(Minghui.org) I started working as a sales representative for the Epoch Times three years ago with the thought that it would be beneficial for my cultivation. However, the path was not without challenges.
The company had employed several non-practitioners as part of the sales team. These people were often rather vocal about the professional acumen of the company. They worked hard, but their goal was to earn more money and get promoted. They often criticized the company, the staff's poor professional skills, and other things. I was upset to hear these comments.
Studying the Fa helped me better understand my non-practitioner colleagues, as well as other non-practitioners. They already had garnered plenty of experience in the past and could offer advice to help us to become more professional and gain a better footing in ordinary society.
I worked with them every day but was put off by them in the beginning. However, I learned to communicate with them at levels they could accept. I learned what is popular in society. I was able do my sales work from the perspective of other people's interests. I was also able to improve my communication skills.
In the past there was a gap between me and everyday people. I had looked down upon others and tried to avoid the bad things in society, which made me reluctant to talk to everyday people.
After working in sales for a while, I had topics to discuss when I met friends and understood better what they cared for and what they talked about.
I finally realized that cultivation was very serious, but clarifying the truth did not have to be too serious. One could also save people during an upbeat conversation, as long as one had righteous thoughts and was considerate of others.
I was invited to a mainstream event when I was promoting Shen Yun last year. I clearly knew that this was Master’s arrangement for me to network with upper-class people.
I felt like I was under a lot of pressure. I worried about dressing right, whether my makeup was acceptable, and how to behave appropriately. Our manners, social etiquette, and grooming all needed to fit the environment.
The people in this circle always talk about how to earn more money, the best places to travel, and other such things. They were also on the lookout for fame.
They could not identify with the selfless state of Falun Dafa practitioners, but they did well and were accepted by society. Thus, I think practitioners could make a much bigger impact if we took care of our appearance and developed better strategies. I treasured each meeting with these people so I could learn. I adopted what I had learned through these experiences and applied my knowledge to my Dafa truth-clarification.
I attended my first New York experience sharing conference in May of this year. Some fellow practitioners shared their experiences of promoting Shen Yun. There were only about five practitioners in some cities, but they sold all the tickets. How could they manage that? They advertised very professionally.
Master taught us:
“If it really were the case that with just one round of advertising everyone would come, then I will tell you, I wouldn’t ask you to go and sell tickets.” (“20th Anniversary Fa Teaching” from Teaching the Fa at the Conference XI)
My understanding in the past was that we needed to put in more effort to promote Shen Yun ahead of the performances. After attending the Fa conference, I enlightened that we have to make our Shen Yun commercials more professional and attractive.
I wanted to improve my marketing skills and asked fellow practitioners for help. They shared how they carefully crafted each advertisement. Each one might have been modified more than 100 times. What helped them to achieve their professional marketing skills was not only talent but also their sense of responsibility as Falun Dafa practitioners.
I wanted to isolate myself from society, but I was pushed to work with everyday people to learn about consumer marketing and how to save people while understanding their attachments.
I did not like to talk about eating, drinking, and leisure, as these things interfere with cultivation. I was dragged down by material temptations for a while and began to enjoy the good life. I forgot why I was cultivating and my life's purpose. I had to awaken little by little, which was a painful process.
My cultivation path was very difficult. It seemed easy, but in reality, the temptation of material gain was a big test.
I hope I can stay firm and strengthen my will to cultivate and keep advancing to become a more professional sales representative.