We get rather cozy and soft in our areas of familiarity. Our home, our workplace, the people in our lives. How do you feel about where you are? Are you looking to expand? Meet new people? Rise to new challenges? Do the people around you tend to inspire you or bring you down? Is there a level of frustration you want to overcome and just can't seem to get a firm footing? Maybe you are feeling you need a bit 'more' such as in the duet with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's 'A Star is Born' -'Do you need more? Is this something you are searching for?'
If you want to go to a new level, there are plenty of people willing to help you and get to know you. Interestingly enough, you will also find people are eager to help with gusto. Step up to the plate and find others in higher positions, engage in more activities, in a higher income bracket, with a higher level of education/experience, someone older/younger, or others willing to mentor you-become a protege. The ways to meet people both virtually or in person is endless. Over the past couple of years we've learned about podcasts, conference calls, video calling, and tutorials online. Even chat groups and self-help tools with instructions. Stay connected with your target group or individuals. Keep in mind introductions and referrals are both good for you and the other party. Don't be shy. Ask. Most of us have had similar experiences and I suspect many more will follow in the future.
People of success enjoy having others seek them out. That is what they have built themselves on. A ladder of rungs to reach higher levels and establish additional relationships and revenue. As your connections grow, your accomplishments become deeper, richer, stronger. Your confidence improves. Say what? You are afraid of public speaking or meeting strangers? Congratulations! You are in the company of many. Experienced public speakers and celebrities have also faced stage fright. This is a human function of your fight or flight mechanism. A sensation or urging wells up inside and you feel your legs a bit sluggish. Your heart races. You look around and capture the faces of strangers looking in your direction. It happens.
Feeling like you don't know how to engage? Start with a local group, friend, or business associate. Someone you know and have something in common with. A person to make the introduction for you. The taller your ladder grows, the strength and support beneath you grows as well. I used to get my mind prepared when I left my office or sat in my car perusing the parking lot before going into an office/venue. I had to pump myself up. Take in a breath. Close my eyes. Tilt my head slightly back and remind myself to breathe. It was not easy. There were a few times I drove away. Got back to my office and sent an email stating I had a personal issue and would need to reschedule. Yes, I did.
I hated this about myself. I was better than that. I wanted to be strong. 'The next time', I thought. And, thankfully, there was a next time and so many opportunities to meet new people. Amazing stories flourished of accomplishments within my groups. Stories of success and 'how to's', links to websites, sharing business cards to schedule future meetings, and the opportunity to learn about the many people and what they did in my community. There were ample fundraising activities and Chamber events. I learned to establish trust with those in the community. I definitely needed more! I wanted more. I was longing for strength through change.
I began doing the right things. Keeping my commitments. Saving those business cards. Showing up and engaging with others. Building rapport. Earning trust from those I worked with. Focusing on listening and trying my best to remember all the wonderful people I spoke with and met; their individual stories. I am glad to be a part of an amazing community in Westminster, MD in a county of so many riches-not just those a bean counter would tally. Businesses, wonderful people, and volunteers keep the first rung of the ladder embedded securely in the community of relationships we share!
Lady Gaga, Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando and Mark Ronson. "Shallow". A Star is Born: Interscope Records, 2018. Soundtrack.DVD
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