WELCOME TO THE
SPIRIT INCORPORATED STUDY GROUP 

The following study guide will help your group study the principles taught in the book, SPIRIT INCORPORATED: How to Follow Your Spiritual Path From 9 to 5.
Autographed copies are available from  WinningSpirit.com/book_shelf.shtml  You can also go to the same link to hear the author being interviewed on the radio about this book and answer questions about how to use spiritual principles in everyday working situations.
 
WELCOME TO THE SPIRIT INCORPORATED STUDY GROUP
Being part of a study group can inspire you, stimulate your thinking, and support you as you put the ideas to use. This study guide will help you explore all the ways you can "Follow Your Spiritual Path From 9 to 5," so you’ll feel calmer and more centered at work, think more clearly, attract positive people, and enjoy continuing success. Spend as much time as you want on a particular chapter, respect each other’s thoughts and feelings (sharing is always optional and should be kept confidential), proceed at a pace that’s comfortable for the group, and have fun! Please read "An Invitation to Work with ‘Upper’ Management" and Chapter 1, "Help Wanted," for the first meeting.

AN INVITATION TO WORK WITH "UPPER" MANAGEMENT (page 1)
Please introduce yourselves, tell where you work, and exchange business cards
so you can do business with each other, if possible.

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• How do you define spirituality? Do you think spirituality and religion are the same thing? Explain.
• What do you think of the book’s definition of "Spirit" (opposite the "Contents" page)?
• What is your preferred name for "God"?
• Please continue with the following discussion questions for Chapter 1.

CHAPTER 1: HELP WANTED (page 7)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• When did you first become interested in spirituality? Was there a particular person, experience, or event that influenced you?
• Share something about the quality of your attitudes, thoughts, words, and actions last week. Was Spirit in charge of "quality control," or is there something you’d like to improve in the upcoming week?

Group Activity: The book suggests that every day is "payday" (page 9), so pick up your "paycheck" now. Start a list of things for which you’re grateful and share what one or two of them are. Action Items: Keep collecting your "paycheck" as described in the Group Activity. See every situation at work as an opportunity to explore your beliefs about prosperity and employment, and to make a positive statement about those beliefs. Read Chapter 2 for the next meeting.

CHAPTER 2: MISSION POSSIBLE (page 17)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Share any insights that you had this past week that relate to last week’s topics.
• Apply the "Back from the Future" technique (pages 21-22) to today. Share your thoughts.

Group Activity: Draft a personal mission statement for yourself that reflects your values (pages 17-18), and share your thoughts with the group. If there’s time, discuss some of the ways that you can keep your mission in mind (this chapter offers several ways). Share any other ideas that come to mind. Action Items: Make several copies of your mission statement and put them where you’ll see them every day, such as on the bathroom mirror, in the car, on your desk, and in your purse or wallet. Be sure that your daily activities help keep you aligned with your values and with your mission statement. Use the 11-step plan (pages 22-24) to achieve something that you want. Read Chapter 3 for the next meeting.

CHAPTER 3: HOW TO GAIN SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS AT WORK (page 27)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Share the progress you made last week following the 11-step plan to achieve a goal (pages 22-24).
• Pick a difficult situation at work that you’d like to improve. Share with the group how you could apply the 6-step plan (pages 27-31) to understand the situation from a spiritual perspective.

Group Activity: On page 31, a CEO used the Law of Attraction to enlarge his client base. Design a similar "ad campaign" for yourself. Write your ideas down and share your thoughts with the group. Action Items: If you encounter a challenging situation at work, apply the 6-step plan in this chapter to gain insights. Remember to "make a spiritual response your first response, not your last resort." Read Chapter 4 for the next meeting.

CHAPTER 4: THE NEW FRONTIER (page 39)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Share the progress you made during the past week with the 11-step plan to achieve a goal (pages 22-24).
• Share your experience using the 6-step plan (pages 27-31) to understand a difficult experience.
• What are some ways management can create the conditions in which employees can feel spiritual at work? What are some things you can do if you’re an employee to feel more spiritual on the job?

Group Activity: The book describes 32 ways that you can create, or contribute to, a socially conscious workplace (pages 42-44). Discuss which of the ideas you could use at work. Write down any action items you want to take, and share your commitment with the group. Action Items: Implement the ideas you selected for creating or contributing to a socially conscious workplace. Read Chapter 5 for the next meeting.

