When was the last time you gave a new consultant or a job-seeker a REAL helping hand?
It’s been a challenging 21 months for both my consulting business and my job search (and, I suppose, for my psyche). Then I got a call yesterday from one of my former managers, inviting me to go with him to an event last night.
“It’ll be a good way for you to meet some people,” he said.
But he had a lot more in mind. As it turned out, Hal is a board member for the group and it was an awards ceremony with some of Delaware’s top business leaders in attendance. As we made our way through the room, he made it a point to introduce me to every single person in our path. He told a little story about how we came to work together that reinforced my “bulldog” brand and then told them something about my consulting services that would clearly get their attention. We didn’t actually move on until he got a promise that they’d call me, or that I’d call them, or that I’d send a resume or my business summary.
Unbelievable. You know that saying about how God doesn’t give you more than you can handle? Well, I’ve been wondering lately whether the two of us had a completely different view of what I can handle. And this was like God saying, “OK, maybe you’re right. Let me take a bit of the pressure off.”
For the first time in awhile, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel…and it’s not an oncoming train. I hadn’t asked for Hal’s help. He knew I’ve been struggling and decided to give me a helping hand. And I’ll be forever grateful, even if no projects or jobs come from it.
I’m a big believer in karma. That the good deed you do today will come back to you in a positive way. Here’s my question for you: What have you done lately to REALLY help someone who’s struggling? I’m not talking about forwarding him a job posting, posting a Recommendation on LinkedIn, retweeting them, or putting a nice comment in her latest blog posting. I’m not really talking about sending them good wishes, picking up the phone to see how things are going, or asking if there’s some way you can help.
All those things are great, of course, and much appreciated by the person. But I’m talking about doing something face-to-face. Like taking them out to lunch and really listening to their problems. Like taking them to an event where their prospective customers are and giving your personal endorsement. Like pulling them aside and giving them honest feedback about their resume, their brand, or their career direction. Like asking a client about their most pressing needs and introducing them to a someone who can help, just to give them a chance to build their reputation and maybe earn a referral.
When was the last time you pushed away from the computer and did something offline, something face-to-face, something truly meaningful that the person will remember for the rest of their life. Something that will help them get over the rejection letters (or worse, the complete lack of response on resumes or sales proposals). Something that will change the way they’re feeling about themselves and give them hope that things will get better.
As I drove home last night, I promised myself I was going to do the same thing for someone else when the opportunity presents itself. There’s a ripple effect to the kind of thing that Hal did yesterday. Try it for yourself.
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