All in this past week……
One old contact reached out to me to let me know they got laid off and they requested my help in finding them a new job. While I enjoy helping people I couldn’t help but think to myself that I hadn’t heard from this person at all in over a year. Nothing at all and without any conversation about how I’ve been or anything, they just ask me to go out of my way to help them. What do you think of that?
Another contact who I have actually attempted to contact at least three times that I can recall, who didn’t respond to me on any of those three attempts, reached out to me to ask me to help them in finding a new hire for their business. Again, my first inclination was to start making some phone calls and reach out on their behalf, I again found myself asking why should I. What would you do?
It only gets better. A guy who ended up charging me more than he quoted and then never came back to finish the last little bit of job after I agreed to pay him in full called me to tell me that He was struggling and ask me if I could help by giving him some more work or referring him to someone who could. At least with this one I only thought for a couple minutes about helping him. I’m still shaking my head though.
Last but not least, I had asked someone to help me with a little problem at the house I’m working on and they continuously came up with another reason that they couldn’t. I eventually ended up having to hire someone to help me with it. This week they called me to let me know that they put me down as a reference. I really hope they don’t call me for that reference.
Before I ask someone for help I try to look at what I have done or can do in order to help them. Am I wrong to expect the same? I have helped more people than I can count with no motivation other than to help them but am often surprised at the unwillingness to help me or others, am I wrong to think this way?
When I was networking a lot I met countless number of people who could so easily ask you to give them a referral or to make a purchase from them but couldn’t take five minutes to actually put in any work to truly help others so all of this shouldn’t surprise me.
I know people are busy and I’m aware how important it is to take care of oneself but it’s hard sometimes to know when to help and when not to.
Give More Than You Take is a common quote and I think it’s a good one to hold on to. While I am sharing these examples of people who could have learned from this I am grateful for all of the people who have helped me and who have truly appreciated the help I have given them. It’s those people who keep me giving and with whom I developed the best relationships with.
How can I help you?