Front - AZ Teambuilding sro

PUSHING TO THE FRONT
my work, I realized working under his instructions had stretched my
capacity to think and create in ways I would not have done on my own.
He was a man of a few words and high standards, so I cautioned myself
against expecting glowing praise after he had seen my work. Four days
later, I got a mail from him that said,
“Hi Mfon,
How are you? This is excellent work. I am so proud of you! It was
worth the wait and I can see the hard work.”
I let out a sigh I must have been unconsciously holding in for a long
while. I had done it. I had proved I was worth the investment of time.
From then on, it became commonplace for us to work together on projects.
He called me up for projects and taught me things from his business
I didn’t know. I taught him things from mine he didn’t know. It became
like a partnership, a practical proof of the truth emphasized by Ralph
Waldo Emerson that one of the most beautiful compensations of life is
that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.
When the time came for him to nominate someone for a major project
that involved major corporations and institutions, he said the only person
that he and his partners unanimously agreed on nominating was
me, and all this happened because I chose to ask for help.
I have deliberately chosen not to go into the details of what I needed
help with so as not to lose the essence of the underlying lesson, or have
it associated with any particular field because the potency of the cry for
help is universal, irrespective of what field of business or aspect of life
you require help with.
That singular event in my life taught me the following invaluable lessons
about business success that I now pass on to others.
1. Be HoneSt aBoUt WHere yoU are
You can only reach for help if you honestly appraise yourself or your
business and come to terms with the level you are on and the fact that
you need help to go further. Being ignorant does no good and research
has shown that even ostriches do not hide their heads in the sand. Hence,
in business as in life, truth is best known – no matter how painful it is.
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