Enterprising people always have a goal they are working towards accomplishing. If you are one, you are probably clear about the things you want to achieve in your life and career. You may have defined your plan and strategies to reach your target. But have you thought about the support system you might need? Have you designated the right people within your network to turn to for help with specific “asks” as you work through your goals? It takes a village to raise a successful professional. Here’s a myth-buster that successful people are self-made. No man is an island; people don’t reach their full potential without other people helping them along the way. Success needs the support of others. As the saying goes, “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” When you want to accomplish great things, make sure you have a supportive network in place to keep you inspired, supported, and on track.
But what is a support network? In the context of goal-achievement and career success, it is a collection of people who can offer help, perspective, resources, and guidance to optimize your efforts so that you’d achieve better results faster. Support can span from physical to emotional, from tangible assistance to showing genuine caring and providing moral support. It can include sharing information and knowledge, giving perspective and constructive feedback as well as lending a helping hand, or an ear. You’d need to avail yourself of the distinct forms of support based on the different situations you encounter. Pay attention to where you struggle and where you could use help. Be sure to identify the right people to ask for the specific and practical way in which they can help you. Think of your support network like the service crew of an ultramarathon runner; the people you want on your side to help you reach the finish line. No matter how capable you are, you would need help as you work to successfully complete ambitious projects. Do your best and seek help from others to keep moving forward.
Building a healthy support network is critical to your journey. As you approach a new challenge, surround yourself with people who will propel you forward and further your success. The bigger your goals, the more support you will ultimately need. Your success is the sum of the resources at your disposal and the people you connect with in a meaningful way. Both can augment what you bring to the table to ensure you are equipped with the right tools to succeed. Seek out those people who would continuously hold you to a higher standard and motivate you in as many areas as possible to enable you to grow into your potential. Spend time with those who will take you to the next level. Our natural inclination is to surround ourselves with like-minded people. Yet, we learn more when we engage with those with different perspectives. They are the ones who push us out of the comfort zone. The right supporters would enhance your performance.
As you take on progressively bigger goals, maintain a steady and consistent pace and set your gaze steadily in front of you. Don’t worry about others who may appear to be progressing at a faster pace. Run your own race and try to perform to your best, nobody else’s. Make the choices that are right for you based on your experience level, strengths, ability, and the things that are important to you. But keep awareness of what’s around you. Don’t do the hard work alone. Ask for help. We all have times in our lives when we need help. We don’t ever have all the knowledge, information, skills, or resources to do everything successfully. In the different roles we play in our personal and professional lives, there’s always room for growth and improvement. It is a great strength to know when we need help, where to go for assistance, and how to best utilize the resources available to us. Successful people are those who are strong enough to stand alone and do things on their own, but who are smart enough to know when they need help and who to ask for it. Asking for help is taking that leap of faith trusting that if you dare ask, you shall receive. But only if you know how to ask. Here’s the rule of 3:
1. Be prepared - figure out what you need & who to ask
Consider what you hope to achieve and make a wish list of the things you may need help with in order of importance and urgency. For each item list 1-3 people who would be best able to help you.
2. Be specific - state precisely what it is that you need
Because asking for help can feel awkward, you may be tempted to beat around the bush and drop little hints. A better strategy is to be upfront about the ask and the specific assistance you need.
3. Be gracious - acknowledge the help you received
Be sure to graciously express appreciation and gratitude for the help you’ve received. Just as you should be precise in your “ask,” be specific in acknowledging how the person has made a difference.
Asking for help is a way to connect meaningfully with others. So, surround yourself with people who inspire you, push you, and will help you become the best version of yourself.
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