I Thought Asking For Help Made Me Weak

In yesterday’s email, I asked you to embrace vulnerability.

That used to be hard for me.

For a long stretch of my business life, I was that guy who believed asking for “help” was a sign of weakness.

Work on my mindset? No way. Not necessary, I thought.

I blame Stuart Smalley.

If you were anywhere near a TV in the early 90s, you remember him. Al Franken’s character on Saturday Night Live, years before he ran for the Senate. Powder blue cardigan. Bleached-blond hair.

He sat in front of a mirror on a show called “Daily Affirmation with Stuart Smalley,” and the announcer introduced him as a caring nurturer and a member of several 12-step programs. But NOT a licensed therapist.

He opened and closed the show with the line people still quote:

“I’m good enough. I’m smart enough. And doggone it, people like me!”

Here’s Stuart in action.

The guy was a wreck. That was the whole joke.

So when friends and mentors told me to work on my “inner game,” to build some confidence and quiet the voice in my head, I pictured that sweater and that mirror.

Not me. No thanks.

Took me way too long to get over it.

These days I have a bag of tricks for keeping my head on straight. Before a sales consultation or a presentation, I run affirmations. No mirror required. I picture the prospect saying yes, and I picture telling Melissa about it over dinner.

Then most mornings I sit and breathe and meditate.

Younger me would have rolled his eyes right out of his skull. But the stuff works, so I keep doing it.

Getting past Stuart Smalley did more than fix my head, though. It changed my marketing.

Once I quit pretending I had it all together on the inside, I quit pretending in my emails.

And I found out how many business owners who look completely in control are as messy as Stuart underneath. And so are their clients. Imposter syndrome. Negative self-talk. Perfection paralysis.

These people are on your list right now.

They don’t need people who pretend never to make mistakes. They need to hear you’ve stood where they’re standing.

The thing I ducked because it looked weak is the thing that made people trust me.

Go first. Say the messy part out loud.

Speaking of asking for help…

If you want mine, book a complimentary PLAN-to-PROSPER Strategy Session. It’s a private 1:1 conversation on Zoom. We’ll look at what’s working in your business and what’s not, and I’ll hand you a personalized “Plan to Prosper” Blueprint — a clear roadmap combining the right strategy, the right tech, and the right team.

Grab a time here.