Vulnerable, a sign of strength or weakness?
When I think of the word vulnerable, I zoom to flashbacks of movies or show scenes in which one half of a couple begs his or her significant other to be more open. "It's ok to be vulnerable with me!" the desperate voice pleads. In this, sense, vulnerability can mean something in line with honesty, the acknowledgement of one's own sensitivity, and being emotionally available for another human. But when it comes to networking and trying to create new opportunities in life or work, is the honesty required of being vulnerable - saying you are having a tough time or need some advice, for example - too raw? Does vulnerability lessen your chances of letting great opportunities take root? or can that genuine approach actually work in your favor?
In my heart of hearts, I believe that yes, honesty and being true in your journey is the way to go, especially when trying to cultivate a career out of your passion! But in a competitive world where the concept fake it 'till you make it works so well, what's a modern go-getting girl to do? I recently met with a friend and gained some fantastic insight in addition to a reality check. She reminded me that people are actually quite willing to help and connect, if you simply ask. Even if someone you'd like to collaborate with, work for, or learn from has their hands full with other projects or isn't in need of another helping hand just yet, reaching out is a bold act that sets you in front of the pack. But it's not just about getting ahead; asking for advice sets a space for conversation that starts with a humble foundation, a willingness to learn and advance, and a spirit of fearless entrepreneurship. Furthermore, once you do reach out and begin to forge a connection, people are generally more inclined to keep you in mind for interesting or upcoming projects in the future. Makes perfect sense, right?
Then, why do so many of us not simply ask for support or reach out to individuals or even friends whose work or efforts we find inspiring? I personally made a strong assumption that successful people that I admire are too busy, too rushed or uninterested, but the reality of that notion is one that says if I don't value my own worth or believe that I am worth meeting with or speaking to, then why would anyone else? It doesn't matter whether we hear back from every email we send or land every date -- heck, sometimes it's just a numbers game, but in trusting our unique self-worth, we can expand our mental realm of possibilities to include the opportunities that we are striving for but perhaps subconsciously felt unworthy of reaching. That shift in understanding and confidence alone can lift a lot of weight off of one's shoulders, revealing a sense of liberation as well as more directions to find inspiration in.
At the end of the day, if I were ever approached to offer another support by giving advice or answering any questions about my own experiences, I would without a doubt, love to, and hopefully, the people that I get to meet with after reaching out and being honestly vulnerable feel the same. There is no one right or correct answer as to how to approach networking or creating more work opportunities for yourself, but no matter which way you wind through each situation that arises, these certainties do remain: your path continues onward, the world keeps spinning, and you are exactly where you need to be right now.