Business: A Metaphor

I met with a woman yesterday to coach her through setting up her energy healing practice. It became apparent -- as it often does for many of us -- that she has a conflicted relationship with money and business.

Loves her work. Grudgingly accepts that if it's going to provide some needed income, she needs to treat it as a business.

A picture came to me. I drew it on the whiteboard and explained it to her. It resonated with her.

A well-organized business provides the supportive infrastructure that frees our hands to do our work.

Imagine, as in the picture above, a simple clay bowl. In the bowl is some wax and a wick. From that wick, a flame burns.

The bowl is our businesses -- our rates, hours, marketing, bank accounts, scheduling and payment processing procedures, bookkeeping, licenses, insurance, website, business cards, business ethics, etc.

The flame is the healing work we do. Our passion. Massage therapy. Energy healing. End of life care. Whatever it is you do that burns brightly in your heart and soul.

Without the flame, the bowl has no purpose.
Without the bowl, the flame can only burn for as long as the match that brings it into being endures.


The bowl doesn't need to be fancy or complicated. But it does have to be the right size, shape, and construction for the flame it will support.

Do you have a well-constructed bowl for your flame? Is it just the right size? Is it in good condition? Or are you trying to burn from a match, re-lighting and re-lighting and re-lighting it?