Learning to Ask! and Planting Seeds
by Phil Evans
Not even sure why I've put these two topics together today - but it's usually because someone out there needs to see the message - so I go with the flow of the prompts that my intuition gives me. Learning to Ask Like a lot of people, I wasn't good at asking for anything! I could give easily - but ask for something - or actually receive it - too hard for a long part of my life! Then I decided to go into business (Year 2000 - I think). Seems like 40 years ago! Hmmmmm - I've got no office furniture; I've got no money; I've got no office either! I had to learn to ask! I went to the Business Enterprise Centre in King Street Newcastle because my current (2006) friend and business partner Julian Campbell used to be the Manager there, and it was a possible place to put my butt. Stewart Davis Meehan was the Manager, and what a magic bloke he was! "Yes Phil, I can help you; you can have an office rent-free for 3 months". "Does that help"? I seem to remember that my answer involved a few excited and pretty crude words, and I had one HUGE smile on my face! OK - that worked, and it wasn't too hard to do actually. Now there's the office furniture and computer gear. Off I went to NOM Office Solutions. My dear friends Wendy Semple, Paul Kish and John Reid were owners and Directors there, and I thought they might be able to help out too. I'll never forget their response. "What do you need, and when do you need it"? .... those words still ring true in my head, and this situation of learning to ask was turning into one of life's special experiences for me! It was getting easier now .... this learning to ask thing. Then there was the need for a computer and all of the associated stuff that goes with having a business, and an office of your own. So I went to a variety of local companies who all helped me out in one way or another, all of those people are strongly influential in my life these days, and held in high regard of course! The other side of all of these experiences is this: I have sent so much business to these people over the last 5 or 6 years, at every opportunity! So if you're ever in the position to help anybody get started ..... do it! The rewards are always huge. Oh yes, one bi-product of these experiences in 2000 was that I now teach others how to ask! Just another little paradox of life! Planting Seeds .... in Business; in Life. 'Seed planting' is an expression that I use about once an hour, if not more frequently! It is the art of doing things with and for others without a definite outcome in mind - or in sight - but with a purpose in mind for something good to come out of the experience. It's about creating, building and nurturing relationships. It may involve having lunch with an associate or business friend; it may even be a non-business related matter; but it involves spending time (and sometimes money) with someone who you believe to have the capacity to be in sync with an idea or purpose you have in mind. It may involve wanting to help somebody out, but you know that they won't ask for help, so you go about it in another way. Coffee or lunch invite may work? Some appropriate conversation might lead to an opportunity to help them out(?). Some people simply don't do anything without there being an immediate outcome for themselves, or in the very near future at least. Shallow way to live life, and usually very unrewarding in the long term too! "What's in it for me" syndrome, also commonly known as the WIFM syndrome. On the other hand, rewards from the Seed Planting philosophy are usually from both teams. Both parties gain from having shared in the experience without there being a feeling of imbalance, or being used. Good relationship building and nurturing can allow something to germinate and become fruitful many years after the initial seed was planted. Add some water, a little sunshine, fertilise regularly. You'd be amazed at what forests will appear in your life when you keep planting relationship seeds! ------------------------------------------------------------------- "True Happiness in life isn't having what you want - but wanting what you have"! ------------------------------------------------------------------- I'll be back soon - meanwhile .... Learn to ASK - and start planting relationship seeds every day! © Phil Evans - People Stuff™ - 2006 Reprinted with permission from the author
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