FINDING INDEPENDENCE THE IMPORTANCE OF MDA SUMMER CAMP
Asking for help is a simple request. Most people do it every day, whether they’re getting a second opinion on a paint color or asking a stranger to hold the elevator. Asking for help is important; the ability to work as a team is one of mankind’s greatest strengths. But if the act of asking for help is so essential in our lives, why do entrepreneurs have such a hard time with it? This struggle often comes from pride, the idea that if you admit you can’t do it all, then you can’t do anything. But this mindset often leads to ruin. In a survey by 99 Design, most entrepreneurs claimed the worst mistake they ever made wasn’t a poor financial decision or bad planning — it was simply not asking for help early in their careers. Having to ask for help isn’t a sign that you’re unable to achieve what you set out to do. In fact, when you ask for help in business, you may find you’re able to achieve more. This is because asking for help is a form of networking. You’re actively reaching out to experts, learning how other people solve problems, and broadening the awareness of your name and brand at the same time. If you struggle to ask others for help when you need it, start by changing your mindset. You don’t have to do it all; you’re just one person, and sometimes one person needs to delegate tasks to others to get more done. Asking for help is also easier when you know what you want to ask for. If you are overwhelmed by a big project, take a moment to write down The Muscular Dystrophy Association Summer Camp is a place for kids to experience independence and feel like a kid again. It’s an important institution not only in my son’s life, but in the lives of children all across the country. I’ll admit that when I first learned about the MDA Summer Camp, I didn’t see its true value. My focus was on the research side of things. Through Mometrix, my mind was on raising money for MDA to help fund research into the condition. I attended a SMA conference and sat in on a panel featuring a diverse and successful group of adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). These were folks who had forged professional careers, traveled the world, and said they would never let SMA slow them down. I wanted to know how they accomplished this. How do you live life with the mindset that nothing can get in your way? How do you gain this kind of independence? The panel had an answer: MDA Summer Camp. They explained that the camp and volunteers taught them they could live full, independent lives. At the camp, they saw what it was like to not have their parents or someone
nearby who could be there to help them. They learned what was possible and how free they could be, despite their situation.
This was a real eye-opener for me. I saw what was possible. At age 8, my son Benjamin went to his first MDA Summer Camp. To call it life-changing would be an understatement. Benjamin got to experience zip-lining, a massive cable swing, and so much more. It was nonstop fun and a chance to just be a kid. For him, it’s better than Disney World! Contributing to the MDA is about more than just research. It’s also about helping kids rediscover themselves and learn how to become independent in the face of a monumental challenge. Whether it’s research, camp, or raising awareness, it all requires funding, which is why we established the Mometrix MDA Fundraising Campaign. It’s a small way for all of us to give back to a great cause. To learn more the MDA Summer Camp, visit MDA.org/summer-camp , and to learn more about the Mometrix MDA Fundraising Campaign, see Mometrix.com/mda.
AHELPINGHAND WHY BUSINESS LEADERS NEED TO ASK FOR HELP
your goals for that project, along with a list of action steps and resources needed to get there. Then think about who you can reach out to in order to tackle these steps. If you’re still uncomfortable with asking for help, make a point of helping others when you can. Being helpful changes the way you perceive receiving help and builds a positive reputation with others. When you are viewed as being helpful, other people want to help you in return. Asking for help means admitting you can’t do it all alone. But why should you have to? Doing it all alone can be pretty lonely, and asking for help means you have a team to support you wherever you go.
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