And you should lead them. Because you are a devotee. You know more than most people about the essence of life, about many things. People don’t even know how to go to the toilet properly. Devotees have a system how to go to the toilet as a civilized human being, as a gentleman. It is very scientific and hygienic. It’s very healthy. After using that system you fell better.

What to speak of other things – how to eat, how to rest, how to think, how to act.

People need leadership. They need guidance. You have a full right to recommend what you think is best for them. Don’t be shy! They need you. If you don’t guide these people, somebody else will. And usually where they will lead them?

andha yathandhair upaniyamanas

SB 7.5.31

Blind men lead other blind man into a ditch, into a hole.

Now that I mentioned a hole I want to give you a nice example. A person who needs to build something, or to fix something, they go to a shop and buy a drill. But actually they don’t want a drill. They want a hole. They don’t care about that machine, they care about the result. They care about what the machine can do for them.

Similarly, you can have great ideas and strategies, and great advice, but in order to be a trusted authority, you have to be able to show them how they will benefit from what you suggest, and what results they will get. So you focus on always adding a special value to them. You clearly show to them that they matter. They are important to you. And you want them to get good results.

This is called “you-attitude”. It’s about you, not about me. I am not giving you good advice because it will benefit me. I am giving it because it will benefit you. If you focus on adding value to people’s lives, you will become very attractive, and people will develop a greater interest in your products and services.  

For example, if you are selling incence and you are an intelligent salesman, if you are an intelligent Trusted Advisor, you will always educate your clients about the benefits of burning incence.

Now, if you want to sell incence to me, it will be very difficult to do. Because incence suffocates me. And even if you explain to me 108 benefits, it will no be enough to convince me. You may say, “This is maha incence. If you inhale you will make spiritual advancement. You might even see Krsna if you inhale all the smoke of the one maha incence. You might fall in ecstasy. And your family members will be purified. Your neighbors will be purified. You will have so many benefits by burning incence.”

Still I will not be convinced because it suffocates me. So you have to offer me some other product. If you would want to sell me a good acoustic guitar, I’d be really interested, because this is something I can use.

The point is that if you offer what people are interested in, they will listen to you. If you offer them what they need, they will listen to you. And try to verbalize it and present it in a very, very attractive way.

I tried to do something attractive on my blog to inspire people to read The Science Of Self Realization book. You may see it here (ctrl+click to follow link):

The picture is very easy to understand and to motivate you to change, and I connected it to my product and offered it to my readers. I am 100% convinced about the value of my product, because this book brought me to spiritual life. I have faith in that book. And I believe it can change people’s lives. Some people will probably read it, so I also offered my email in case they have questions. I set it up so they only have to click on my email. They don’t have to type it. There is an email link option on the blog.

Make it easy for them to accept what you offer. If you want to become a Trusted Advisor make it easy for them to accept things from you.

People need solutions, not just strategies. If you respect their intelligence, you will explain why your product or service is good for them, and how it will make a difference in their lives, how it will transform their lives.

We are not into a business of preaching, we are into transforming people’s lives. We want these transcendental books to fully help people to change their lives, to benefit them.

Most salespeople, businesspeople, and people in general, they fall in love with their product, or their skill, or their profession. You may be in love with your products and services but you should also fall in love with your clients. What does the word “client” mean? It doesn’t only mean a customer, one who buys. “Client” means, according to Webster dictionary, one who is under the care and protection of the other. That’s why I am using that word. It is a nice word. There is a similar word – ward, one who is under someone’s protection.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SHOW TO PEOPLE?

You want to take them on a journey to the future – how their life will change if they take advantage of your services and products; how it will be better, richer, fuller, more exciting, more pleasant, full of happiness. Describe it so nicely that they can feel it, because all buying decisions are emotional. Whether you are selling an idea or a cake people neet to get inspired to buy it, or to accept it if you offer it to them.

Just like I was eating fruits from one devotee’s garden. They are naturally produced. It was such a wonderful experience because usually do not get such natural fruits. It was so wonderful to taste prasadam, the real plums.

If you have such a nice product you can promote it intelligently. People want you to show them, not only tell them.  Sometimes when they sell fruits they say, “Ok, taste it! If you like it, buy it. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.” You have to show so that people experience it.

For example, if you want to convince people to chant Hare Krsna, you should first be the one who is benefiting from chanting. You can tell them, “If you chant Hare Krsna you will become as happy and as peaceful as me. Problems will not disturb you.” You show them a practical example of how they can benefit from what you offer.

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT YOU?

