Well, since I'm stuck here in Columbus thanks to that no-good ground hog, I just read an article in BusinessWeek this morning called "The Art of Doing It Yourself," which said, "Share your ideas with those who have done it before. You can learn a lot from the experiences of seasoned entrepreneurs, and they are much more approachable than you think."
I couldn't agree more. It reminds me of the first time I emailed Seth Godin out of the blue to commend his brilliant work; then he ended up blogging me. (Eep!)
Anyway, the article also referenced a 2005 piece from BusinessWeek written by Vivek Wadhwa called Ask for Help -- and Offer It. I dug up the archives and found some pretty cool quotes...
"Heads of big outfits are often approachable and willing to assist. Now that I've gained some success, I try to practice the same generosity."
"Some of the most important lessons I've learned as an entrepreneur are things they don't teach you in business school. I've learned to be fearless in approaching a celebrated figure, listen carefully to those who have paved the trails, and mentor others who seek to learn from my experiences."
"In previous columns, I've written about my surprise that movie stars weren't as distant and aloof as they seem. While I knew that successful technology executives were often eager to help and mentor, I never expected that film legends would be approachable or readily share their experiences. Networking, it seems, may be the best way to learn and grow in almost any industry."
This reminds me of a great piece of advice given to me by my friend Todd Brockdorf at my first NSA Convention: "Scott, don't be a Speaker Groupie. Don't be afraid. These Big Shots that get 25,000 per speech are actually pretty cool guys (most of them.) So just go up and say hi."
Thanks T. I never forgot that.
LET ME ASK YA THIS...
How do you approach Big Shots?
* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That guy with the nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com
Friday, February 17, 2006
Be fearless when asking for help; especially from the Big Shots
6:02 AM
5 comments
5 comments:
Scott:
You're so right! People generally want to share. Remember even famous people put their pants on one leg at a time and they were once as insecure as the rest of us. Probably still are.
I normally just walk up and jump into conversation -- not about them or their work, just about the coffee shop or airport we're in, or, if they gave a presentatio, about a point they might have made. People, even famous people, want to be seen for who they are, their ideas, not just their accomplishments.
Scott again you've hit the nail right on the head. I've had the same experience. Many "big-shots" don't think of themselves in that way, but instead they are just ordinary folks glad to help others. When I do ask for "formal" help from someone who is very busy, I state the amount of time I'd like to chat with them. It makes it easier for them to say yes.
This blog is really true.
I was at an art reception about 6 years ago and saw some work by an artist I really admired, Koo Shadler. She is an egg tempra painter and the best in her field. I was too timid to talk to her that day but got the nerve up to email her. She remembered me (i was the only guy with orange pants there) and we got to talking.
She was very willing share where she got her frames from and sent me the info. I have since used them in my work and get a lot of comments on them regularly.
Because of this experience I have now become more open to approaching people that I want to meet. A little taste of success goes a long way.
Scott Holloway
www.paintingloft.com
Yep, I know a couple of big shots named Shep Hyken and Scott Ginsberg who have been very generous with their time and sharing some tricks with me.
Dear Scott, thanks for another super article, i just love this site, thanks for the hard work.
Post a Comment