Come Out to the Meadow

I was recently talking to a friend of mine about relationships, what’s missing, what’s desired.  He used a wonderful illustration that a friend had shared with him regarding a meadow.

You may recall in the Disney movie “Bambi”, it is a very dangerous thing to go to the meadow.  Why?  That’s where you’re most vulnerable, most exposed.  It takes courage, trust, faith, awareness and presence to venture out on the meadow.  It also takes an enormous amount of strength.  That’s why Bambi was cautioned about venturing out onto the meadow – at the time, little Bambi didn’t have many of these qualities.

So, when I asked my friend what he was really looking for in a relationship, he said,

“I want someone who will come out to the meadow with me.”

I thought it was a beautiful way to express the concept.  In a relationship, it takes a special kind of trust to be so vulnerable, so exposed.  It takes great courage to venture out in the open like that.  It takes faith that the other has your best interests at heart.  It takes awareness to understand what we’re leaving behind in the woods, yet why it’s so important to do so.  It also takes personal strength and inner confidence. However, coming out to the meadow speaks volumes about the relationship, it’s foundation and it’s potential.  Out on the meadow, your insecurities are magnified, your vulnerabilities are on display.  And it’s out on the meadow that your strength of character is tested, demonstrated and proven.

How do you “come out to the meadow” in your relationships?  What scenarios cause you to stay on the fringe of the meadow, or remaining in the forest?  How do you invite others out to the meadow?  Are you truly comfortable there?  What does your partner need to feel comfortable joining you on the meadow?

In personal relationships, I believe “the meadow” is a very special place – one few couples visit frequently.

Is there a “meadow” in your business relationships?

If your business is about connecting with others and making a difference in their lives, there most definitely is.

Can you relate the illustration to your business?  Can you picture those clients who have “come out to the meadow” with you?  Can you imagine those clients who stand on the fringe of the “meadow”, or those who won’t even leave the forest?  They all exist within your client base.  And your list of prospects are all in the forest.

What causes one client to come out on the “meadow” with you, and another client to stay within the security of their forest?  And, what can you do to get more clients or prospects “out on the meadow” with you?

I will be writing a multiple-part series on this concept.  First, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

What does having a client “out on the meadow” with you mean to you?  How do you know they’re “out on the meadow” with you?  And if they’ve joined you, why did they do so?  What did they do?  What did you do, or not do?

Stay tuned.  We’ll carve a clear path to the meadow in the coming days.