Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. Consulting exists for a reason.
Asking for help is scary. It’s an act of vulnerability. It means admitting we don’t know everything and can’t do it all on our own. But guess what? We weren’t meant to.
Humans are social beings who need connection, whether we think so or not. I’m more guilty than anyone of believing I can do and be everything by myself with little to no social interaction. I’ve put myself on islands and suffered through difficult professional (and personal) seasons without ever considering that I could or should ask for help. And while I survived, I can’t help but think how much easier, or at least tenable, those situations would have been had I just reached out for support.
So why didn’t I?
For starters, I’m incredibly stubborn. Then, there’s my crippling fear of being seen as incompetent. If I can’t do everything by myself, I must not be capable. To ask for help would have meant I wasn’t a good writer, a good marketer, a good business owner, a good mother, a good partner, a good _____.
But nobody thinks that except me.
It took me a long time to understand and embrace that asking for help and being vulnerable is an immense act of strength and courage, not weakness or incompetence. Being self-aware and responsible enough to say, “I need some help over here,” is not just brave, it’s smart.
Knowing our strengths and having the wherewithal to seek out those with the expertise to fill in the gaps is one of the best things we can do, professionally and personally.
Now, let’s get down to business.
Consulting exists for a reason: good business owners know that the only way to grow and improve is to bring in people who are good at their jobs and make them part of their village.
Don’t know anything about starting and operating a business? Get a business advisor.
Don’t know anything about money? Get a financial advisor.
Don’t know anything about marketing or social media? Get a marketing consultant.
And don’t settle.
Find someone who meets you where you’re at. Find someone interested in learning about your business and your pain points so they can authentically commit to solving them and seeing you grow.
Consulting shouldn’t be scary. As a business owner, you should never worry about your consultant passing judgment. That’s not their job. Their job is to understand and help you. Consulting should feel good. You should look forward to your sessions, not dread them. You should walk away feeling positive and confident in the direction in which you’re going, and you should never, ever feel that you’re being upsold on things you don’t need or want.
Merriam-Webster may define consulting as “providing professional or expert advice,” but Poesy Co. defines consulting as “a symbiotic relationship between professional entities that involves listening, problem-solving, learning, and growth.”
Consulting services at Poesy Co. are built on mutual trust and respect, transparency, and the belief that we are better when we work together and learn from each other. We all do better when we all do better.
If you’re feeling the strain of ‘doing it all,’ and you’re ready to expand your circle and lighten your load without blowing your budget, consider a consulting relationship with Poesy Co.
Are you ready to become a poet?
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