There are a lot of lessons we learn in this life. Some are easy, like learning how to bake an apple pie from scratch. Some are hard, like learning how to bake an apple pie from scratch that tastes good. Everything is trial and error, and hopefully, we figure out how to adjust all the ingredients, so we have more delicious pie than not. The hardest part for me is asking for help. Yes, it would be lovely to have others make pie for me, but then I would have to rely on people making it the way I want it. I need to trust someone to have patience and understanding to teach me. At the same time, I don't want to be a burden on anyone. What's the solution? I don't know about you, but right now, I could really go for a slice of apple pie.
I was talking to my friend, Alyssa, about trying to reach my goals all by myself. She said, "I have no problem helping anyone that needs me, but I can't seem to feel good about reaching out when I need a hand. It makes me feel weak or worse; I'm bothering someone I'm sure is too busy to hear from me." I said, "Exactly. Yet, when I get to the point of admitting defeat and giving up, I remember that I have nothing to lose by asking for advice and suggestions to move forward."
Our conversation made us realize that there isn't any shame in wanting or asking for help. I recalled the times I needed guidance and talking to others about what I needed. It was a domino effect of people working with me or finding me the right person to talk to. I told Alyssa that the beauty of networking is creating a community of people that are open to helping each other. We agreed that inspiring others and motivating them to achieve their end game was rewarding. We should allow others to feel that gift, too, by asking for their expertise. If someone doesn't have time for us, we can't take it personally. They still may steer us to another source that, in the end, works out better.
I don't know of anyone that achieved success without the support of others. Ideas turned into reality because of the group effort that's involved. It's through the collaboration of like-minded people that opportunities and possibilities come to fruition. Asking for help is not weak; it's essential to everyone's growth. When we take the time to mentor others, we learn and create connections beneficial for both parties. It's not one-sided, nor should it be.
Developing a product or service takes time, money, and energy. Trying to do it all ourselves is setting us up for failure. It's the same when trying to balance work and family life. We need to delegate tasks to each person in the family and hold them accountable. It's not fair to be the only one buying the apples, peeling and coring them. Rolling out the dough, assembling the pie, baking it, and cleaning up takes effort. It's more fun when people are working together. I think that's what it means to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Surround yourself with people you can ask for their assistance and be ready to reciprocate when they need you. Now, let's get some pie.