They should feel that you are their greatest fan. In the neigborhood of one devotee in Portugal you can find the greatest fans of the local football club. Your clients should feel that you are their greatest fan. You care about them so much. You want to benefit them. You want to help them become happy. You want to help them to release their potential, to become smart. To take these books, like Bhagavad-gita, and become super-wise, super-intelligent.

Srila Prabhupada is even teaching us how to become lazy intelligent. High-court judge is only sitting and has a highest salary. What does it mean to be lazy intelligent? It means you think deeply. You are very wise and sober. You think carefully before making decisions. It also means that with the least effort you get the biggest results. Why lift something heavy, when you can use the lever? With a lever it is much easier to lift it. Let’s say something fell under the huge, heavy box. Intelligent person will use the lever. If you can achieve something with less energy, that’s intelligent.

There is no limit how much we can learn about how to improve our life and the lives of others.

There is another thing about people and their psychology.  They don’t know what they want. You have to tell them what is good for them to want. This is where you become a leader. You tell them, “You should want this.” Why? Because it will benefit you. Because it’s good for you. Then show them how it is good, why it is good, how it has benefitted others, how it has benefitted you. You lead people to a good destination.

Steven jobs, the founder of Apple, said he always felt he’s leading a revolution. This is what we need. Maybe you are a peaceful person, you are quiet. I was like that. Sometimes it was very hard to get a word out of my mouth, before I got Prabhupada’s books.  When I read them I thought that I have to start speaking more.

Even if I can’t speak. Even if I lose my voice, I can distribute books. I can write a big sign that says CHANT HARE KRSNA, and show it to people. The message is so important that I have to give up all shyness. I have to give up my introverted nature. My dreaming mentality. I have to get out of my mind. The message is more important than my conditioned nature.

In the beginning people were walking out of my lectures. The lectures were slow and boring. Sometimes people were crying. It was too heavy. People were laughing until stomach hurt. Because it was too funny. But over time I got a balance between scaring people, making them cry, and making them laugh. So I made many mistakes in the beginning. But I had a desire to give the message. And you can do the same.

IT’S OUR ORIGINAL NATURE – THAT’S WHY WE WANT IT

I will now tell you what I think you feel. Maybe you are not aware that you feel this. Maybe you neglect the feeling when it comes. Maybe you are afraid to admit it and confront it. But it’s there. Why? Because it is your original nature. So what is it?

It is described in the Introduction to the Bhagavad-gita: http://vedabase.com/en/bg/introduction

Sanatana-dharma. It means your eternal quality, your eternal occupation, your eternal nature. What is your nature? You want to serve. You want to love. You want to give. You want to contribute. This is the essence of your nature. So if you don’t do this in a big way, in a maximal way, you cannot be happy. There will be always something lacking. This is my diagnose why we are not happy. We are not fulfiling our full potential.

Confront the next sentence boldly. This is what I think you feel, consciously or unconsciously:

“I WANT TO DO SOMETHING ON THIS PLANET!”

I want to make a difference. I want to make a contribution. I want to add value to people’s lives – to my freinds, to my colleagues, to people I meet on the street, to my family. The secret of happiness is giving. But people with material consciousness, think that the secret of happiness is getting something for yourself. So become a go-giver. Go and give something. When you wake up in the morning the first question you can ask is “How can I give today?”

If you add value to people’s lives, God will inspire them to reciprocate. Even if you don’t charge. I am telling you this from my experience. I never ask people for money. But they give me. Because Krsna inspires them. I don’t even think about it.

When I was in Argentina last year, I wanted to help devotees to make more money. Because many devotees are stuglling financially. I really wanted to help them to learn how to think about money, how to save money, and how to get more money, so they can chant Hare Krsna peacefully and preach and serve, without being in anxiety about money. So I did a seminar.

I gave them some spiritual and professional strategies, ideas and examples about laksmi, or money. This was the most attended course on my South American tour. Why? Because devotees need this knowledge and they struggle financially. And what happened at the end? I got so much money. They gave me many donations. Krsna is my witness that I didn’t think even for a second if I would get any donations. It was a free course. When you help others make money, Krsna gives you money. Krsna inspires people to give you money. That commitment to others’ success is your secret of success.

HOW CAN PEOPLE GET CONFIDENCE THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL?

You can help them achieve small victories. If you come to me ask me to tach you how to play harmonium, I show you one melody and you say, “I can never play like that.” If I am a good teacher, I will show you a more simple melody that is easy for you to play right now. And you say, “I can do that!” Thus you gain confidence that you can play harmonium. Then the next time we do a more complex melody.

