Asking for help is not a weakness – it is a strength.
But often in business, we are given the impression that asking for help is weak – going it alone is the strong thing to do.
Lone wolf
Thanks to a LinkedIn post by Candice Kingston, I learned the origin of the phrase lone wolf. It is not what most of us think. A lone wolf is one who splits off from the pack, tries to survive on his/her own but ultimately ends up dying of starvation. The starvation happens because it is the pack working together that gets the food. Alone it doesn’t happen.
Think about that in terms of business. Do we do as well in business when we are alone? Typically no.
Solopreneur is not in my vocabulary
Lone wolf is going to join the word solopreneur on the recently deleted list. I credit Krista Resnick with changing my opinion of this word.
A solopreneur is typically used to refer to someone who is a “me, myself, and I” business. These are people who might be coaches or consultants, haven’t scaled their business beyond just themselves yet and are doing EVERYTHING for their business – operations, sales, marketing, finance. The reference to solo in the word also implies they are going it alone.
The subconscious tells us we don’t need any help. We’ve got this. As I’ve reflected this – I see some it, even in some of the actions I’ve taken since I started my business 8 years ago.
Fake it until you make it
And finally, fake it until you make it is another phrase that messes with our subconscious. Martha Krajci shared this common mantra with the caveat that you are likely never to make it because you’ve convinced your brain that you are a fake.
The common thread through all of these examples is this: we are better when we support each other and ask for help.
Here are some ideas:
- Hire an accountant or bookkeeper to help you manage your finances
- Consider a virtual assistant. They help in a variety of ways, from assisting with scheduling, creating systems, doing bookwork, to social media management. You can likely find a virtual assistant with skills and expertise to help with any business function you’d like to delegate
- Hire a coach. Coaches can help develop sales systems, build confidence, guide the development of your business model or help you learn nearly any business function.
- Join a mastermind, networking group, or professional group and build supportive relationships with those you meet through these events
- Outsource your marketing (OK, you knew this one would be on the list since it is what I do…)
This week I challenge you to think about where can you ask for help. What tasks could you outsource? Or delegate? Could you hire a coach to help guide you through a process or navigate a particularly hard or challenging system to set up? Good luck!
Become an Advisory member of the Brand Confidence Mastermind!
As part of the Brand Confidence Mastermind, you’ll focus on creating an understanding of your brand, your audience, the services you provide, and the experiences your clients have with your business.
Whether you are a start-up, a business focused on growth, or a manager with marketing in your assigned duties, this Mastermind is designed to bring you clarity, consistency and confidence in the work you are doing to build, nurture, and protect the valuable asset your brand represents to your business. You will feel such a deep connection and ownership in the brand you represent that you’ll think at a critical level how the decision you make today will impact the reputation of the brand tomorrow, next week, and next year.
As an Advisory member, you’ll help shape the format of the program and guide the focused discussions. In return, you’ll receive a discounted membership rate. Set up a discovery call and we’ll discuss if the Mastermind is right for you.
PS… if you enjoy the show, please rate it on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Stitcher, and write a short review. Reviews help more people like you find the show!
If you don’t know how to leave a review, I’ve included the instructions below!
How to rate and leave a review for a podcast
Apple podcasts
- On your iOS mobile device, launch the Apple podcasts app.
- Tap the search tab in the lower right corner of the screen.
- Enter the name of the podcast you want to rate or review.
- Tap the Reviews tab, then tap
- Write a Review at the bottom of the screen.
Stitcher
- Go to The Pursuit of Purpose on Stitcher
- Scroll down until you see Write a Review under “load more episodes”
- Write a review or leave a rating
How to rate and leave a review for a podcast
Apple podcasts
- On your iOS mobile device, launch the Apple podcasts app.
- Tap the search tab in the lower right corner of the screen.
- Enter the name of the podcast you want to rate or review.
- Tap the Reviews tab, then tap
- Write a Review at the bottom of the screen.
Stitcher
- Go to The Pursuit of Purpose on Stitcher
- Scroll down until you see Write a Review under “load more episodes”
- Write a review or leave a rating
