Feed Your Career

I recently met with a mid-career nutrition professional who wanted some advice on the direction she should go.  She had narrowed her search to three different directions she could go with her career. She was mapping out her career road map out for the next several years.  I commend her on reaching out to me to ask for help.  I enjoyed meeting her and as usual, gleamed some new things from our encounter.

A hard thing for me is to ask for help on my behalf.  I have no trouble asking on behalf of others (kids, coworkers, friends, family).  But when it comes to my own requests — where did you get those fabulous shoes, can I get your help on a project I am working on, can I have a copy of your recipe for the mushroom risotto, or can I have a few minutes of your time to help you reach cutting edge nutrition professionals.

I usually opt for the research route and find answers myself online or in books.   I am from the stubborn stock of people that believe they can do or find whatever they need themselves.  I mislead myself by telling myself I can do it all alone.

Famous Words from Robin Plotkin

Recently, I had the honor of interviewing Robin Plotkin, culinary and nutrition communications consultant. She is an awe-inspiring entrepreneur.  Be sure to listen to the entire interview.

One point she made during the interview that really struck me was “if you don’t ask, you don’t get.”  This is also a famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi.  Robin was advocating  people ask for help/ advice.  She employed this ask philosophy herself to find the dream work she is now doing.  She used the career exploration techniques informational interviewing and job shadowing. I am sure the people she reached out to found they received from the experience.   Additionally, years later, these kind professionals have made a great contact for themselves – the successful Robin Plotkin.

Receive More Than You Ask For

As Feed Your Career grows and gains more recognition I am seeing how the art of asking is far more than a question and answer exchange. When you ask someone you are opening the door for opportunities that never could exist by doing a search in Google.  When asking people for help often times you get back more than you requested – a high dividends payout!

When I met with the nutrition professional I gave her two contact names and  I gained a sense of helping someone.  No frequently asked questions webpage page can replace these perks.

The other day I received a LinkedIn request to connect.  Instead of blindly pressing the “Accept” button, I sent a personal message.  After a couple exchanges with this nutrition professional I was offered a review copy of his soon to be released book.  If I had not reached out to him, I would have missed out on the opportunity to review his book and he would have missed a valuable PR opportunity for his book.

A recommendation I made to the nutrition professional mapping out her career was to conduct informational interviews with professionals in jobs she is interested in.  The goal would be to find out the experience, skills and credentials she needs and determine which direction matches her personality, talents and passions.  I am betting if she reaches out to these professionals she will gather more than information, she may find answers and opportunities she never knew were there.

If I look back over my past I can think of many times where I stubbornly chickened out from asking for help.  I vow to step out of my old comfort zone and “ask for advice or help” with a passionate heart in the future.