Why not asking for help?!

Looking back in my 20's, I remember dreaming about many things. I figured most of us had done it more than once in our lives. I remember one of the most important things was to have my own business, without having any idea of what it takes to create one, support it and maintain it.

I came across many different ideas of business but never had any support, nor I wanted to ask for the necessary help. Didn't know how to, since I didn't have any family member in businesses. Now, in my mid 30's, I have become a business owner. It isn't the most fabulous business of all, but it is the kind of business that is giving me the knowledge, the tools and most of all, it is giving me the opportunity to prepare myself for further goals in life.

I have survived for over four years in business. How? I don't know exactly how. However, one thing I sure know is that things don't come your way by themselves; we have to attract them somehow and then work for it, regardless of the failures. I call it perseverance.

One of the first things I found out about having my own business, it was that I couldn't do it myself. I had to ask for help; I was unconsciously asking for help. Yes, despite my selfish thoughts earlier in my 20's, I finally admitted that regardless of the business that I wanted to do, I wouldn't have done it all by myself without looking for the necessary help.

I have come across many different people in my life, especially around my 30's — business people of all genders, ages, and ethnicity. I was taking a little tip, secret or advice from each one of them here and there. So I came to the conclusion that everyone does business in different ways based on their education, family background or culture. Some of them didn't even care for marketing tools because back in the days they didn't rely on technology as we do now these days. They believed more in a piece of paper, a pencil and their enthusiasm. Some others just followed their family business tradition and so on.

Now, I have in mind much other business besides the actual one. I started my janitorial business from the ground and have been able to survive it because I have asked for help as many times as I needed to. Having a General Cleaning business, for some it might be THAT, just a "cleaning business." However, in reality, it is more than just THAT... It is about building a strong relationship with our clients. It is about facing many issues with our employees and our clients. It is about building our trust. It is about having a strong work ethic and approaching positively to our occupation. It is about organization and professionalism. Anybody could start a cleaning business at any time. However, do they commit to work it and maintain it? I would say that it all depends on what they want to achieve or what they visualize in their lives. Are they down to earth, or what are their future goals, their dreams, etc.? Not everyone wants to ask for help. Who knows!

I've seen larger corporations going out of business, bankruptcy, laying off many people who seemed themselves retiring from those corporations. All the sudden, boom! Everything has changed for hundreds of people; their dreams, hopes, insurance, benefits, and sometimes their families come apart. People from the production line, up to the administration offices were laid off. Why do these corporations go out of business? Not quite sure. Could it be because they didn't innovate their products, services, a bad administration, perhaps? Alternatively, is it because they didn't want to ask for help when it was necessary?

Now, I see myself not as a big corporation cleaning business, but as a great successful businesswoman who cares not only for her success but for others as well. Moreover, I have determined that to be successful I have to ask for HELP as many times as necessary. I have to auto educate myself, and I have to take my time and utilize helpful resources out there. Resources that are not only going to help me grow as a business owner but to help me improve as an entrepreneur, manager and as a technician. Why not?

After all the help I have asked for, I have found out that I have a passion for what I do. Regardless of the business we do, asking others for help is a MUST and a great tool to become successful.

Perhaps, I believe that one step ahead is one further step than the day before.