You show them how they can do it. You believe in them. You believe in their potential. And your belief in them gives them strength. Gradually, they start to believe in themselves. They start to believe that Krsna is the ability in us. And that God helps those who help themsleves.  So they try and they have some small victory, then another small victory.

As a Trusted Advisor, you always help people succeed in various ways. You are a great positive force in their lives by acting as an instrument in Lord’s hands. When you genuinely care about people, you will get guidance both from within and from without how to do it so people will benefit from your service. And you are always ready to learn how to do it better and better and better.

End

APPENDIX

PRACTICAL Q&A ABOUT BEING A TRUSTED ADVISOR

Question: You said we should give our services without expecting anything in return. I am a lawyer. How does it apply to me? When I get clients and do my job for them, does it mean I should not charge them?

Akrura dasa: If you are a professional you have to charge, but you as a professional should have this meditation – you are focusing on helping your client succeed. You don’t think about money. You think about adding value. If you become a Trusted Advisor, you can even raise your fees. One way you can charge is to make it risk-free. It means there will be no risk for your client. It means if the client is not satsfied you give the money back, or you don’t even take money if they don’t get results. Recently I coached a devotee and we had three sessions. I gave him ideas and tasks to work on in order to improve in certain area, but he found a therapy that is more helpful. So he wanted to stop with coaching and pay me something for my time, to give a donation for the three sessions. I said, “No, I accept reciprocation when you get results. I don’t accept it only for my time.” Maybe in your particular profession it does not make much sense, but try to understand the principle behind it. The principle is that the benefit of your client is your top priority. This is your high-class attitude. This is Spiritual Business Intelligence (SBI). Spiritual principles make a huge difference in business. They build trust and a long-term success. Therefore spiritual knowledge is superior even to business knowledge, because it goes deeper into a psychology of success.

Question: As a lawyer, I deal with lots of people. Often they don’t accept what I think is best for them. So I must do what they think is best for them. What to do about it?

A: If you explain to them all the benefits of doing it the way you suggest, if you are convinced, and if you have some examples to show, then they will be more convinced. In most situations in life we have to convince people. If they are able to understand the benefits themselves, that is better. Otherwise you have to educate them.

Question: It is not only a question of convincing people by words but also the way you relate. Sometimes people do not buy a book, still I listen to them, I make friends with them. The mentality behind it is very inspiring and they feel comfortable and happy. They can exppress themselves and their difficulties to me. So it is not a question of always convincing them by words, but mostly by your example. What do you think about it?

A: This is a very important point. You start a relationship with someone, and it’s long term. You are not there just to sell-and-runaway, just to sell only one time. You are right – if you meet them and you are nice to them, and you want to benefit them, they will feel it. They will remember this encounter with you. And even if they don’t buy a book now, when they meet you next time, or see another devotee with books on the street, they might take them, because they were inspired by your kindness. So whether you gain something material or not you always gain something spiritual. You gain their trust. And you want to build a long-term relationship. You want to serve them and benefit them their whole life. And this is a very important success principle: long-term vision. You will always try to convince but you are not attached to the result. This a spiritual success principle from the Bhagavad-gita: don’t be attached to results. Be a little detached. Respect their free will. It’s between themselves and themselves and between themselves and God what decisions they will make. But you are always adding value, always investing. You are a Trusted Advisor.

*****

Akrura dasa

Akrura dasa is a Spiritual Life Coach, speaker, seminar leader, writer, and musician. He travels around the world teaching success principles of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is and performing spiritual music.

CONTACT

Thank you for reading this ebook. I hope it will enhance your success and happiness. If you have any questions or comments, email me on:

And be sure to visit our Gita Coaching blog, full of resources for your success:

It has audio, video, music, interviews, stories, photos, events info, and quick tips.

BECOME A MOST TRUSTED ADVISOR
→ GITA COACHING

BECOME A MOST

TRUSTED ADVISOR

By Akrura dasa

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A NEW ROLE

HOW TO BECOME A TRUSTED ADVISOR FOR LIFE?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SHOW TO PEOPLE?

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT YOU?

IT’S OUR ORIGINAL NATURE – THAT’S WHY WE WANT IT

HOW CAN PEOPLE GET CONFIDENCE THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL?

APPENDIX

CONTACT

The central theme of this little e-book is not meant only for some people. It is universal. It is applicable to many roles and many professions in life – to any business, to sales, if you are a preacher, if you are a teacher, counselor or coach, mentor or a consultant. It can be applied practically in every profession.

