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Great work can be hard, and it’s easy to get to the point where you want to quit. Please don’t. I’ll talk more about it in the video.
The book I mentioned was Michael Bungay Stanier’s Do More Great Work (amazon aff link). I’ve been working my way through it for a few months now and it has a lot of insights, but what’s been great for me is the framework of Great Work.
Hey, I was just browsing the web and found you on the zero hour work week pdf. I really like you blog. I like this post because of what you said about asking for help. I cannot tell you how hard it is for me to ask for help. I feel like I am weak when I do that, but really thats strength. It's funny too because I know how much it would mean to the person if i asked them for help on this project i am working on. I am working on this project relating to solar power, which I know very little about. I need to ask for help, but how? Do you have any more suggestions on how to ask? Thank you for this challenge.
I'm glad you liked this post, Haley, and I have hard time asking for help, too.
The trick to asking for help, especially when you don't know the person, is to be brief and give a specific request. Tell them what your project is about in terms they understand, give them some background to the progress of the project, and then give them a specific way that they can help. If it's answering a question, be specific about the question.
Hi Charlie,
Such a powerful message. Thank you for doing the video (I know they aren't your favorite). It reminds me of the song "Don't Give Up." It was originally done by Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel and I love that version. But there's another version by Willie Nelson and Sinead O'Connor that seems more poignant in our current economic turmoil. I really like how gritty and raw Willie Nelson's voice as the man suffering economic hardship and then in comes Sinead as the angelic, encouraging voice of the friend who tells him to never give up. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgy1VGA2BE8&fea...
Best, Wendy
Thanks, Wendy. Video is growing on me, but what I still don't like about it is that there's so much I want to say when I'm done and then I forget what I've said and what I hadn't. Thanks for the video link, too - how'd you know I like music? ;p
Loved this one. Especially the bit where you went "work work work", that made me grin!
You said "success is a social product" -- I agree, and I'd love to see you write or speak more about that.
Also, you're spot-on about asking for help. None of my "big" projects (ebooks, novel) would be anything like as good without the perspective that only someone *outside* the work can have.
Don't you know that making you grin is one of the things I look forward to doing?!
I definitely need to write the post on success - I say it all the time that I forget that I haven't really explained it yet. Thanks for the reminder.
Wow, Charlie, that was a great video! The most impressive part, was that you really spoke from your heart. You could tell, just by looking at you, how much you want to help everyone do more great work! I am working on an epic project, and it's my top priority. Nice to 'meet' you, Charlie. Just subscribed to your blog about a few weeks ago, and the content has been excellent!
Thanks for sharing :)
Josh Lipovetsky.
Thanks, Josh. While it's not the only reason I get up in the morning, helping people do their great work is what gets me up in the morning.
You get more awesome every single day.
And this is awesome.
Not only is it awesome, it's vital.
People need to hear this. A lot. All the time.
Thanks for saying it Charlie.
Thank you, Sound Ninja!
You came up for me while I was recording this video because I know how you can get stuck in DIY mode. Poke/nudge. ;p
Next time I need a heartfelt butt-kick, I'm coming back here to watch this again. Wow.
Thanks, Charlie!
:) Jen
Well, Jen The Hoffman, you can get a personal one if you need it. You know my number. ;p (Thanks!)
The universe works in synchronistic ways. This is an issue that was just coming up for me today when a subscriber to my newsletter sent a link to your website and this post just happened to be the one on top.
I agree. We all have great work and it is selfish and a crying shame if we give up on it. So I will keep on keeping on, testing out new ways to accomplish my goals until, like so many successful people before me, I find the one that works for me.
Thank you for sharing your unique take on this message.
We all have great work and it is selfish and a crying shame if we give up on it.
Few things make me as sad as when someone with massive potential gives up on their great work because it got hard. Their lives are worse off, and so are ours.
I could definitely relate when you talked about fear around asking for help -- I'm holding my first full-day workshop soon and I was scared to ask the person I wanted as a co-leader, because I figured she'd act like I wasn't at her level. But in fact she agreed to do it and is totally psyched.
Funny how many times that happens. We allow our fears to build a wall and confine our possibilities, but so many others want to jump in and help. I'm glad to hear that you worked through the fear and it worked out.
WOOOOOHOOOO! Double, triple woooo!
I loved this. Especially because today a client had a HUGE breakthrough that came as a direct result of my showing up over the past year, working through my stuff (with *your* help over the summer, especially), and all of it, the pain, the self-doubt, the criticisms from others, ALL of IT - was totally worth it.
I danced around my healing room, cried tears of joy for my client, and felt an incredible sense of YES, this is WHY I don't GIVE UP!!!!! :)
Thanks for the awesome reminder, Charlie. You keep up the Great Work too. :)
I'm so happy to hear about the breakthroughs, Jess - yours and your clients. That's why I don't give up. :)
Bought that book this morning actually. I would have used your aff link if I had seen this post! Some how I bought another book after that too - I think amazon secretly starts putting orders through for me.
Anyways, This is a cool video and reminds me of a huddle almost.
This hit on why I walked into my day job in January and wrote my resignation letter and handed it in. I was at home 45 minutes later. I couldn't continue doing something that was less than what I was capable of.
While I'm struggling to make some cash now, I know that I won't give up. I do my thing, I try and help others, and know that we are surrounded by abundance.
I couldn’t continue doing something that was less than what I was capable of.
I know how that feels. I went through the same feeling a few years ago when I resigned from the university.
Just know that you're not alone with all the struggle, fear, and uncertainty.
Hmmm... a very agile way to say it.... Agile? Is that the word? Agile... agile... hmmm... just thinking out loud here...
Anyway, I'm sure the right word will pop out eventually.
You're too funny, Mark - but thanks for the nudges last week. Because of your help, that stubborn preface got done.
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I don't know who to ask. And even if I did, I'm not sure I know what my questions are.
Between your post and Naomi's at Problogger today is a day for some thinking time. :)
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