CHAPTER 5: HOW TO ALIGN YOUR BUSINESS GOALS WITH YOUR VALUES (page 47)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Share with the group about a time you were so intent on achieving a goal that you missed something important or got so stressed out that you forgot to enjoy the moment.
• If someone followed you around the office and recorded your activities (page 51), then tried to construct a scenario of what you value, would that person have an accurate picture? Make a commitment to the group as to how you’ll improve your scenario for the upcoming week.

Group Activity: Explore your personal values as they relate to your professional life (pages 48-49). Do this in writing, with a partner, or with the group a whole. Action Items: Pick a small change you’d be willing to make on a regular basis that could add up to a long-term benefit for you (page 49), and begin to implement the change. List some of your values, pick one a day on which to work, and look for opportunities to express it. Rename your "To-do List" your "Opportunity List." Read Chapters 6 and 7 for the next meeting.

CHAPTER 6: THE GET-BY JOB (page 53)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Share about a time you had a job that didn't seem right for you. If you've always had work for which you've been well suited and you've enjoyed, tell the group that, too.
• If you’ve ever had a get-by job, do you have any insights now about what your being in that particular job might have indicated regarding your beliefs about yourself, prosperity, or success?
• What does your current job say about your motivation, ambition, goal-setting skills, outlook, or perseverance?
• What limiting beliefs might you have that you want to detoxify from your life? What steps could you take to be more positive in the upcoming week?
• Please continue with the following discussion questions for Chapter 7.

CHAPTER 7: MY JOB/MYSELF? (page 59)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Share your insights regarding the objective, subjective, or symbolic meanings of your job (pages 60-61).
• Say something about how your job enables you to share your talents, express your creativity, learn something, master a fear, or stretch yourself intellectually or spiritually.

Group Activity: Allow a few minutes of silence to reflect on the following questions, then share your insights: Am I on track at work, in business, or with my career? Is my track going to the right station? Am I taking the easy route, the scenic route, or the rough-terrain route? Which route do I prefer? Might it be time for me to inspect the track I’m on, switch tracks, or repair my track? Action Items: Begin to detoxify yourself from any limiting beliefs you might have regarding prosperity and success. Read Chapter 8 for the next meeting.

CHAPTER 8: WHEN IT'S BEEN ONE OF THOSE DAYS (page 67)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• The book discusses nine ideas for salvaging a hectic day (pages 67-72). Which ideas have you used before? Share any additional strategies that have worked well for you.
• What are some ideas from the book you’d like to use the next time you have a difficult day?
• Describe something important you’ve done at work that wasn’t acknowledged, or are currently doing that’s taken for granted. After each person shares, sincerely acknowledge or congratulate him or her.

Group Activity: Make a list of the unsung heroes at work, such as a vendor who filled your order in record time because you needed it yesterday, the janitorial staff, a security guard who is always at his or her post, or a receptionist who is consistently pleasant. Then jot down some ways that you can thank them for their good service or contribution. Share your ideas with the group.Action items: Put your plan into motion for acknowledging the unsung heroes at work. If you have a rough day, evaluate what went wrong and find ways to prevent future difficult days. Copy some business letters or e-mails you’ve written and bring them to the next meeting to edit. Read Chapter 9 for the next meeting

CHAPTER 9: THE BUSINESS OF BEING POSITIVE (page 75)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Share what you did during the past week to thank an unsung hero at work for his or her contribution.
• In what ways have your words—positive or negative—helped to shape your experiences?
• Share about a time when someone said something pleasant to you and how it affected you in a positive way.

Group Activity: Study the correspondence or the e-mails that you brought with you and edit them so they’re worded in the most positive way (pages 75-83), then share your insights with the group. If there’s time, say something positive about everyone in the group, and share something positive about yourself. Action Items: Notice if any negatives in your communication—written or spoken—are part of an ongoing pattern of negativity, and make a conscious effort to be more positive. Before you send a letter or an e-mail, make sure you've worded it in the most positive way. If you find yourself being negative about someone or something, think three positive things about the person or situation. Read Chapter 10 for the next meeting.