A NEW ROLE

What is this ebook about? It is about your new role, or a new perception of your role in various areas of your life. This is the summary: Whatever you do, position yourself in the hearts and minds of the people you serve, lead, teach, as the most Trusted Advisor for life. There is a term “life coach”. I have changed it into “lifetime coach”, a coach for the whole life. Similarly, Trusted Advisor for the whole life is your new role, a role that is very much needed in human society.

Becoming a Trusted Advisor means becoming a trusted authority. It means becoming a leader, a guide. Someone who knows how to help. There are many people who teach success principles. But there are very few people who can help you particularly for your situation in a very precise way, in how to use the universal principles of success and apply them to your situation. This is the kind of sincere and skilled trusted authority we want to become in any life role.

If you are a manager in a company, if you are a teacher in a school, if you are a parent, if you are a financial adviser, in any occupation you position yourself as the most trusted authority.

What does it mean? It means that people are convinced that you have their best interest at heart. They know that you wish all the best for them, and also for their families, friends, relatives, etc..

For example, if you are selling Srila Prabhupada’s books and you show people four books, and they say, “I will take only one.” And you can say, “Take your time, take one book. It’s ok. But there is much more in these other books. So you are basically losing if you don’t take all of them. You are losing an opportunity to gain a treasure of knowledge.”  In this way, you don’t want them to miss the other things you have that can benefit them.

You have these wonderful transcendental books. You have knowledge how to apply these books, how they can benefit from them. And they will benefit if they communicate with you more often. People are silently begging to be led. And you can become their guide. It’s a great service opportunity.

HOW TO BECOME A TRUSTED ADVISOR FOR LIFE?

Here I will give you some ideas. The first step is to show them that you understand them. You understand how they feel. You understand what they think. You empathize. And how do you do this? How they will know that you understand them? You put into words something that they feel for a long time, but they are not able to articulate. They are not able to clearly define what it is. They feel something is wrong? They feel something is missing. They feel something doesn’t work. And if you are able to put this into words and to express how they feel, they will see that you understand them. They will think, “He gets it. He exactly understands how I feel.”

If they feel understood, they will trust you. Because if you understand them, you can help them.

Do not be shy to strongly recommend what you think and feel is the best for them. It may be your friend, your client, your child, or your parent. People are silently begging to be led. And you should lead them. Because you are a devotee. You know more than most people about the essence of life, about many things. People don’t even know how to go to the toilet properly. Devotees have a system how to go to the toilet as a civilized human being, as a gentleman. It is very scientific and hygienic. It’s very healthy. After using that system you fell better.

What to speak of other things – how to eat, how to rest, how to think, how to act.

People need leadership. They need guidance. You have a full right to recommend what you think is best for them. Don’t be shy! They need you. If you don’t guide these people, somebody else will. And usually where they will lead them?

andha yathandhair upaniyamanas

SB 7.5.31

Blind men lead other blind man into a ditch, into a hole.

Now that I mentioned a hole I want to give you a nice example. A person who needs to build something, or to fix something, they go to a shop and buy a drill. But actually they don’t want a drill. They want a hole. They don’t care about that machine, they care about the result. They care about what the machine can do for them.

Similarly, you can have great ideas and strategies, and great advice, but in order to be a trusted authority, you have to be able to show them how they will benefit from what you suggest, and what results they will get. So you focus on always adding a special value to them. You clearly show to them that they matter. They are important to you. And you want them to get good results.

This is called “you-attitude”. It’s about you, not about me. I am not giving you good advice because it will benefit me. I am giving it because it will benefit you. If you focus on adding value to people’s lives, you will become very attractive, and people will develop a greater interest in your products and services.  

For example, if you are selling incence and you are an intelligent salesman, if you are an intelligent Trusted Advisor, you will always educate your clients about the benefits of burning incence.

Now, if you want to sell incence to me, it will be very difficult to do. Because incence suffocates me. And even if you explain to me 108 benefits, it will no be enough to convince me. You may say, “This is maha incence. If you inhale you will make spiritual advancement. You might even see Krsna if you inhale all the smoke of the one maha incence. You might fall in ecstasy. And your family members will be purified. Your neighbors will be purified. You will have so many benefits by burning incence.”

Still I will not be convinced because it suffocates me. So you have to offer me some other product. If you would want to sell me a good acoustic guitar, I’d be really interested, because this is something I can use.

