I was told yesterday that I have “walking pneumonia.”
Not really a big deal, it’s pretty common and I don’t feel that sick. However, it’s my own fault that it got this far.
I let a bad cold linger for three weeks before finally breaking down and going to the doctor. Through all of the symptoms, coughing, chills/fever, sore throat, sleeplessness, lethargy…I soldiered on and told everyone that I was “riding it out.”
That was selfish and silly. If I had gone to the doctor in week one, I probably would have gotten medicine and started healing in a couple of days. Instead, I’ve been a shallower version of myself for almost a month. Family, co-workers, and customers have gotten the short end of the stick because I was “too busy” to take care of myself.
This morning, having taken some medicine and finally gotten a great night’s sleep, it hit me like a ton of bricks. It’s not weak to ask for help. It’s strong.
Strong People Ask for Help
- If your business is suffering because you are bogged down in repetitive tasks that don’t require your “special sauce,” consider hiring a virtual assistant.
- If you spend too much time going back and forth trying to set appointments with people, think about using an online scheduler like MeetMe or Simplybook.me.
- When you’re trying to launch or promote something for your business, don’t be afraid to reach out to your friends and colleagues and let them know what you need. Look for the people who won’t let you fail. Be specific, and be grateful when they do support you. Be there for them when they have something to promote as well.
- When someone offers to help, accept it. Stop pushing people off, saying “I’m OK, it’s all good.”
- Trust the people you hire to take care of their responsibilities, until proven otherwise. The ability to delegate effectively is a true sign of leadership.
- Think about cross training your team as much as possible, so that colleagues can offer relief to one another when necessary.
And if you’ve had a bad cough for more than four days, take yourself to the doctor!
