What do you do for your profession?

This morning I had contact with an exciting person by the name of Helena Steel.  She is a business coach, workplace trainer and speaker.  She is a volunteer and mentor to many people including Un Students, and also numerous new members of Toastmasters, who are overcoming their fear of public speaking.  Look her up here http://www.careerguru.com.au/

My contact with Helena is revolving around the '2' in 10 educational event that Fundraising Institute Australia is running in July here in Melbourne, but I was impressed with her take on some of the old principles of just simply 'getting on' with people.  I have been saying to fundraisers for many years that if you have five years experience under your belt, in whatever field, it is time to pass that wisdom on to other people who are new to the profession.

One of Helena's keynote speaks is called "Paying it Forward"; it was outlined in the movie of the same name a few years back and it is all about why Volunteering and Mentoring means that you will always have a successful career, because you have to give to get, its a Universal Law.

One of my other favourite characters is Jeffrey Gitomer, a sales motivational Guru from the states who makes most motivational speakers seem very tame but in his "Little Black Book of Connections" he talks about Networking.  Many people think that networking is where you get in with a group of people give away millions of little bits of card sometimes erroneously called 'business cards' and then wait until they all ring you to give you their business.  Jeffrey says Networking 101 is you have to give others something of value before they give something to you. "the question you have to ask yourself is:  How can I make people better as a result of connecting with me?"

Look him up if you are game; http://www.gitomer.com/ and if you are really brave sign up for his newsletter.

So; I ask again, What are you doing for your profession? 

JFK said it best "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country!"  We just need to change the word 'country' for profession, employer, family, friends, wife, husband, partner,  the list could go on.

Thanks Helena for your 'push to think!'.