What’s your opinion on asking for help?
Me? I think it’s a great thing! There are SO many people who have gone through the process before us, or who are better at things that we are, that it makes sense to ask for assistance.
As an entrepreneur, it’s pretty common to think that asking for help is a sign of weakness, but I don’t agree, and I think this thought process is pretty unfortunate.
Why not ask questions, and learn from those who know better or have more experience?
As I always say, “If you don’t ask, you’re going to get a NO 100% of the time. However, if you ask, you have a 50/50 chance that you may get a YES or NO. If you don’t ask, the NO is guaranteed!”
I even took my own advice when I had my interview with David Meltzer for Success Unfiltered. After the interview, before we hung-up, I asked him for two referrals.
I have NO shame in my game when it comes to asking!
One of the big reasons that I believe asking for help can be looked at as a deficiency is because entrepreneurship can be extremely competitive. We worry that if we admit to not knowing something it will be used against us, or we’ll be looked at as unqualified, but that’s hardly the case.
Case in point, one of the biggest NO’s I’ve ever experienced actually led to me creating The Pitch Queen brand and my podcast, Success Unfiltered.
The NO I’m referring to came from Doug.
Doug was an investor that I met with time and time and time again as the last part and last chance for my previous company, FITzee Foods.⠀⠀
He seemed so interested, yet there was something missing.
He’d never tell me what was missing, but I knew there was something. He’d frequently remark that it was a great industry & space to be in. He even sent some of my company’s food to 10 of his friends & paid for it.
Every single thing was showing that he was going to invest.⠀⠀
We were a week away from going under, and I asked for what I wanted. One more meeting with Doug.
We met, I broke everything he wanted to know down for him… I told him I loved meeting with him, but at this point I really need to know whether he was willing to help by investing or not.⠀
He told me he just didn’t know the space.⠀
I knew right then and there that this was his NO to me.⠀
Maybe with more time, he would have been a YES, but FITzee Foods didn’t have any more time.⠀
That was the end of it.⠀
However, if I hadn’t asked I would have always wondered if he might have said YES. He could have decided that investing FITzee Foods was the right thing for him.
So, what am I saying?
Always, always, ALWAYS ask for help!
The “Dummy Tax”
On David’s nightstand he has a phrase that he likes to think about daily “Radical Humility.” He believes that radical humility is what allows him to expedite his success by asking for help.
Instead of trying to do everything for himself, David will find the people that already have the knowledge, circumstances, things and people that you want and ask them for help. Why pay the “dummy tax” when others have learned before you.
I believe that this is incredible advice! Not only because David has experienced what happens when you DON’T ask for help (bankruptcy), but because it can take the burden off of ourselves.
If we’re not an expert in a specific area, why try and fake it?
For me, I have a team of people who help me keep The Pitch Queen and Success Unfiltered chugging along smoothly, I have graphic designers, videographers, virtual assistance, writers and more.
I bring the brilliant sales techniques, tips and strategies and my team helps me flow them out to you in a way that is not only effective, but pleasing.
I understand that we’re not all at a state in business where we can hire a team, but there are other ways you can ask for assistance. You can barter with someone who offers services you need, or maybe take on an intern, or someone who is new to your field and wants to do work and learn.
You might need to do a little bootstrapping, but there are also inexpensive ways to ask for help!
The Easiest Way to Get Help
Want to know my tip for getting help easily?
GIVE generously!
While David did go through bankruptcy, it wasn’t because he went out of business. He went bankrupt because he kept buying himself things that he thought would make him feel better, lift him up. Those things never helped though, and he ended up bankrupt!
What David did find helped, it was helping others.
The whole reason that David wants to continue making more and more money, is so that he can help more and more people. Isn’t that incredible?!
Today, David can easily reach out to almost anyone and they will willingly help him. It’s no surprise to me.
Generosity pays in high dividends!
In Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for an investor, or just looking for some advice, stop fearing the outcome, and just ask.
If you hear a YES, it could change your whole world, and if you hear NO, it can also change your whole world (believe it or not, for the better).
I would love for you to tell me about a time where you bravely asked for help, and what the outcome was.
Get David’s books:
- Compassionate Capitalism: Journey To The Soul of Business
- Connected to Goodness: Manifest Everything You Desire in Business and In Life
Connect with David:
