This morning, before writing today's post, I was listening to Chantal MIller's Island Girls Rock podcast. Her podcast series is a beautiful source of inspiration that shines the light on Caribbean women and women of Caribbean-descent across the globe. During the last episode of season 2, Chantal interviewed journalist Sherry Ann Dixon, and one of the thoughts that came out of the interview and that resonated with me was how sometimes all we have to do is ask. How many opportunities do we miss just because we were afraid to ask?
Over the last few months, I have been helping out students, peers and other entrepreneurs guiding them in their career paths. This is not something that I planned on doing. What all these people have in common is that they approached me and asked for my help. They either sent me an email, messaged me on social media or straight up asked me face to face. And because I know how much courage it takes to ask someone else for help, especially someone who you think has the knowledge or the experience to guide you, I accepted without a second thought.
After a few weeks working together, two of them confided in me that they almost didn't contact me because they thought that I would say no. In their minds, the possibility that someone who they considered to be a very busy person would take the time and make an effort to sit down with them and help them was very remote. The truth is, I am very busy either with jobs or with personal work, but I strongly believe that the industry is only as strong as its weakest creative. If we all grow together, the industry becomes stronger. You climb, and then you lift others. That's my motto in life.
In Spanish, there is a saying that goes something like "you already have the 'No', so why not go for the 'Yes'?". There is no harm in asking others when you need answers or help. No matter how established or busy you think they are. If they have the time, they will get back to you, but if they don't, don't take it personal. It might be that they are just busy and they don't have the time to get back to you. However, it may also be that they are not ready to help others. Maybe they are at a stage in their careers where they still need to grow before they can lift others with them.
Photo credit: behind the scenes taken by Diana Buntajova.
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