OFFERING HELP TO OTHERS
Some points to consider when offering help to others:
Get something out of it for yourself - It is perfectly OK to offer help where you expect to benefit too. An offer along the lines of: “I will help you get rich by selling our product” is not welcome here. However, you may offer to teach someone how to sell – and it is perfectly OK to mention that you could eventually use a salesperson. Be honest. Don’t try to trick people into anything.
Disclose your motives – Be truthful in telling others why you are making an offer. You might give away a free sample of your work in the hopes of creating a paying client later; and that is fine with us… just say so up front.
Set expectations – What do you expect of the people you help?
Cast a broad net – Go beyond NSoW. While our Newsletter may be a good place to begin your campaign, reach beyond our subscribers. Announce your intentions elsewhere: your personal network, community blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Craigslist, LinkedIn, etc. (Tell us other places you’ve found helpful.)
Don’t give up on good people - Many people feel an obligation to reciprocate a kind act, and yet they may feel least able when they need help the most. That is why it is important for them to feel that by allowing you to help them, YOU will get something out of it too. Isn’t it funny how hard it is to pick up the tab for lunch with some people? And those are the people you want to go to lunch with.
Give up on bad people - There are sociopaths in this world who will take advantage of you, and attempt to make you feel guilty for not helping them even more than you do. You don’t need to take it from them; walk away.
Now go to our Newsletter Submission page, read our suggestions on what help you might offer.
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WATCH THIS VIDEO to hear Daniel Pink describe what motivates people to work. This is what No Shortage of Work is all about.
If you are unemployed, you are autonomous. We help with purpose and mastery. If you are employed, find purpose in helping those who are not. NSoW is not a commercial venture; it is created by people who believe that creating something of intrinsic value is compensation enough. (Note: We are not affiliated with the producers of this video or Daniel Pink.)
I believe strongly in what Brooke Allen and this website are doing. Meeting Brooke some time ago was one of several catalysts that put my perspective back where it belongs: in abundance. I’ve abandoned my “conventional” job search completely for the time being, and it feels amazing to not have to go on Craigslist or Careerbuilder to apply for jobs I never even wanted in the first place. I understand now that desperation is a state of mind that we create and only we can decide to remove. If we are willing to let go of our comforts, and face whatever changes the world throws at us, most of our fears and worries disappear.
I have been spending all of my time working solely on my ideas that uplift humanity, and focusing on giving without expectation. Financially, from a western cultural perspective, I would be considered severely poor with debt and minimal income – but I feel like a million bucks right now. I know that the groundwork I am laying out right now is leading to dramatic improvements in the lives of others, and it feels amazing to be able to offer that to people.
Recently, a free self-improvement workshop I created has become so popular so fast that a journalist from the news actually came down to take part in it and to interview me. It certainly beats sitting behind the computer, completely frustrated, sending out resumes all day! And, surprise surprise – new job opportunities have started flowing in as a pleasant side effect (although I am now much more picky about what I intend to choose).
I have changed my entire outlook on work. I decided that from now on, I am going to just keep giving away the best of what I have to offer to others, until someone starts paying me to do it. Now, this part gets a little spooky – amazingly, twice this week, I have randomly found money on the ground with no one else anywhere in the vicinity. This hasn’t happened to me in years, and happened twice in the span of a few days. One time it was a $50. Now, maybe it’s just a coincidence – I don’t typically subscribe to any formal religion or know if karma truly exists – but whatever is happening right now is fine by me. Many things seem to just be falling in the right place these days. It’s not even about the money. Every day is one of purpose, of excitement, of actually living life the way I want to, in my own reality. There’s no guarantee that it will last forever, but regardless, I would like to sincerely thank Brooke and No Shortage of Work for all of the inspiration. It has helped give me a second wind. It has helped me get back up on my feet psychologically after a very rough period of time where I was down and out. A time where I lost faith in myself, and lost the essence of who I truly am. The ripple effect of your actions have already spread far and wide, and will continue to expand even further. I will gladly be of assistance to those who are reading this and feel like they need some inspiration. Time to pay it forward!
Jordan
Hi
I would love to offer help in Coaching in Public Speaking and
Storytelling Interviewing: How to Tell Your Story and Get Hired!
A little about me: I am a Professional Storyteller and Teaching Artist. Most often I am working to build bridges between cultures through the performance of interactive folktale theatre for youth audiences. I’ve recently performed at the UN Child Care Center, Water Day on Governor’s Island and at the Hans Christian Andersen Statue in Central Park. I also offer Storytelling and Story-writing Workshops and Teacher Training in Bringing Books Alive in the Classroom.
Most recently I’ve embarked on Storytelling on the Job; How to Tell YOUR Story and Get HIRED! I am available to coach anyone who needs help in telling their story at an interview; we can role play, we can get down to the nitty gritty of what your story is and how to show your passion for what you want to do on the job so you can land the job best suited to you. I also offer Coaching in Public Speaking; helping others to be more comfortable in front of an audience and shine!
I can also help those interested in starting their own volunteer groups; I am the Founder of Literacy Outreach Belize and since 2006 have traveled village to village donating storytelling and story-writing programs for 32,000 children and training for 500 teachers. What started out as volunteering (on my own) at one school has expanded beyond anything I imagined! It’s been a fantastic lesson in flow and growth!
My website is more geared to the work I do with youth, however, it will give you an idea of my style and what I’ve done so far, feel free to visit!
Kristin