CHAPTER 10: NO BANKRUPTCY IN HEAVEN (page 85)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Discuss how an apparent loss, upheaval, or "failure" that you’ve had has led you to something better than you had.
• In the book Kathleen treated herself to a gourmet meal (pages 87-88) to affirm her belief that things would work out for the best. Do you think if she’d bought a more expensive item—like a car or a million dollar home—that would have been an even greater affirmation of her belief in Divine supply? Explain.

Group Activity: Make a list of inexpensive items that you have, or inexpensive activities that you do, that give you a feeling of wealth, abundance, or contentment. Share your insights. Action Items: Without overextending yourself financially, do something to affirm your belief in Divine abundance. Read Chapter 11 for the next meeting.

CHAPTER 11: HOW TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT BEHAVIOR (page 91)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Discuss how you’d define "difficult behavior." Then select a problem you’ve had with someone—no names, please—and share how you could apply the ideas (pages 91-97), to deal with similar situations if they arise again.

Group Activity: Have a volunteer play the part of a fictional coworker engaged in one of the "bad" behaviors discussed on pages 94-96. If necessary, have another volunteer help with the role playing. The coworkers, played by the rest of the group, then role play how to deal with the situation in the most spiritual way. If there’s time, have someone else act out another "bad" behavior for the group to handle. Action Item: Read Chapter 12 for the next meeting.

CHAPTER 12: HOW TO DEAL WITH THE ETHICALLY CHALLENGED (page 99)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Share any breakthroughs you had during the last week with people who exhibited "bad" behavior.
• Share an experience in which you encountered unethical behavior (no need to name names) and how you responded. If you handled it in less than a spiritual way, discuss how you might have handled it differently. There should be plenty to talk about J, so there’s no group activity scheduled for this session.

Action Items: Do an "ethics audit" on yourself. Have you ever been deliberately unethical, or ever done something first and then realized later that it had been unethical? Think about how a specific action you’ve taken, or inaction, may have affected others in a negative way. Make amends for your behavior and do things more ethically the next time. Take time throughout the day to listen to your inner guidance and be sure you’re doing your job in the most honest way with the greatest integrity. Read Chapter 13 for the next meeting.

CHAPTER 13: COMPETITION OR COOPERATION? (page 113)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Share any insights that you had during the week about last week’s topic.
• Read the words that encourage competition or cooperation (page 117), and discuss which of them are more commonly used in the company where you work. What positive words do you want to use more often in your conversations in order to foster cooperation and teamwork?
• Share about an experience in which you felt competitive, which might have been improved had you been cooperative instead. Or share an experience in which you did cooperate with someone and it led to a win/win situation for both of you.
• Which of the 10 ideas about building a cooperative consciousness (116-118) would you be willing to explore in the upcoming week? Make a commitment to the group.

Group Activity: Talk about some ways you could help the people in your study group be even more successful in business or at their jobs. Jot down action items that you could do in the upcoming week. Action Items: Follow through with your action items from above for helping each other become successful. Explore ways that you or your company could work with other businesses in your area for the benefit of everyone. Read Chapters 14 and 15 for the next meeting.

CHAPTER 14: HOW TO KEEP YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE INTACT
WHEN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE SEEMS TO BE FALLING APART (page 121)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Share the insights you had or progress you made during the week regarding last week’s topics.
• Discuss which of the 18 ideas (pages 122-125) you’ve used in the past to keep your professional life intact when you were going through challenging times. Share any other techniques you’d recommend.
• Please continue with the following discussion questions for Chapter 15.

CHAPTER 15: RESURRECTED! (page 127)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Considering Kathleen’s account of the way she cooks (page 131), would you ever want to eat dinner at her place? Explain.
• Discuss examples that illustrate the difference between giving up and letting go (page 132-133). Share about a time you gave up and a time you let go. And remember, sharing is always optional!
• Have you ever lost something of value? Think of ways that it might still be in circulation (page 133).

Group Activity: Make a list of items, attitudes, activities, or even people, that you could release. Discuss your thoughts with the group. Action Items: Strengthen your lifelines. Keep in touch with family members who live elsewhere, friends, and business contacts. Find out your company’s policy about taking "mental health days," in case you ever need one. Read Chapters 16 and 17 for the next meeting.

