I was debating about writing on one of my passions– supporting and helping others. This is a difficult subject because I am so embedded into our Design Community and have to be careful what I complain about. Take for instance my Pinterest 101 classes. Yes, anyone can learn about this social media explosion just by going on the tutorials or youtube. By experimenting with Pinterest, and learning the ins and outs, a person can become proficient and at the same time use it for business and pleasure. I am charging $20 for my classes, not because I want the money, but because it seemed like a perfect way to support our troops. All the monies collected are being donated to the USO, specifically to benefit Arizona troops.
The key word is SUPPORT. When was the last time you did something just to support someone without expecting to get some benefit in return? For the past several weeks I have been running the “Advertiser of the Week” asking for support from the Design Community for our advertisers. Everyone who receives and actually uses any part of Designers Circle would be called a “taker.” Then, when they support the advertisers’ business by using the services or products, or by attending the events at their showroom, the taker would then be called a “giver.” (Adam Grant, professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, is the author of Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success. Very interesting concept for those who wonder what I am talking about.) The advertisers are the ones who make it possible to receive Designers Circle so that everyone knows what is going on in the Community.
Without the advertisers supporting Designers Circle, would you be able to find out about the events, meetings, CEU classes, showroom openings, etc. on your own? Designers Circle started out as a little blog to help people network because so many had lost their job and needed a place to talk to people in the design/build field. I have heard many, many times how, without Designers Circle, people would be lost. Yes, I know some appreciate all the hard work it takes to publish a nine section online magazine weekly, but as I said, it’s all about supporting each other. Believe me when I say that attending several events each week does wear me down, but it is one of my jobs.
Did you ever throw a party, and no one came? Hopefully, the answer is no! We don’t ever want that to happen, so if even if you don’t come to mine, I’ll come to your! That’s called SUPPORT.
