Helping others isn’t a transaction—it’s an investment.
I’ve recently referred three people in my network to my clients for consulting work:
- All three landed contracts.
- I didn’t get a referral fee.
- None have referred me (yet).
- I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Why? Because I believe the energy you put out is the energy you get back.
I don’t help people because I expect something in return—I do it because it’s the right thing to do. And here’s the thing: when you make it a habit to help others, that energy comes back to you, often in ways you’d never predict.
In my corporate days, I took the same approach. If I could make someone’s job easier, I did, whether that meant connecting them with a resource, offering support, or (occasionally) sweetening the deal with donuts for the FP&A team and help desk (pro tip: that always pays off).
What did I get out of it?
- Stronger working relationships
- A reputation as someone people could count on
- Unexpected opportunities … because people remember who helped them
That’s paid off as I’ve built my business, as many of those people I helped back then without expectation have helped me now in return.
As a consultant, I still live by this principle. When I connect my clients with talented people who can help them succeed, everyone wins—my clients, my network, and eventually, me.
And one of the biggest bonus benefits my clients get? Access to my network of incredible humans.
So here’s my advice:
- Help your colleague.
- Help another entrepreneur.
- Help without expectation.
- Help without gatekeeping or protectionist behavior.
- Help—because it’s the right thing to do.
You may not see an immediate return, but that energy? It will come back to you.
Hey there! I’m a leadership team whisperer, executive coach, and speaker. I guide leadership teams in high-growth companies to achieve rapid growth in a healthy, sustainable way. I coach senior leaders to discover the path to lead with ease.
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