Many of us are afraid or embarrassed to ask our friends, family and loved ones to support us. But truth be told, our loved ones are often times our biggest supporters and even if they cannot personally attend, they will do what they can to support us. This might include invite their own circle, making a purchase, etc.
As an entrepreneur, one of my biggest fears I’ve had to move past is not being afraid to invite those who love me. People can’t support us when they don’t know what we are doing. And they can’t even support us with one last minute text that we send the week of the event.
Here are three things you can do to reach out to your friends, family, coworkers and loved ones during your upcoming entrepreneurial endeavors:
- Be sure to support those that you love and would be glad to support you. No, we can’t be everywhere, but we can’t expect people to do what we are not willing to do. So, go out and support your circle. They will remember how you went out of your way for them and likely return the favor.
- Send personalized invitations to your circle. I know what you are thinking – who has time to do that? It can be as simple as a phone call or a text that specifically addresses the individual. While group communications (text, emails, etc) are easier to do, they are impersonal. Your invitation will get more traction when it is personalized.
- Respect the calendar. I love to plan and sometimes I have dates on my calendar months in advance. In order to give your tribe a chance to support you, we need to respect that they too have calendars. So this means we need to step up our game and give ample advance notice and follow up with a reminder or two.
Remember, the worst that can happen when you ask for support is that you get a “No”. The best that can happen is that your tribe shows up and showers you with love. Who doesn’t want that?
Do you have any unique tips for soliciting support from your friends and family?