“Nobody ever has any success in life without the help of a friend.”
That’s what a successful businessman told me back in 2008 when I was on the brink of launching a publishing business from the ground up. I’d gone to solicit his advice, and his money, by way of advertising in a new publication.
He agreed to invest several thousand dollars in our publication, not necessarily because it helped him so much, but because he cared enough to pay something forward.
I’ve never forgotten that day.
***
I receive between 150 and 200 emails on any given day. Like most, I’m selective in what I read versus what gets “xd out” at first glance.
Late yesterday an email to my personal account carried a tagline “I value your opinion,” and almost certain it was spam, it was a good candidate for a quick delete.
I reluctantly clicked it anyway.
Turns out the email was from a fellow blogger with whom I’d struck up a casual relationship a month ago. We’ll call him Tom.
Tom basically said he was looking for a writing mentor. Here’s an edited excerpt from his email:
***
- He’s apprehensive about writing what’s on his heart.
- Transparency is scary.
- He really wants to make something of himself.
- He hates to ask anyone for help.
- But help is precisely what he needs.
- Have you ever desperately needed to share your heart, but bottled it all up for fear of rejection?
- Have you found yourself in a moment when you searched your heart for your true life’s calling?
- Are you simply too prideful or fearful to ask a friend for help?
Interestingly, Tom’s communicated with me at the very time when I’ve determined to say “no” to more things than I normally do.
By nature, I’m an over-extender, spread thin, and in the midst of trying to simplify life.
MyWindow2theWorld
Reblogged this on gottagettagirlfriend and commented:
it’s all about friendships
frontrangescribbles
If someone reached out to me, poured out his soul in an email, probably regretting the moment he hit the send button, I probably would attempt to help the individual as best as I could. The time you might give him would probably mean the world to him and something he may not forget. The help you provide him, may also be fulfilling to you, one never knows.
stevenwwatkins
I think you’re right on the money there. It would be a scary thing to hit the send button when you’ve allowed yourself to be so vulnerable.
Tanya Clark
I would say to Tom, follow your passion and write your fingers off buddy,don’t give a flip what anyone thinks. I am 61 years old and I still hang back from doing what I like, what I enjoy, who gives a rip what I do? I know that you , Steve will help him any way that you can and will be a tremendous encourager to Tom. We make our choices each day and it would be nice to look back and enjoy the ones that lift us up and fill us with more than just regrets of what we could have done.
Ray's Mom
Tom is someone most know personally if they have ever been self sufficient, without a safety net and desperately need an objective opinion outside their circle of family and friends. You are certainly to be admired to accept this challenge and probably will benefit as much as ‘Tom” from the friendship that will develop.
posterdog
When I write from the third person (or pretend to be my dog) I have no problems. What I struggle with most is revealing my inner self to the world. I also have a tendency to feed off of others’ enthusiam and commit to doing too much. Great post, Mary
stevenwwatkins
Thanks for reading, Mary. I’ll be moving to Puerto Cayo in December and have an idea I’d really like to run by you. Could we correspond by email?