4 Pillars of Success: Based On Universal Principles of Gratitude, Abundance, Love & Compassion

Creator.

INTRODUCTION

I was prepared to lose everything…

In 2002, I gave up. I broke down and cried.

I gave up everything I thought I knew about Universal Power, about Love, about how I should run a multinational company as Founder and Chairman of the EDMARK Group of Companies.

I gave up everything I imagined I understood about the roles and responsibilities of an entrepreneur even though I’ve been managing my business since I started out on my own at 18. The competitive business principles and aggressive strategies that I have practiced so diligently had made me a feared and imperious dictator in my company. My autocratic management style had led to conflicts and prolonged struggles with the staff and management team.

Finally, I gave up all my assumptions about creating a loving relationship with my wife and children. I decided to relinquish the stringent demands that my children should do what I thought is good for them. I surrendered the need that my wife does everything the right way, MY way. I had believed all along that I was doing my best to create joy and harmony in my family, being a good father and a loving husband. Then, when I looked at my shadows snarling back at me like a venomous viper, I cringed and at long last concluded that I was merely a domestic hooligan.

At 43, I admitted humbly that I knew NOTHING about Love and Success. For me, awakening to the possibility of projecting human goodness in business was the turn-around. When I allowed myself to open my heart, stripped away my pride, shut up my ego and broke open to be vulnerable, I began to learn, unlearn and relearn all about unconditional love and boundless success. Many of these lessons were beyond my wildest imagination. I was ready to give permission to the greatest love of all, the compassionate extension of the Almighty Universal Power, the Creator, to take over my life. I went on my knees and surrendered to It. I was ready to let Love in to break me open. As the saying goes, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. And at 43, I was finally ready.

Now, older and wiser through the guidance of many teachers in my life; in human, spirit and inanimate forms like books and movies; and most importantly, from my life experiences, I have come to realize that everything in my world is only my perception and interpretation. If I desire Love and Success, all I need to do is to approach any situation with the intention and attitude of Love and Success.

In the past, the fear of ‘not enough’ has led to the belief in the need for rivalry and competition, particularly in business. I learned to be quick and tough, in order to not just survive but to make it big. Acting from lack instead of abundance and sharing, I penetrated a market with the motto We come, we see, we conquer. My primary aim then was to make as much money as I can, as fast as possible.

With the new realization that there is more than enough for everyone in the world, I am convinced that business can be profitable based on the principles of sharing and caring. Now, my new approach in business is We come, we see, we contribute. In recent years, as my business expands to the Middle East and Africa, we are connecting with many people and enriching their lives. In so doing, our distributors and customers are making my life, and that of my loved ones, better and better.

The Edmark business is a platform for uniting people of all races and nationalities. Through practicing the universal spiritual values of Gratitude, Abundance, Love and Compassion, many Edmarkers worldwide become better and more loving people. The business has also become a platform for different nationalities to unite and see each other as brother and sister.

As I change the way I think about business, I now see clearly why Edmark has grown, and is still growing, in leaps and bounds in every corner of the world as we ceaselessly build our company on the principles of love and care and share.

Believe Me, You are already Successful!

I want to tell you with full confidence that everyone is already a success! It is an undeniable truth; each one of us is born with the blueprint for success. It’s in our DNA. To make it big, to be famous and to be great! Just think about it, if we are not meant to be great, we would not have been able to learn to walk, talk and even to drive a car. However tough a task may be, if we apply our human efforts, we can make it.

What many are not acknowledging is the fact that everyone possesses the ability to create whatever we wish to create. Yes, we live in a field of incredible energy to create anything we want. If you are not creating the life you want, you need to ask yourself, What is stopping me from recognizing the Greatness in me? The Greatness that is fearless; the knowingness that you can achieve anything you set your mind to fulfill.

Nothing in this world can stop you from being successful or having everything you desire. Actually, there is that ONE person who can stop you from greatness – YOU. You are both the creator and the destroyer; the believer and the doubter; the achiever and the loser. The real problem is not that the world has been unkind to you; it is you who have been uncharitable to yourself. Do you know who you are? What you are capable of? How unlimited your potential is?