CHAPTER 16: NEGOTIATING AND SPIRIT (page 139)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Share the insights you had or progress you made during the week related to last week’s topics.
• Has your idea of negotiating been positive or negative in the past (pages 139-140)? Share an example of a time you influenced, persuaded, or convinced someone of something in a positive way, and a time you manipulated someone (sharing is optional). Discuss the difference.
• Please continue with the following discussion questions for Chapter 17.

CHAPTER 17: SERVICE AND SALES (page 153)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Think about businesses you visit regularly. What do they do that keeps you coming back?
• How can you give your customers a little more than they expect?
• How does your product or service answer a need? (pages 154-155).

Group Activity: Have someone volunteer to play the part of a demanding customer with a problem confronting the employees of a business—played by the group. The customer chooses the problem and the employees figure out to serve the customer and solve the problem in the most spiritual way. Action Items: Be aware of all the ways you negotiate for what you want. Be sure that each negotiation is "clean," meaning that you get what you want with the cooperation of others so everyone wins, needs are met, and self-esteem remains intact. Ask successful people which two or three sales or service strategies they’ve found the most helpful in their businesses. Imagine that your family and friends are "customers." How could you improve your customer service? Read Chapter 18 for the next meeting.

CHAPTER 18: GREENING YOUR GREEN (page 163)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Share any insights you had or progress you made during the week regarding last week’s topics.
• Discuss the belief that true spirituality comes only when people renounce material possessions.
• Do you think people can have it all: love, money, and success?
• Do you have any negative beliefs that might be keeping you from having more money?
• Talk about some of the ways you feel rich that have nothing to do with money.

Group Activity: Examine your relationship to money. In a quiet, contemplative state, ask yourself the questions on pages 164-165. Jot down your thoughts, then share some of your insights with the group. If there’s time, let your imagination run wild and write down at least 10 new ways that you could make money. Put a star by the one or two ideas you'd be willing to spend 15 minutes a day developing. Share your thoughts with the group. Action Items: Choose one of the ideas for making money that you’d like to develop, break it into steps, and set deadlines for when you want to accomplish each step. Think of everything that you see for the rest of the week as a form of wealth and true abundance. Read Chapter 19 for the next meeting.

CHAPTER 19: SUCCESS AT LAST (page 177)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Share any insights you had or progress you made in the last week regarding your attitudes about money.
• Talk about whether you relate to any of the comments made by successful people on page 178.
• Are you a high achiever or an over achiever? What can you do to keep from burning out at work?
  
  Group Activity: Take a few minutes of silence to reflect on the insights you’ve had during the course of the study group, and all the progress you’ve made. Share your thoughts with the group. Action Items: The book suggests 10 ideas on how to keep your spiritual foundation strong and attend to what's truly important in your life (pages 182-183). Explore several of these ways. Read Chapter 20 and "Open for Business" (page 185) for the next meeting.

CHAPTER 20: FROM "GO-GETTER" TO "GO-GIVER" (page 185)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• Share your successes from the previous week regarding success.
• Tell the group how you put your money, time, or talent to good use.
• Look at the ideas for being a "go-giver" on pages 186-189, and make a commitment to implement three or four them (or more) in the upcoming weeks.
• Proceed to the following discussion questions.
  

OPEN FOR BUSINESS (page 193)

Discussion Questions & Personal Experiences

• How has your outlook improved at work since you started to use spiritual principles consciously? Have you changed any of your old beliefs for the better?
• How do you plan to keep a positive momentum going?
  
  Group Activity: List some of the ways that you've served others, and write down some ideas for doing more of it. Share your ideas with the group. If there’s time, list some ways that the group as a whole could become more of a "go-giver," such as doing volunteer work to benefit the community. Action Items: Thank each group member for the positive contribution that he or she made to the group and schedule a reunion to share how you’ve each grown spiritually.
  ________________________________________________________________
  When you use this Study Guide with your group, please e-mail me and let me know how it worked for you. In turn I'll put you on my update list for news tips regarding spirituality in business.
  
  You have my permission to print or send electronic copies of this Study Guide provided that you include the following copyright information on the first and last pages: Copyright 2011, Kathleen Hawkins, National Management Institute, 3209 Lakewood Lane, Flower Mound, TX 75022. Tel. (817)491-9681. E mail: kathleen@winningspirit.com
  
  Winning Spirit home page:  www.WinningSpirit.com

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