Find The Helpers
As in pre-school so in business
Remember that nursery school adage? Maybe it’s a Mr. Rogers -ism? The one about finding the helpers? I think it’s good advice for business owners as well. Especially anyone doing it alone.
Today I want to share 3 times in very recent history that I have been at cross roads with Digital Mom and had unexpected but very needed help come my way.
Ali Flynn from Hang In There Mama taught me how to “do” Instagram
Maybe a month or two into starting my Instagram account, I was introduced, through a mutual friend, to an Instagram Creator who I admired. She met me for coffee and I asked her everything I could think of about her experience building her brand and specifically building it on Instagram. I shared with her what I was trying to do– build a platform to help parents figure out technology. We had been chatting for a while and I worried I had already taken up too much of her time–when she took out her phone, opened her Instagram and proceeded to explain step by step her process for making content– what tools she used, how often she posted, how she interacted with followers and other accounts. Just shared it all.
Ali didn’t have to take that extra time. She certainly didn’t need to share her playbook. But she did.
A corporate executive told me to ask for more money
It was during negotiations for one of my very first corporate speaking events. I was on a call to review my proposal with my main point of contact, a woman with a very senior title. She looked me dead in the eye and said, I know you proposed $x but the other speaker on this panel is asking for $x + 25%. Can you revise your proposal so the numbers match? In other words “Can you please charge more to match the male panelist?”
Maybe her company has a policy that requires this type of equity. Or maybe she saw a small business owner underpricing herself and just took it upon herself to make sure that I didn’t. Either way, in that moment, I had a true champion in my corner.
Chicago PD’s Detective Kim Burgess got me on TV
I was working with some parents on an out of town event, when one of them offered to pitch me to their local affiliate Today show. I didn’t realize at the time, but that mom who offered was actually Marina Squerciati aka Detective Kim Burgess on Chicago PD. Not only did she make that booking happen, she graciously let me ask her 9 million inane questions and then filled in everything else I didn’t even know to ask: how to prepare, what not to wear, how to sit, how to practice my points.
This opportunity felt huge and I felt so out of my depth. Marina didn’t know me that well, but believed in my mission and just helped.
These were not women I knew well. In fact, I barely knew them at all when they jumped in to help.
None of them had anything to gain from helping. They just decided to help. And each of them has made a huge impact on my business and my confidence.
So my thoughts for you today— look for the helpers. And always pay it forward.
Love,
Erin & Sarah
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Love this so much! And thanks to YOU BOTH for helping me so much!