The 28 Days Principle

In previous? posts I’ve talked about accountability partners and how they’ve helped me keep my promises to myself and others. The other week I had an epiphany inspired by one of my favorite movies, 28 Days. As compelling and captivating as Sandra Bullock is as she deals with her substance abuse issues, the one line that came to mind was:

?“Ask for Help. It’s Always there.”?

At the time, I was reflecting on how a dear friend and colleague invited me to her weekly writing sessions after learning how I wanted to be more consistent with posting these articles. Admittedly, I’m still working on the consistency part, but I’ve found these sessions extremely helpful to carve out time to work on projects and writing assignments that require my full attention and even better spark joy. I asked for help and it was there.?

But that’s not the first time this has happened. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to have people respond favorably to my requests for mentorship, serving as guest speakers for events, providing career advice, giving donations, - you name it, I’ve likely asked. And while there may have been some ‘nos’ along the way, I can’t recall any which were delivered in a cruel or with an intention to derail my goals or prevent me for asking for help in the future.?

Asking for help has been empowering because it’s allowed me to realize I don’t have to do everything on my own or figure everything out on my own.

From walking up to UTSA’s Athletic Director on the first day of freshman orientation and introducing myself and sharing that I wanted to work in sports and would love her advice – a move that jumpstarted my career from volunteering for the athletic department and several Final Four events to working for the Spurs within three years –? to actively seeking recommendations and advice before looking for a career coach, I recognize the first barrier to my advancement that I have to overcome is my silence.?

As a first-generation corporate worker, I’ve seen where myself and colleagues shy away from asking for help for fear it may raise suspicion about our qualifications. If you can relate, I hope that you are able to resist the urge to “fake it until you make it” and seek groups or individuals who are willing to help. Grit and determination can only get you so far. Relationships matter.?

If you’re fortunate to be able to provide guidance, I encourage you to proactively approach those who you feel can benefit from some additional assistance or guidance to avoid making mistakes that could impact their careers. Because it’s also been my experience that receiving help that you didn’t know you need is one of the greatest gifts you can receive.?

Personally, I’ve tried to pay forward all the advice I’ve received by serving as a mentor and yes, even accepting unsolicited LinkedIn requests of students who were interested in joining the career fields I’ve worked in. So there’s no other way to close this post than to remind you dear reader: If you need help, I’m here.?