The point is that if you offer what people are interested in, they will listen to you. If you offer them what they need, they will listen to you. And try to verbalize it and present it in a very, very attractive way.

I tried to do something attractive on my blog to inspire people to read The Science Of Self Realization book. You may see it here (ctrl+click to follow link):

The picture is very easy to understand and to motivate you to change, and I connected it to my product and offered it to my readers. I am 100% convinced about the value of my product, because this book brought me to spiritual life. I have faith in that book. And I believe it can change people’s lives. Some people will probably read it, so I also offered my email in case they have questions. I set it up so they only have to click on my email. They don’t have to type it. There is an email link option on the blog.

Make it easy for them to accept what you offer. If you want to become a Trusted Advisor make it easy for them to accept things from you.

People need solutions, not just strategies. If you respect their intelligence, you will explain why your product or service is good for them, and how it will make a difference in their lives, how it will transform their lives.

We are not into a business of preaching, we are into transforming people’s lives. We want these transcendental books to fully help people to change their lives, to benefit them.

Most salespeople, businesspeople, and people in general, they fall in love with their product, or their skill, or their profession. You may be in love with your products and services but you should also fall in love with your clients. What does the word “client” mean? It doesn’t only mean a customer, one who buys. “Client” means, according to Webster dictionary, one who is under the care and protection of the other. That’s why I am using that word. It is a nice word. There is a similar word – ward, one who is under someone’s protection.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SHOW TO PEOPLE?

You want to take them on a journey to the future – how their life will change if they take advantage of your services and products; how it will be better, richer, fuller, more exciting, more pleasant, full of happiness. Describe it so nicely that they can feel it, because all buying decisions are emotional. Whether you are selling an idea or a cake people neet to get inspired to buy it, or to accept it if you offer it to them.

Just like I was eating fruits from one devotee’s garden. They are naturally produced. It was such a wonderful experience because usually do not get such natural fruits. It was so wonderful to taste prasadam, the real plums.

If you have such a nice product you can promote it intelligently. People want you to show them, not only tell them.  Sometimes when they sell fruits they say, “Ok, taste it! If you like it, buy it. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.” You have to show so that people experience it.

For example, if you want to convince people to chant Hare Krsna, you should first be the one who is benefiting from chanting. You can tell them, “If you chant Hare Krsna you will become as happy and as peaceful as me. Problems will not disturb you.” You show them a practical example of how they can benefit from what you offer.

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT YOU?

They should feel that you are their greatest fan. In the neigborhood of one devotee in Portugal you can find the greatest fans of the local football club. Your clients should feel that you are their greatest fan. You care about them so much. You want to benefit them. You want to help them become happy. You want to help them to release their potential, to become smart. To take these books, like Bhagavad-gita, and become super-wise, super-intelligent.

Srila Prabhupada is even teaching us how to become lazy intelligent. High-court judge is only sitting and has a highest salary. What does it mean to be lazy intelligent? It means you think deeply. You are very wise and sober. You think carefully before making decisions. It also means that with the least effort you get the biggest results. Why lift something heavy, when you can use the lever? With a lever it is much easier to lift it. Let’s say something fell under the huge, heavy box. Intelligent person will use the lever. If you can achieve something with less energy, that’s intelligent.

There is no limit how much we can learn about how to improve our life and the lives of others.

There is another thing about people and their psychology.  They don’t know what they want. You have to tell them what is good for them to want. This is where you become a leader. You tell them, “You should want this.” Why? Because it will benefit you. Because it’s good for you. Then show them how it is good, why it is good, how it has benefitted others, how it has benefitted you. You lead people to a good destination.

Steven jobs, the founder of Apple, said he always felt he’s leading a revolution. This is what we need. Maybe you are a peaceful person, you are quiet. I was like that. Sometimes it was very hard to get a word out of my mouth, before I got Prabhupada’s books.  When I read them I thought that I have to start speaking more.

Even if I can’t speak. Even if I lose my voice, I can distribute books. I can write a big sign that says CHANT HARE KRSNA, and show it to people. The message is so important that I have to give up all shyness. I have to give up my introverted nature. My dreaming mentality. I have to get out of my mind. The message is more important than my conditioned nature.

In the beginning people were walking out of my lectures. The lectures were slow and boring. Sometimes people were crying. It was too heavy. People were laughing until stomach hurt. Because it was too funny. But over time I got a balance between scaring people, making them cry, and making them laugh. So I made many mistakes in the beginning. But I had a desire to give the message. And you can do the same.

