Career: Girls Who Ask for Help Get Ahead

A lot of people don't know this but in my adult life I've ran 5 businesses. Almost 6... story for another time! 

But 4 of those businesses, I was responsible for a team. Small teams!

The first of those four was my restaurant social media agency I ran with my first  business partner in San Francisco. We had two employees.

The second was the first four years of VioletFog.com in which I had other writers on the team along with me. At that time VF was more of a publication than a blog.

The third was the potions business. Which was Dan, me, and an employee who we loved!

The fourth is my social media business right now in which it's me, Dan, and then I hired a right-hand gal for myself. Best investment ever. She has her own business so technically I am her client and we really act as teammates!

In all of these businesses, I felt responsible not just for myself but for the team- I wanted us all to be successful. 

And you know something that I realized usually got in the way? I wasn't brave enough in my first two businesses to ask for help or shoot my shot with certain people when for SURE it could have propelled the company. This is not to say I didn't get us opportunities but it could have been much more if I was simply, well, braver. More confident at the time.

Example: In San Francisco, there was a time when the media site Pop Sugar was looking for writers who could do a series on SF living. I knew me and my girls would be perfect for it. I ended up getting invited to a networking event and this would have been THEE perfect time to pitch. But you know what happened? I didn't have the guts. I chickened out. Missed our shot. I knew who I had to go up to and ended up not even introducing myself. 

Another time I was at a dinner in San Francisco with this famous local chef and he was telling me and a friend of mine how he was looking for photographers for one of his new restaurants. That's exactly what my company at the time did. We ran social media for restaurants. I literally did not pitch myself or my company to this person even in this INTIMATE setting. Afterwards, my friend asked why I didn't say anything and I said I assumed he knew what I did since we were invited to that dinner and assumed our work didn't make the cut. That he would have asked me if he was interested. My friend looked at me like damn girl... that was stupid. Stupid because I assumed and stupid because I didn't pitch.

Missed opportunity. Right there in front of me and I did not shoot my shot.

Today I shoot my shot. All the time. I get no's. I get yeses. If I didn't shoot my shot I would get all no's. Worse than that I would get all what-if's! But if there's one thing I'm no longer okay with it's having an opportunity right there in front of me and not at least TRYING to go after it.

Just this weekend at a biohacking conference I walked right up to one of the biggest names in biohacking and told him what I'm doing with health and wellness accounts. Ended up with his personal email! Was I face sweating and rehearsing my lines minutes before talking to him? YES. But I did it! And now something really great might come of that. And if it doesn't, I'm way more happy with a "no" than a "what-if."

I can't handle a what-if  anymore.

When I had the potions I reached out to Helen Leland out of the blue for a mentoring call (CEO of Bomb.Co aka Blender Bombs.) By then I knew that brave girls asked for things! That honestly-- she'd probably respect my asking (even if her answer was no, which it wasn't!) I knew Helen was busy as heck. I knew I didn't want to waste her time. I also knew even five minutes with her on a business call would be extremely valuable for me and my business. I texted her and she got on a THIRTY-minute call with me to give me advice. I'd still adore her if she said no btw. But, I asked... and I got a chance!

All this to say-- I want you girls to be asking for things when it comes to career and work. Often the worst thing we hear is no. I fully believe God/the universe wants to help you out. Believe in yourself!

Is there something you can ask for this week? What is it? Reply to this and let me know so I can root you on! 

You do indeed have this in you!!