The Key To Success May Be Integrating Spirituality Into Your Business
“What’s a computer? A is for apple. B is for the boy, C is for the cat, and D is for the dog.” Sound familiar? This quote from Steve Jobs’ famous 2005 Stanford commencement speech has been shared millions of times online because it tells us something profound about how we can connect with others.
The same holds within any business environment: when you bring your authentic self to work every day, you make it easier for others to do so.
It is important to remember that to foster meaningful connections with others; it is essential to be genuine and honest. This creates an environment of trust, openness, and collaboration, ultimately leading to better outcomes and more creative solutions. This will create a strong foundation for any team to work together and reach their goals.
Steve Jobs’ spiritual life was fundamental to his success as an entrepreneur, inventor and visionary.
Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder and long-time CEO, is best known for being an inventor, innovator and one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time — but he also had a solid and deep spiritual life.
Jobs was raised in a religious household and attended Sunday school as a child. He later said that this early exposure to spirituality shaped his view on life: “For me, it was sort of a natural thing,” he told Time magazine in 1985. “You have these impulses inside you that push you toward creativity; they give you pleasure when you’re exercising them.”
As an adult, Jobs studied Zen Buddhism under Kobun Chino Otogawa at Stanford University’s Center for Japanese Studies from 1984 until 1988. He credited Kobun with helping him develop his sense of intuition about design: “He always encouraged us not just to use our intellect but also our senses,” Jobs said during his commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005 (video below).
Jobs communicated his spirituality authentically and aligned with Apple’s purpose: “A computer was something you could learn to use and get pleasure from.”
Steve Jobs was a spiritual man. He was very open about his spirituality and did not believe in religion. Jobs had a spiritual practice that he practiced daily, but it wasn’t religious. Rather than attend church or mosque, he would spend time alone in nature and meditate on what he wanted to do with his life.
He felt that being spiritual meant connecting with yourself--your heart and soul--and understanding what’s important to you as a human being (not just as a member of society).
He also used this approach to help others find meaning in their lives.
Steve Jobs was a spiritual person who used his spirituality to help others find meaning in their lives. He was an excellent example of how to do this. He believed that focusing on the present moment and appreciating life’s simple pleasures were essential for spiritual growth. He was a role model for living life with intention and purpose. His spiritual teachings continue to inspire and motivate many to live a life of gratitude and focus on living in the present, appreciating each moment. His motto was to stay hungry and foolish: to stay curious, continue to learn and grow, and take risks pursuing their passions. He believed the dots would connect in one’s life and take risks even when fear screams in their ears.
Steve Jobs’ spiritual practices helped him connect with people at a deeper level, allowing them to feel more connected with themselves, their work, and each other.
Jobs’ spirituality also helped him connect with the world around him. In his words: “I believe that if we want to live in a better world, we need to be better people.”
He encouraged people to be brave and take risks to achieve their dreams. He believed that life was a journey and that by embracing risks, one could succeed. He was a believer in determination and perseverance. He thought no one could take away one’s dreams unless one were willing to give up on them. He often said that nothing was impossible if one put their mind to it and worked hard.
Integrating spirituality into your workplace doesn’t just make for happier employees -- it makes for a better company too!
Creates a culture of empathy.
Creating an atmosphere of acceptance and respect creates a sense of purpose, encourages positive relationships, and fosters a culture of empathy. These benefits can lead to increased productivity, creativity, and innovation, and positively impacting an environment is the bottom line.
Creates a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace.
This also creates a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where everyone feels comfortable expressing their ideas, taking risks, and being themselves. Ultimately, this helps an organization to attract and retain top talent and stay competitive in the market.
In addition to helping you attract and retain top talent, integrating spirituality into your business can help build a more inclusive, diverse workplace. And those are two things that will benefit any company in today’s competitive economy.
But there are even more benefits to be gained from integrating spirituality:
Lower stress levels and higher performance.
Research shows that companies with leaders who practice mindfulness have lower stress levels and higher performance than their competitors (1).
In addition to creating happier employees who are less stressed out at work, you’ll likely have fewer sick days taken by your staff members because they feel healthier overall! Institutionally-minded businesses also tend to be more sustainable--they may use fewer resources than other companies because their workers are more conscious about minimizing wastefulness or using only materials with low environmental impact (2).
Steve Job’s Wisdom Takeaways For a Successful Business
If you want to build a successful business, take this approach! Steve Jobs believed sincerely in the power of integrating spirituality into business, and he made sure his company followed suit. He was so passionate about it that he even hired a spiritual adviser to help him out. He created an environment that supported employees’ personal growth and helped them find meaning in their work. This allowed him to build a solid and dedicated workforce, ultimately leading to company success. He was an excellent example of how critical it is to integrate spirituality into business. It can be a powerful tool for creating a successful and sustainable business.
He didn’t just talk about these things; he made them happen within Apple’s walls. For example, he created “The Lunch Room,” where employees could meditate or practice tai chi during lunchtime. He also built a cafeteria that served vegetarian meals every day (he was a vegetarian). He even painted the entire building white so it would be easier on everyone’s eyes!
He also believed that making money wasn’t enough—businesses needed some meaning beyond profit margins. That’s why he always included these words in his speeches: “We are here to make great products.”
The point is: if you want your business to succeed, then make sure it reflects your values. If spirituality is important to you, ensure your office space reflects that by incorporating spiritual practice into your daily routine.
This positive attitude toward spirituality has carried over into Apple’s current leadership—current CEO Tim Cook is also a practicing Buddhist who regularly meditates and prays with other employees.
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So, you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” Steve Jobs