You think you are your work, your money, your wealth, your family and even that spiritual path you have chosen. You think the life you live now – the one you have planned and defined – is the Ultimate Reality. Can you consider the possibility that your self-prophecies and planning are really limitations you have set? With such narrow views of yourself and life, you have missed all that the Universe has in store for you. Do not restrict your growth and expansion; you have the potential to achieve more than what you imagine.

As a human being, one restriction we face with regularity is problems and challenges. Most people get caught up in their problems and put in a lot of energy to deal with them. In the process of focusing and solving a problem, many of us get overly stressed out so much so our health and relationships are drastically affected and we become mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually drained. In focusing outside of us, we blame the environment, system, loved ones and maybe even the dog! We vent our anger at everything and everyone, unaware that within the tantrum, there is a Sparkle in you that is waiting to shine. But how can you see that Inner Sparkle in all your rage? This is the core objective of what this book determines to achieve. It is about bringing forth that Inner Sparkle, that innate eminence you have within, because beyond all the problems you may encounter, there is a Gift for your ultimate growth and success.

Find out who YOU really are, rather than what you have been told to believe. In fact, for those who are experiencing hardship, I would like to say, You don’t need to believe what your eyes are showing you, because all you get are views of limitations.

When you intuitively change the way you feel, expand your shallow view of life and take a closer look into yourself, you will discover your Gift, the essence of your Soul, your natural Self, that which knows everything and will help you through any challenges effortlessly.

Allow me to use an analogy to explain the essence of your natural Self. Take an orange; when it is squeezed, what will you get? Orange juice. You will never get apple juice out of an orange. Orange juice is the true essence of the orange just as apple juice is the true essence of the apple. When you investigate yourself beyond your physical body, you will find your true essence. Perhaps you are blessed with the Gift of creativity; while others are talented in mathematics, language, music, sports, selling, interpersonal relationship etc. Just like no two oranges are the same in terms of taste and texture, so each one of us is unique and special and has different Gifts.

Make use of your Gifts and your life becomes effortless and limitless.

Stop Limiting Yourself

My parents offered me the idea of ceilinglessness. There was no limit in terms of what was possible; no messages sent to me to say that I couldn’t do anything. Alanis Morissette, Grammy Awards singer-songwriter.

Invariably, in life and business, there will be challenges and problems. There will be differences that we need to iron out; we need to lay our cards on the table and come to a resolution with whatever methods or tools we have. Then, we move on.

Whatever the case may be, take the experience to another level by looking at every problem as a blessing in disguise. Gathering strength as you solve one problem, you will be able to face another challenge with renewed attitude and restored faith. When you know you can reinvent yourselves, you will never use limiting statements such as:

I cannot be successful without paper qualifications.

I don’t have the capital.

I don’t know anyone.

I am too young/old.

It is their mistake.

Would you feel empowered if you utter such limiting statements? Or feel happy? For a moment, be still and ask yourself: - Which one of these emotions is easier to attain and highly beneficial to all – joy or fear?

Obviously, it is being joyful. When you choose to be happy and positive with whatever you have, you will fill your workplace and your home with happiness and peace. With the smiles you bring to everyone wherever you are, the loving energy will create a space for hugs, laughter, for communication and for union. On the other hand, fear is likely to bring about more struggles.

To change your life, work on increasing your daily dose of joy to achieve everything you set your mind to accomplish.

Round World, No Sides

If you are thinking of starting a business, or you are already a business owner, I would encourage you to contemplate your intention for being in business. Ask yourself: -

Why start a business? or

Why do I want to have a business?

Is it because you want to show to others that you are somebody? Or because you want to prove to your parents, friends and relatives that you can be your own boss? Or because you think you can make more money? Generally, these questions will help you find out if you started your business out of love or from fear. Let’s take a look what will happen with your business when you start on the footing of fear. If you are reveling in great success, satisfied that you have achieved most of your dreams, you are likely to be afraid of two things. Ironically, you will fear greater success or on the other extreme, losing it all.

You may reject further success because you think that everyone will be out to get you since they would be even more jealous. So, you hold on to what you have; you start hoarding and stop giving. This belief in lack puts you in a competitive mode; and envy, greed and jealousy seep into your consciousness without you knowing it. The world you see is bleak and sluggish. It seems everyone out there wants to get a piece of your success and you are not willing to pass it on.

