You can't (and shouldn't) go it alone
Got your attention, didn’t I?
Of course you need money to support yourself (and anyone else who is depending on you). However you don’t need money to support your Self.
Many of us who ask for money on a regular basis can feel alone: the solopreneur starting her company, the consultant wanting to grow her business, the nonprofit development director wanting to increase donations. Even I have days when I have not talked to another living being for eight hours. And that’s not good.
We all need support around us. The best kind of support doesn’t have a vested interest in keeping you where you are, but has a true desire to see you where you want to be. I was talking with a colleague this morning, and I offered to share a document I was working on. She sounded surprised that I would do such a thing, especially when we are in the same business. Isn’t that helping the competition?
Nope. It’s empowering others to be successful, and that’s what a true support system is all about. There are lots of ways you can gather support around you. Here are a few of my faves:
- Identify the one (or more, if you’re lucky) place where you get unconditional love. It might be your mom’s house, or on the couch with your dog, or online with your best friend who lives hundreds of miles away. The key word here is unconditional. Toot your own horn once in a while, even if it’s just to say, “I got through the day without spilling coffee all over myself”.
- Realize that workspace is important. Make sure your desk and/or office feels supportive. Are the colors annoying you? Is your chair uncomfortable? Do you need a better solution for storing papers? Your physical space should also give you unconditional love
- Connect with others who are like you. Bounce ideas around, test marketing messages, celebrates successes, ask for advice. Some people call these mastermind groups, business-building clubs, or networking circles. The good news is that it doesn’t matter what you call it, and you don’t even have to do it in person. You can do it on Facebook, Yahoo! Groups, or Ning. Check out the How to Ask for Money Ning Network as an example.
Invest some time and effort in supporting your Self, and soon you’ll be asking for, and receiving, more than enough money to support yourself!
If you’ve found other ideas that have worked for you, post them in the comments section. We can build our own little support system right here…
