As I often say, peace is not some airy-fairy concept. It is a way of life and a moment-to-moment choice. I have declined to participate in an affiliate program because they used violence in their advertising.

I find the aggressive language many marketers use distressing. Think of the following bits of verbiage I’m sure you’ve heard before (or maybe even used) and tell me how it makes you feel…

• Obliterate the competition

  

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• bullet points
• annihilate your competitors
• Dominate your niche

Is it truly necessary to use the aggressive language of war and subjugation in order to sell your stuff?

I say no.

As author of The Peace Seed: Personal and Global Transformation through Storytelling, and as someone dedicated to being what Deepak Chopra calls a “Unit of Peace Consciousness,” it is important for me to use and teach nonviolent communication methods, which I prefer to call cooperative language and a peace mindset.

First, let me share the issues that arise with aggressive language.

When you use phrases like “annihilate your competition” or “obliterate competition.” you demonstrate a single-minded violent purpose: to destroy someone else and take business from them. This is a patriarchal war-like position to take.

But perhaps you’re wondering how you can earn a living if you’re not taking business from other people or steering customers away from them so they’ll supposedly come to you.

Is there a way for you to attract customers who willingly, even excitedly, open their wallets to share their contents with you? Certainly!  An abundance mindset and a true desire to serve your audience will bring you everything you need and more.

And when you are well branded and when you work things in a prosperous manner, you have no competition. Not because you’ve destroyed them, but because you have made your offer attractive, and maybe even because you’re turned your alleged “enemies” into allies.

It truly can be done that way. Yes! Many times, those who would appear to be competition can become allies.

Here is a story that will give you several examples. I work with people who want to become authors. There are a number of people serving the same audience, and we each do it differently.

One person has some excellent teaching but no affiliate program. I am speaking to him about adding an affiliate program, and since he hired me to assist him, I will earn anytime someone invests in his program.

Another person has some great materials for authors but does not want to work with authors directly, except in a few special cases. He will use some of my book writing materials in conjunction with his programs, and I will be working with those would-be authors who ask him to help them. So I will benefit from serving them and he will prosper without having to do any of the work. All are well served.

Another company is not doing the same thing I am but they do provide services for authors who already have books out. Since they have prospecting customers who are either writing books or thinking of writing books, when they use my system for how to write a book that’s profitable, these new authors will have better books, so they’ll get better results when they hire this company to help them with their promotions. It’s a great win for all concerned. I’ll promote this company to those who want that type of service as an affiliate, and they will be an affiliate of mine.

What’s happening? I’m consistently going to companies that serve the same audience I do, directly or indirectly, to explore how we can work together for mutual benefit and to better serve the clients who come for assistance. By inserting my system into their process, their clients benefit because by working cooperatively, each company gives their utmost best and the clients win. So do both companies!

What are the wins?

• I extend my reach to more people and earn more with less effort. The other company does the same. And there are more and more authors of successful books emerging because we “competitors” are forging a profitable joint venture.
• I know that some people will be drawn to me and my system while others will not. That’s perfectly fine – even expected.
• I spend absolutely NO energy or time tearing down others who serve the same audience.
• I know with every fiber of my being that there is more than enough business for all of us. None of us is perfect and nobody can meet everybody’s needs.
• Since I do not see competition, I openly and freely approach business owners with no fear of loss of any kind.
• And as a matter of fact, I’m finding it fun to find the holes in what they offer, filling those holes, serving their customers, making allies of them, and creating fantastic win-win-win scenarios all over the world. It’s FUN!

How is this practicing Peace?

Too many business owners expend a huge amount of energy and precious time finding ways to out-do the others in your niche (what most people call “competitors”). You try to one-up each other. You stir the pot to bring discord. Maybe you even talk down the other to your potential customers. This ultimately hurts you and drives potential customers away from you rather than toward you.

Imagine how much more fun and free it is when you spend your time and energy finding better leveraged ways to serve more people (serve more, work less) without trying to hurt someone else’s business. You even turn what some would consider enemies into trusted colleagues, and everybody, especially the customer, wins.

This is indeed a peaceful – and PROFITABLE – way to conduct business

Resources

I invite you to enjoy this video excerpt of The Peace Seed and to bring the book home.

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