IT’S OUR ORIGINAL NATURE – THAT’S WHY WE WANT IT

I will now tell you what I think you feel. Maybe you are not aware that you feel this. Maybe you neglect the feeling when it comes. Maybe you are afraid to admit it and confront it. But it’s there. Why? Because it is your original nature. So what is it?

It is described in the Introduction to the Bhagavad-gita: http://vedabase.com/en/bg/introduction

Sanatana-dharma. It means your eternal quality, your eternal occupation, your eternal nature. What is your nature? You want to serve. You want to love. You want to give. You want to contribute. This is the essence of your nature. So if you don’t do this in a big way, in a maximal way, you cannot be happy. There will be always something lacking. This is my diagnose why we are not happy. We are not fulfiling our full potential.

Confront the next sentence boldly. This is what I think you feel, consciously or unconsciously:

“I WANT TO DO SOMETHING ON THIS PLANET!”

I want to make a difference. I want to make a contribution. I want to add value to people’s lives – to my freinds, to my colleagues, to people I meet on the street, to my family. The secret of happiness is giving. But people with material consciousness, think that the secret of happiness is getting something for yourself. So become a go-giver. Go and give something. When you wake up in the morning the first question you can ask is “How can I give today?”

If you add value to people’s lives, God will inspire them to reciprocate. Even if you don’t charge. I am telling you this from my experience. I never ask people for money. But they give me. Because Krsna inspires them. I don’t even think about it.

When I was in Argentina last year, I wanted to help devotees to make more money. Because many devotees are stuglling financially. I really wanted to help them to learn how to think about money, how to save money, and how to get more money, so they can chant Hare Krsna peacefully and preach and serve, without being in anxiety about money. So I did a seminar.

I gave them some spiritual and professional strategies, ideas and examples about laksmi, or money. This was the most attended course on my South American tour. Why? Because devotees need this knowledge and they struggle financially. And what happened at the end? I got so much money. They gave me many donations. Krsna is my witness that I didn’t think even for a second if I would get any donations. It was a free course. When you help others make money, Krsna gives you money. Krsna inspires people to give you money. That commitment to others’ success is your secret of success.

HOW CAN PEOPLE GET CONFIDENCE THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL?

You can help them achieve small victories. If you come to me ask me to tach you how to play harmonium, I show you one melody and you say, “I can never play like that.” If I am a good teacher, I will show you a more simple melody that is easy for you to play right now. And you say, “I can do that!” Thus you gain confidence that you can play harmonium. Then the next time we do a more complex melody.

You show them how they can do it. You believe in them. You believe in their potential. And your belief in them gives them strength. Gradually, they start to believe in themselves. They start to believe that Krsna is the ability in us. And that God helps those who help themsleves.  So they try and they have some small victory, then another small victory.

As a Trusted Advisor, you always help people succeed in various ways. You are a great positive force in their lives by acting as an instrument in Lord’s hands. When you genuinely care about people, you will get guidance both from within and from without how to do it so people will benefit from your service. And you are always ready to learn how to do it better and better and better.

End

APPENDIX

PRACTICAL Q&A ABOUT BEING A TRUSTED ADVISOR

Question: You said we should give our services without expecting anything in return. I am a lawyer. How does it apply to me? When I get clients and do my job for them, does it mean I should not charge them?

Akrura dasa: If you are a professional you have to charge, but you as a professional should have this meditation – you are focusing on helping your client succeed. You don’t think about money. You think about adding value. If you become a Trusted Advisor, you can even raise your fees. One way you can charge is to make it risk-free. It means there will be no risk for your client. It means if the client is not satsfied you give the money back, or you don’t even take money if they don’t get results. Recently I coached a devotee and we had three sessions. I gave him ideas and tasks to work on in order to improve in certain area, but he found a therapy that is more helpful. So he wanted to stop with coaching and pay me something for my time, to give a donation for the three sessions. I said, “No, I accept reciprocation when you get results. I don’t accept it only for my time.” Maybe in your particular profession it does not make much sense, but try to understand the principle behind it. The principle is that the benefit of your client is your top priority. This is your high-class attitude. This is Spiritual Business Intelligence (SBI). Spiritual principles make a huge difference in business. They build trust and a long-term success. Therefore spiritual knowledge is superior even to business knowledge, because it goes deeper into a psychology of success.

Question: As a lawyer, I deal with lots of people. Often they don’t accept what I think is best for them. So I must do what they think is best for them. What to do about it?

A: If you explain to them all the benefits of doing it the way you suggest, if you are convinced, and if you have some examples to show, then they will be more convinced. In most situations in life we have to convince people. If they are able to understand the benefits themselves, that is better. Otherwise you have to educate them.

