Lately I've been spending time reaching out to libraries, bookstores, community groups, and organizations to see if they might be interested in a Caitlin's Star reading or presentation.
Some have responded.
Many have not.
Like most people, I prefer hearing "yes" or even "no" to hearing nothing at all. Silence can leave you wondering if your email was received, if your message was read, or if you’re being ghosted..
Then something interesting happens.
A friend asks, "Have you thought about contacting this group?"
Someone at yoga mentions a local connection.
An acquaintance suggests a bookstore I hadn't considered.
A neighbor knows someone who knows someone.
And I find myself smiling because for years I taught job seekers the very same lesson.
As a job search coach, I often shared that many jobs are found through networking and relationships rather than online applications alone. Depending on the study, as many as 70 to 80 percent of opportunities are influenced by personal connections.
The principle is simple: people help people.
A conversation leads to an introduction. An introduction leads to a meeting. Meetings lead to an opportunity.
As I work to share Caitlin's Star with new audiences, I realize I need to follow my own advice.
Sometimes we become so focused on sending emails, filling out forms, or checking things off a list that we forget the power of simply talking with people. We forget that the person standing next to us in a yoga class, sitting beside us at a community event, or chatting with us at the gym or doctor’s office may hold the key to a door we didn't even know existed.
But there is something else I've discovered along the way.
The people offering suggestions aren't gaining anything from it. Most have no connection to publishing, bookstores, or libraries. They simply take a few moments to share an idea, make a suggestion, or offer an introduction.
Why?
Because they want me to succeed.
As I think about it, that may be the greatest gift of all.
Yes, networking opens doors. Yes, relationships create opportunities. But beneath all of that is something even more meaningful: people helping people.
The older I get, the more I realize how much kindness exists in the world. Sometimes it arrives as encouragement. Sometimes it arrives as advice. Sometimes it arrives as a few simple words:
"Have you thought about...?"
And behind those words is an even more powerful message:
"I believe in you."
What a wonderful thing it is to discover that so many people are cheering us on.
Whether you're looking for a job, promoting a book, starting a business, volunteering, or pursuing a dream, don't underestimate the value of the people around you. Sometimes the next opportunity doesn't come from a website, an application, or an email.
Sometimes it begins with a conversation.
And sometimes it begins with someone believing in you before you believe in yourself.
No comments:
Post a Comment