Please Don’t….

If you want to help, help.  If you don’t, don’t.

Everybody needs somebody.  It doesn’t matter who you are, how great and talented you might be, or how much money you have.  At some point, we all need help.

Mr. X: “I just graduated college.  I was the most talented painter in my class, but for some reason, I can’t seem to get a job.”

Mr. Y: “Well Mr. X, I know Mr. Z.  Mr. Z owns his own art gallery and is always looking to purchase artwork from new talent.”

Mr. X allows Mr. Y to hook him up with Mr. Z because Mr. X needs a job.  Two years later, Mr. Y becomes resentful and angry at Mr. X because Mr. X is doing really well for himself and became a top selling artist.

Mr. Y continuously throws it up in Mr. X’s face  that it’s because of him that he got the job in the first place.  Mr. X can’t even enjoy the fruit of his labor.

There will come a time when you’ll realize what your capable of, and also, come to grips with your shortcomings.  At that point, you will look elsewhere for someone to help in those areas, because face it, if you don’t, you’ll be stuck in neutral.

To all those Mr. Y’s out there; No one wants to feel imprisoned because of your help.  Please don’t.  If you’re going to help someone out, do it out of the kindness of your heart.  Do it because you want to help, and because you really want Mr. X to become successful.

If your intentions aren’t genuine, Mr. X will see that eventually.  Mr. X, please don’t use people.  Mr. Y could be feeling the way he does because he feels used.  Thank Mr. Y, and let him know your decision to have him speak to Mr. Z was because out of many others, you trusted him.  Perhaps, when you become successful, you can repay him with dinner?

Have A Freakin Good Night