Getting help doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means that you’re refining yourself, your product, and your craft. Help can come in a lot of forms, such as ideas or tips. No one becomes successful at what they do by themselves. There are a cast of people supporting them. YOU can’t and should not do it all yourself.
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There is not a single organization or company that has been successful by itself. There are a mountain of resources and help out there that you can take advantage of. Do not be afraid to reach out and just ask. You’ll be surprised to find that a lot of people are very willing to help with what you’ve got going on. By you asking someone for help on a particular topic or piece of your business, you’re telling that person that you value their opinions and view them as an expert. How can they NOT be flattered?!
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness or that you’ve failed. I want you to be an expert at something and build upon that skill. The thing you will eventually learn is that there are millions of people out there that don’t know what you know; you’re already an expert. The inverse is true, so why not take advantage of that HUGE knowledge pool? Reaching out and asking for that helping hand only makes you stronger.
When to Find Help
If you have a product or idea that you’re attempting to hold close to your chest, do you REALLY think that the person you discuss it with will run off with your idea? You’ve got the 1% of your idea done….because it’s just an idea. Nothing is created…. Nothing is tangible….. Nothing is sold…. Now if you really ARE worried about that, then ask for specific help from sources you trust. But in all honesty, it’s very hard to create something that someone else has thought up.
You may also be stuck on a process or have problems finding that next client. Getting help does not have to mean that you need someone to coddle or hold your hand. You’re essentially networking and building those relationships that will lead to bigger and better things. Don’t forget, the best business you’ll more than likely do will be the results of the relationship you’ve built.
Speaking with people about your experiences, ideas, or problems can knock some of those cobwebs loose. It will give you a fresh perspective of what your goal is and can help you identify a clearer path.
Where to Find Help
There are so many different avenues for getting advice or help in your business. Social media is possibly one of the easier platforms to raise your hand for help. Twitter is my go-to social media platform for finding resources or help. Search by topic or hashtag and you’ll find a sea of accounts to start using.
Stack Exchange – https://stackexchange.com/
Stack Exchange is a Q&A community that covers a large range of topics or ideas. You can find help, ask questions, or find answers to a multitude of topics. If you’re stuck with writing that front-end login security checker, someone on Stack Exchange has more than likely has the same question or that has already been answered.
You can find dozens of communities that specialize in the type of questions and answers you’re seeking. For me, I generally hang out in Stack Overflow, which is generally for developers.
You may find that the Server Fault group for system and network engineers or the Japanese Language group for students, teachers, or linguists may work for you. The list goes on and on for the types and amount of groups that you can participate in.
The awesomeness about Stack Exchange communities is that the answers are vote-based. This means that you can trust that the answer that was given is the correct answer because multiple people voted for it.
Reddit – https://www.reddit.com/
Reddit.com is my second go to for community sourced. Reddit has so many communities that its hard to hone in on one End-All-Be-All community. The freedom of asking questions that then spur discussions or answers is great! You’re able to just jump into existing discussions about topics that pertain to what you’re working on or any issues that you’re currently having.
Reddits community is also full of experts and successful people who have already walked in your shoes. Asking for help and putting yourself out there on Reddit almost always converts into something useful and powerful.
Meetup – http://www.meetup.com
Meetup is a GREAT place to find and meet people who are in a specific industry or group. Finding that person that you can have that face-to-face conversation (and eventual network). Having a connection with someone and explaining what you’re trying to do can be a powerful thing. You’re able to articulate, demonstrate, and connect stronger than if you just sent an email or text.
A lot of Meetup groups will also have experts as guest speakers on various topics. These guests can be your direct line to the solutions that you’re looking for. A lot of communities offer exclusive access to people who can give you awesome answers.
Conclusion
Do not think you have to do this alone. Join a local Meetup.com group. Go to a local Chamber of Commerce event. Go to a physical place and start meeting people. Talk to people who are in your industry. You want to always be talking about what you’re doing and what you want to do. You never know who you’re going to meet that will help you get over that little hump to tackle the next big thing.
You will also need to be open and willing to take a step back and let the expert handle things. You’ll get to a point when you may need to bring in the big guns and experts. Pay attention when you need to hire help, consultants, and other freelancers when you are moving into an area where you are out of your depths. Do not take it all on; you should build a team of people who you can off load tasks or actions for you business.