On the other hand, your fear of failing may be magnified. After all, good luck doesn’t last forever. Being afraid to make mistakes and fearing rejection, you stay in your comfort zone and do business only with the people you know, as you do not trust anyone else.

Your Inner Sparkle, however, awaits your awakening. As you read this book, you will discover that you have a greater mission than creating a successful business or accumulating personal wealth. Your purpose is to give and serve. So instead of taking the easy way out by selling to a market where a similar product or business system is accepted you decide to serve through educating a fresh, new market to embrace your product or business model so that more people can be joyful and prosperous.

See beyond. Go beyond your product. Go beyond your business. Look at your business as an opportunity to serve the world. As the world is round, you can take no sides. You will regard everyone as your brother and sister as you see through the eyes of compassion. You will be the ambassador of love with a product and a business to lead everyone to wealth creation.

When I decided to venture into Nigeria, it was out of sheer gutfeel and determination. It was a response to my Inner Calling to go there and help the people of Nigeria. I didn’t know anyone when I landed in Lagos, the capital city, in 2006. Yet today, I am proud to say that my business has impacted the lives of people even in other parts of the African continent like Ghana, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Benin Republic, Burkino Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Morocco and South Africa.

When I decided that the purpose of my business is to serve and love humanity, I saw beyond the stereotypical culture of the country and its people. There is no fear but a heart full of love and respect for the people I am about to serve. I am still eager and hungry to fulfill this calling and ready to be of service. You will be just as excited when you see your business as a vehicle to serve and give.

We Are More Than This!

The lotus, which symbolizes clarity and truth, is seeded in mud. Yet it rises above the murky water and blossoms in bright colors. Everything is just perfect as it is; the mud and murky water are essential ingredients for the lotus to flower and bear fruit. So it is with our human life - our problems, heartaches, worries, difficulties and challenges serve to mould us so that we rise above all our imperfections to emerge fresh and bright.

Success is not about the achievement of money and fame. It is definitely not measured by the number of countries I’ve ventured into, the size of the land my factory is sitting on or even the number of employees and business associates I have world-wide.

As I know it now, success is a journey with its ups and downs, and opportunities to learn, unlearn and relearn. Success is about fulfillment - spiritual, mental, emotional and physical fulfillment. It is about embracing every aspect of being human, and despite experiencing setbacks, failures, pain and fear, rise to feeling inspired, happy and naturally joyful every day, every moment of life. It is making a difference to, and positively influencing friends and strangers, and being regarded as a loving husband by my wife and a cool dad by my children.

In 2002, with hypertension pills in my palm and a mind loaded with rage, I decided from my heart to listen to… what else, but my heart. Where else can you get all the answers to all your life questions? The answers to all our questions and doubts can only be found in the quiet center of our heart. The only thing we need to do is simply to listen.

That fateful day, instead of asking gurus and my mind, I asked of my heart the primeval question: Who am I?

Now, writing this, for the highest love for you, my friend, I will tell it as it is…

I was prepared to lose everything… and now I have gained everything.

As you read these words, I wish you Love and Success as you discover their true meanings to be applied in your career and your business, and more so, in creating harmonious relationships with your family and everyone who comes into your life.

Feel Good Now!

Sam Low

1

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Your Future,

You Decide

Life is 10% what

happens to you

and 90% how you

respond to it.

~ Charles R Swindoll

In 2013, one of my key senior Training Consultants suddenly quit training for us. What made it worse was that he did not have the courtesy to tell me his decision face-to-face or even through a phone call. He just sent me an email stating his intention to leave. I found out later that he was giving training to the distributors of one of our competitors. At first, I couldn’t take it. How could this have happened? I thought we were very close.

Over the years, we had successfully planned, developed and executed the company’s training programs. We created a culture where everyone in the company, including distributors, was motivated to continuously learn. The programs we developed have empowered and inspired everyone to give their best, all the time. There was mutual trust and camaraderie. Everything worked well. I genuinely thought we had an excellent working relationship. It felt like he was an integral part of the team that was