Question: It is not only a question of convincing people by words but also the way you relate. Sometimes people do not buy a book, still I listen to them, I make friends with them. The mentality behind it is very inspiring and they feel comfortable and happy. They can exppress themselves and their difficulties to me. So it is not a question of always convincing them by words, but mostly by your example. What do you think about it?

A: This is a very important point. You start a relationship with someone, and it’s long term. You are not there just to sell-and-runaway, just to sell only one time. You are right – if you meet them and you are nice to them, and you want to benefit them, they will feel it. They will remember this encounter with you. And even if they don’t buy a book now, when they meet you next time, or see another devotee with books on the street, they might take them, because they were inspired by your kindness. So whether you gain something material or not you always gain something spiritual. You gain their trust. And you want to build a long-term relationship. You want to serve them and benefit them their whole life. And this is a very important success principle: long-term vision. You will always try to convince but you are not attached to the result. This a spiritual success principle from the Bhagavad-gita: don’t be attached to results. Be a little detached. Respect their free will. It’s between themselves and themselves and between themselves and God what decisions they will make. But you are always adding value, always investing. You are a Trusted Advisor.

*****

Akrura dasa

Akrura dasa is a Spiritual Life Coach, speaker, seminar leader, writer, and musician. He travels around the world teaching success principles of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is and performing spiritual music.

CONTACT

Thank you for reading this ebook. I hope it will enhance your success and happiness. If you have any questions or comments, email me on:

And be sure to visit our Gita Coaching blog, full of resources for your success:

It has audio, video, music, interviews, stories, photos, events info, and quick tips.

REFLECTIONS ON ASKING EXCELLENT QUESTIONS
→ GITA COACHING

By Mayapur dasa – London

HOW MAY I SERVE YOU TODAY?

One question I sometimes ask Srila Prabhupada or Krsna in the morning is: 

How may  I serve today?


The first time I asked this question, some years ago, the whole day went by without any sign of service. After work, I went to temple for 9pm arti, but still nothing. On my way home, I walked past Leceister square (Central London). There, my attention was drawn to a man asking people around him “do you want this?” and he had this book that nobody wanted. So he consequently threw it in a nearby refuse bin before walking away. As the book flew into the bin, I thought I recognized the burgundy and gold cover but was not sure. So I went over and looked into the bin and was astonished to see a Srimad Bhagavatam. The book was still in very good condition and had not been spoilt by the contents of the bin. I picked it up, and fully understanding what Krsna wanted me to do, went to a friend’s house in Golders Green (North London) and gave it to him as a gift. I then went home peaceful, having accomplished my allocated service for the day.

IF YOU DON’T ASK

If you don’t ask, you don’t know.

If you don’t know, you remain ignorant.

If are ignorant, you suffer.

If you suffer, you must ask.

If you don’t ask …

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A STUPID QUESTION

When devotees hesitate to ask a question, they often describe it as a “stupid question”. This usually means they are afraid of appearing stupid, of  being embarrassed, of being rejected, of being ridiculed. This fearful mental disposition is a hurdle to learning.  Concerns about appearing stupid means concern for appearance, image or reputation is a bodily thing. Rising above these will widen opportunities for learning, happiness and fulfillment, for oneself and for others. In a group, it is the responsibility of the speaker/ trainer/ teacher/ lecturer, to create an atmosphere of trust, confidentiality as well as prompt attendees to make enquiries.

To ask a question is to demonstrate a desire to learn, but when in a group the questioner may become hesitant, thinking their question might not be relevant. There are two answers to this:

(i) the fact that you want to ask means the question is relevant to you. Therefore, ask.

(ii) If you are concerned whether your question is relevant to others, you have no choice but to ask to find out. No one benefits when you hold back a question. Neither you, nor others.

In my 12 years experience as a trainer in the business world, I can confidently say, those who overcome their fear and ask questions, often unknowingly open the doors of learning for others who were more shy to ask the exact same questions. I have seen this over and over. When that happens, the sense of relief is noticeable on faces and in the atmosphere of the room.

  
THREE CONSIDERATIONS: WHAT TO ASK? HOW TO ASK? WHEN TO ASK?

