The Industry of Bliss

By Barbara Casey

Not long ago, I read an interesting new book called The New Culture of Desire by Melinda Davis, CEO of a futurist think tank in New York. 

In her book, Davis discloses the conclusions of a 6-year study on what makes people want what they want and do what they do. The study was conducted primarily for big business, where the results might have sounded more earth-shaking. For the body, mind, spirit community, however, the conclusions more or less corroborate what we’ve know for some time: bliss sells.

In a nutshell, Davis asserts that the most powerful survival needs of consumers now are “psychospiritual.” Physical survival needs have been overtaken by the need for:

• instant altered states
• richer human connection
• a more solid sense of self
• a clearer vision of the path
• greater inner pleasure.

She talks about the business person (or marketer) as a healer, helping clients reach an “optimal state of mind,” where you can “lose your sense of being anywhere and feel a wondrous sense of unity with the universe.”

Sounds right up our alley.

As I was reading, a number of business ideas popped into my mind, based pretty much on Davis’ premises. See what you think.

1. A meditation teacher could add a new twist by becoming a “personal meditation coach” who comes to your home or office for guided meditations or visualizations (much like a personal fitness trainer would). If “instant bliss” is the new “in thing,” why not promote your personal meditation coaching in local business publications, at Chamber of Commerce meetings, and the like. You’ll be helping busy people relax and tune into their heart of hearts while making a pretty decent living for yourself.
   
   
2. An event organizer could specialize in creating “connected communities” for the duration of a conference. Raise a convention above the usual “show and tell” mode by building in activities that help people connect, interact, bond and co-operate many times during the event.
   
   
3. Under the “Guidance on the Path” heading, trained hypnotherapists or skilled regressionists could offer to PROGRESS clients to see what their future potentials might be. (Edgar Cayce saw his own future while in trance; presumably others can learn to do the same.)
   
   
4. Astrologers and seers might want to specialize in career/business readings to get people into their “right livelihoods” quicker.
   
   
5. Traditional healers and counselors could add an alternative component, both to speed healing and to facilitate an “instant altered state.” For example, dentists could offer guided meditation through headphones prior to or during orthodox dental procedures. If they specialized in nervous patients, and had a good track record of easing “dentist anxiety,” they’d never lack for word-of-mouth referrals. The client would feel better about himself for handling his fear, and might even edge into an “altered state.” This method could work for surgeons, too.
   
   
6. According to Melinda Davis, storytelling is now being used by the military and big business. For example, after September 11, 2001, the government asked a number of Hollywood filmmakers to devise various scenarios for thwarting terrorism—as a “what if” learning tool.
   Stories also help people understand complex information more quickly. If you’re a writer or storyteller, you could conduct workshops where you teach attendees to “write their way” through their fear of an illness or anger with a relationship issue. In the telling of their personal stories, they begin to guide themselves through to acceptance or a greater understanding.
   
   
7. Distance healing, shamanic healing, spiritual healing are likely to gain mainstream recognition. Start gathering bona fide testimonials and build your website. You may need to work through the auspices of a religious or cultural group to stay on the right side of the AMA and local licensing laws, but we all know how much healing needs to be done. According to Melinda Davis, it’s time to shine your light farther out.
   
   
8. My own field—spiritual marketing—seems to fit here, too, as business owners remember to put the mission before the money. (In order to follow your bliss, you’ve got to find it first.) In 2001, I wrote a marketing course for holistic and home-based business owners that helps them design their business around their life’s purpose, so that business and “sense of self” are naturally harmonious. It appears I was breaking new ground and didn’t even know it. (For more information about the marketing course visit http://www.marketingwithamission.com)
   
   What new ground can you break in the coming year that sets you apart from others in your field? How can you help people attain “peak psycho-spiritual experiences” through your work? If you feel inspired to raise the vision of your business, check out The New Culture of Desire by Melinda Davis.

Barbara Casey is author of the niche marketing course, “Marketing with a Mission,” and host of www.newradiance.com—over 90 pages of inspired marketing ideas for small business owners.