Not only is help on the way, but it’s also surrounding us all the time.
In my experience, to find out for sure, you just have to ask for it.
Years ago, I longed to attend a leadership conference but the tuition was far greater than I could afford. I asked the organizers for a reduced fee and they said, “yes.”
Recently, one of my students cold-called a contact on LinkedIn and asked for an informational interview. The response was, “Sure, how about right now?”
I mentioned to a friend that I wanted to line up a speaker for one of my classes. She referred me to a colleague who, on short notice, said “Yes!” right away.
Maybe these are exceptions, anomalies in a cynical and selfish world.
Maybe not.
I believe that they are accurate representations of the truth that most people, most of the time will be of help if they are able.
Our job is to ask for it. And our job, when we’re on the other side of the equation is to be the ones who say “yes!”
DAVID BERRY is the author of “A More Daring Life: Finding Voice at the Crossroads of Change” and the founder of RULE13 Learning. He speaks and writes about the complexity of leading in a changing world.