1. What to ask?


The injunction for the devotee is pariprasnena – to enquire. This means philosophical enquiries. The nature and depth of such  enquiries, I have observed, depends on how much one reads Srila Prabhupada’s purports. Without this, enquiries remain rather mundane – shall I get married or not? shall I do this service or not? how can I work out what is my varna? how do I resolve this dispute with that prabhu or mataji?  The nature of questions are indicative of the level of philosophical understanding.  The more devotees read, the more relevant and pertinent the philosophical enquiries and everyone becomes enlivened in Krishna consciousness.

MORNING CLASS

In Kali-yuga, there are no “sruti-dhara” students (one who can immediately remember everything).  When students carry books and notebooks into the class, it indicates they are serious about learning and remembering. In such an atmosphere, asking questions becomes an exciting experience. When students are left to listen passively, without books, without taking notes, without the governing principles of a typical class, they do not become excited about the knowledge, about devotional service or  about Krishna. How much devotees learn is noticeable by the nature of questions they ask during and after class. The result of excellent questions is amazing enthusiasm for Krishna and devotional service, and amazing happiness!

REFLECTIONS ON ASKING EXCELLENT QUESTIONS
→ Gita Coaching

By Mayapur dasa – London

HOW MAY I SERVE YOU TODAY?

One question I sometimes ask Srila Prabhupada or Krsna in the morning is: 

How may  I serve today?


The first time I asked this question, some years ago, the whole day went by without any sign of service. After work, I went to temple for 9pm arti, but still nothing. On my way home, I walked past Leceister square (Central London). There, my attention was drawn to a man asking people around him “do you want this?” and he had this book that nobody wanted. So he consequently threw it in a nearby refuse bin before walking away. As the book flew into the bin, I thought I recognized the burgundy and gold cover but was not sure. So I went over and looked into the bin and was astonished to see a Srimad Bhagavatam. The book was still in very good condition and had not been spoilt by the contents of the bin. I picked it up, and fully understanding what Krsna wanted me to do, went to a friend’s house in Golders Green (North London) and gave it to him as a gift. I then went home peaceful, having accomplished my allocated service for the day.

IF YOU DON’T ASK

If you don’t ask, you don’t know.

If you don’t know, you remain ignorant.

If are ignorant, you suffer.

If you suffer, you must ask.

If you don’t ask …

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A STUPID QUESTION

When devotees hesitate to ask a question, they often describe it as a “stupid question”. This usually means they are afraid of appearing stupid, of  being embarrassed, of being rejected, of being ridiculed. This fearful mental disposition is a hurdle to learning.  Concerns about appearing stupid means concern for appearance, image or reputation is a bodily thing. Rising above these will widen opportunities for learning, happiness and fulfillment, for oneself and for others. In a group, it is the responsibility of the speaker/ trainer/ teacher/ lecturer, to create an atmosphere of trust, confidentiality as well as prompt attendees to make enquiries.

To ask a question is to demonstrate a desire to learn, but when in a group the questioner may become hesitant, thinking their question might not be relevant. There are two answers to this:

(i) the fact that you want to ask means the question is relevant to you. Therefore, ask.

(ii) If you are concerned whether your question is relevant to others, you have no choice but to ask to find out. No one benefits when you hold back a question. Neither you, nor others.

In my 12 years experience as a trainer in the business world, I can confidently say, those who overcome their fear and ask questions, often unknowingly open the doors of learning for others who were more shy to ask the exact same questions. I have seen this over and over. When that happens, the sense of relief is noticeable on faces and in the atmosphere of the room.

  
THREE CONSIDERATIONS: WHAT TO ASK? HOW TO ASK? WHEN TO ASK?

1. What to ask?


The injunction for the devotee is pariprasnena – to enquire. This means philosophical enquiries. The nature and depth of such  enquiries, I have observed, depends on how much one reads Srila Prabhupada’s purports. Without this, enquiries remain rather mundane – shall I get married or not? shall I do this service or not? how can I work out what is my varna? how do I resolve this dispute with that prabhu or mataji?  The nature of questions are indicative of the level of philosophical understanding.  The more devotees read, the more relevant and pertinent the philosophical enquiries and everyone becomes enlivened in Krishna consciousness.

MORNING CLASS

In Kali-yuga, there are no “sruti-dhara” students (one who can immediately remember everything).  When students carry books and notebooks into the class, it indicates they are serious about learning and remembering. In such an atmosphere, asking questions becomes an exciting experience. When students are left to listen passively, without books, without taking notes, without the governing principles of a typical class, they do not become excited about the knowledge, about devotional service or  about Krishna. How much devotees learn is noticeable by the nature of questions they ask during and after class. The result of excellent questions is amazing enthusiasm for Krishna and devotional service, and amazing happiness!