It’s okay to ask for help.

While this seems like an obvious statement, I still, to this day, struggle with it, especially with business-related matters.

During a recent conversation with a friend and colleague, the topic of my photographer training, Deliver Magic, came up.

I shared how I’m in the process of shaping its direction, and have been met with an airplane hanger’s worth of roadblocks.

How do I want to construct the overall framework?
How to share the expertise through various services and products?
How do I market it to photographers?

The whole idea is up in the air at the moment.

Needless to say, the past few months have been confusing, frustrating and, at times - MANY times - overwhelming.

But, I’ve spent the majority of that time sitting at my computer, staring at a blinking cursor, and not really sure what to do.

The reason?

I don’t want to bother people.

And I expressed this to my friend, who responded with a mental reframe:

Rather than see asking for help as a burden to the recipient, see it as an opportunity for them to support you.

Instead of framing it simply from my perspective, see it from theirs.

She mentioned that since I’ve built so many meaningful relationships in the community, and shared such value throughout the years through words and photos, folks would be more than willing to offer their time to lend a helping thought or two.

It’s an interesting flipping of the script - one that I haven’t taken into account up until that moment.

The conversation inspired me to not only think about the folks that I can reach out to for advice, but it also ignited a thought that actually paying for help could also be an option, too.

As a result…

If you’re stuck in neutral, or are rolling backwards down the hill as you attempt to evolve your business, remind yourself that you’re not alone, and can’t do everything you need to do on your own.

It’s okay to ask for help, even if it feels uncomfortable. That’s what friends are for, right?

It’s a powerful way to get unstuck, and there's plenty of people out there who have your back - don’t ever forget that.

While we’re on the topic, who are the people who have your back when things get messy?

It's okay to ask for help.