We’ve all had a time in our lives when we felt alone. In our businesses, in our personal lives, it’s a really unpleasant feeling. It’s also a mistake… the more we try to navigate through our lives “alone” the harder we are making things for ourselves. As the poet John Donne said, “No man is an island.” We are all interconnected and stronger the more we connect to and reinforce each other.
Now, what does this have to do with productivity? It’s all about collaboration, the more we improve our ability to collaborate with others, ask for help, receive support… the stronger we all become. That’s why one of the best things that you can do to improve your personal productivity is to strengthen your support team. In other words… ASK FOR HELP!
In Inspired Action, I spend a chapter talking about the importance of locating your support team leaks, and I want to share a few more thoughts and observations I’ve had on this topic very recently to potentially shed some light on your own life and situations as well.
Insight #1: Personal or Professional – All Support is Good
Often we get stuck focusing on just one side or the other of this equation. Maybe we wish we could hire a VA, or a bookkeeper, or a copy writer… all these people who could help our business to grow. At home, perhaps it’s the cleaning service, the lawn crew, or child care that you’ve been dreaming about. The reality is that ALL of these are hugely valuable when we recognize that time is our most precious asset. Any time that we’re spending doing something for which we are not uniquely suited is time lost.
Particularly for entrepreneurs, getting clear on what you are uniquely qualified to do yourself and what could be delegated to others is the absolute best way to grow your business and increase your quality of life. I just sat in on a webinar from a very successful female entrepreneur (Chalene Johnson) who explained in a few minutes how she spends 1 hour a day on Periscope and then hires a VA team for an additional 168hrs. a week to completely execute and dominate her social media empire. Talk about leverage!
Not all of us have ambitions for such domination, but we would really like a little more money in our bank accounts or time with our family. The sooner you let go of trying to do it all yourself the easier both of those outcomes become. So, think about what support you most need, and figure out all the possible ways you could get it. Hire, barter, swap with friends, ask family… get curious and consider all your options.
Insight #2: Sometimes the Best Support Helps you Unravel your Own Mind
I’ve had coaches for years since the beginning of growing my business. I’m a fan of good personal development training that introduces me to new skills and possibilities. I’m also the daughter of a psychologist turned executive coach, so I was raised by a coach/therapist. Therefore, I know from vast personal experience the benefit of having someone who can help you shift your thinking, resolve your blocks, and let go of the old stuff that’s holding you back.
While these folks might not be getting your kitchen cleaned or your blogs posted, they can help you stop spinning your wheels and repeating the same old patterns and mistakes which can unleash huge energy and possibilities in your life. You might not even realize how you’re getting in your own way without a coach, consultant, or therapist to hold up the mirror and point it out.
Therefore, don’t underestimate the value of getting support to work on the inner, intangible work of your life. They might help you make everything else possible.
Insight #3: We’re Only Alone When We Isolate Ourselves
Can we really be alone? Sure (at least on our concrete, physical plane… in a spiritual/scientific sense, unified field theory says we’re all connected so no we’re never really alone.) But, can we isolate ourselves and our lives to avoid the others and the outside world. Yes, but that’s not how were built to function best. We are, by nature, biologically, social creatures. There was a 75-year study at Harvard that found that the true secret to long-term health and happiness was connection and relationships.
So, where do we want to invest our time? In our relationships with others, our families, or friends, our coworkers, our team members… when we all support and care for each other we increase the health and happiness of everyone we touch. That’s true collaboration.
By hiring someone to help you out, and not just paying them money but showing them gratitude and genuinely caring about having them “on your team” you are supporting them in return.
By swapping nights of child care with another family you are building the strength of your relationships and reinforcing the connections between you all.
By simply being there as a shoulder for a friend in trouble you are building a relationship that knows how to weather the storms of life which inevitably will arise.
And, if you ASK for the help that you need, then you’re giving someone else the gift of showing how they can care even more for you. That’s not a weakness, that’s creating a opportunity that strengthens everyone.
Next Actions
Make a list of all the areas of your life where you could use a little help (or a lot). Then, choose just one and get curious, how many ways can you think of to find the help you need? Who out there would be able to help you?
Get creative, ask others, explore possible solutions, and test your theories. Remember, if you ask someone for help and they say no… you’re really no worse off than you were before. And, they might surprise you and say yes!
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