I help entrepreneurs leapfrog over the typical potholes that derail most small businesses with inspiration, motivation, education, and support across a wide range of business topics drawn from over a decade of running my own business, teaching entrepreneurship for the City of New York, and coaching and consulting privately with dozens of women and minority small business owners. Honestly, why go it alone when help is an email away?
It's a Small World
I probably spend about one to two weeks per month staying with my mom so she has support and company, because living and doing things alone all the time isn't healthy.
Loneliness, after all, is an epidemic for pretty much every generation and that was before the pandemic forced us all into our cocoons and pods.
The last time I was home, finding something both my mom and I wanted to watch was a bit of a challenge...after Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, of course. We're puzzle people in my family.
We settled on The Jewish Matchmaker on Netflix as one of my brothers mentioned he and my sister-in-law had enjoyed it.
If you're not familiar with it, it's a reality dating show, but with more depth than most. Aleeza, the matchmaker, works with single Jewish men and women both in Israel and the US to help them find their bashert (pronounced bah-SHARE’T). This is a Yiddish term that loosely translated means 'destiny,' but has come to mean intended or soulmate.
In one episode Aleeza is lunching with a client and their mother when the restaurant manager asks how they're enjoying their meal. Aleeza uses the opportunity to ask the manager if he knows any 40ish single, Jewish men who might be interested in meeting her client.
Before the end of the meal, the manager comes back with a match for the client. Aleeza says her mother taught her this lesson: Open your mouth and the world gets smaller.
Oooh, I just love that!
By speaking up, by asking for what you need, even from people who seem like they're not going to be interested or able to help, you exponentially increase your chances of success.
Recently, I got to chatting with an older woman on the bus. At one point, I mentioned that I'm interested in creating an entrepreneurial course for middle and/or high school kids, but I don't really know where or how to start.
She lit up and said, "I actually may have a contact for you there. Do you have a card?"
Whether it'll lead to anything, who knows? But it was a great reminder that:
- Most people really do want to help you even if you've just met them.
- Talking to strangers (safely) is often how we make our own luck.
- It's not enough to admit what we want to ourselves, we also have to share it with others.
If it's been a minute since you opened your mouth and your world got smaller, then I urge you to speak up and ask for what you want and need, yes, even to strangers.
And, if what you need is someone who can help you realize your business dreams, you got it. Just schedule some time with me.
Until next time,
PS - In case you missed it, last week it I confessed that I Don't Want No Satisfaction.
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Easily Said & Done
I help entrepreneurs leapfrog over the typical potholes that derail most small businesses with inspiration, motivation, education, and support across a wide range of business topics drawn from over a decade of running my own business, teaching entrepreneurship for the City of New York, and coaching and consulting privately with dozens of women and minority small business owners. Honestly, why go it alone when help is an email away?
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