At the beginning of June, I reached out to some folks and told them about the book project I’m currently working on. Unlike my other trade press book projects that just need a proposal to get an offer, the publisher will need to see this completed project.
So I told them the resources I need to make it happen and asked them to support.
A few days ago, someone sponsored one of the theological commentaries I’m using and said, “thank you for asking us to support you. It means so much that you would allow us to hold you in this way.”
A few days ago, someone sponsored one of the theological commentaries I’m using and said, “thank you for asking us to support you. It means so much that you would allow us to hold you in this way.”
I don’t know why that hit me but it did. It reminded of something my LS said to me when I was venting about how hard certain moves are. “Candice, honestly, who knows you need help? You get frustrated because it’s hard but you don’t tell anybody that you don’t know how to do it.”
Too often, we can let shame keep us from asking for help. There’s so much I didn’t and still don’t know about publishing and being a creative/entrepreneur. Refusing to ask questions, get clarity on what I didn’t know and not saying what I needed had me out here looking crazy. LOL
I was so embarrassed to ask fellow career writers and authors questions and laughed when they all said, “nobody knows what they’re doing. We’re all just figuring it out.”
Now, I ask for all kinds of advice, suggestions and input.
Now, I ask for all kinds of advice, suggestions and input.
It doesn’t embarrass me anymore to say “I don’t know how to make this happen. Can you tell me how you did it/how you’re doing it? To do this, I think I need XYZ. Can you help me?” I listen to people who have done and are doing what I’m about to do.
If you’re a budding creative/entrepreneur following me, please hear me and do/be better than me. People want to support with the totality of their resources—be them financial, professional advice, prayer and encouragement. Let people support you.
While so many emotions can go into us not asking for help, we also have to see it as a function of pride to believe that we can help others but no one can help us. We get nowhere alone. Nowhere.
Your dreams are beautiful and deserve to come true. Your dreams need more than just you to become reality. And that’s okay because your dreams are never just for you.
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