inspirationAs many of you know, I have been sending out my free monthly newsletter, The Inspirer, for eight years. I send it because it helps me to fulfil my mission of ‘sharing what I know to help others to grow’. I try to write something insightful that will help and inspire other writers and try to be as generous as I can with what I share – connections, tips, information and ideas.
I have always believed in giving things away. That’s why I give away two free reports to anyone dropping by my site – see the box there offering The Seven Secrets for Writing Life Stories and the other offering 50 Steps to a Book in Your Hand? Head over to my Giveaways page and you will find more freebies still. Sign up to have me as your mentor and I’ll give you lots of other stuff too. This is how I try to add value to my services. I never expect all the people who take one of my freebies to become my client one day. I just give because I hope that I can make a difference and that maybe, someday, somehow, someone will do the same for me. That’s why I love to nurture teenage writers. Yes, I do that for free too. That’s why I run free writing workshops for local non-profit groups. Sure, I hope that someone who comes on one of my free courses may one day attend a paid-for workshop, buy one of my books, or refer me to someone who does need my services. But one of the reasons I love to give in this way is that giving makes me feel good. Being of service benefits me as much as it benefits the recipient. When someone I have helped gets published or starts to write that book they have been putting off for years I could jump for joy!
Today, an unexpected reward landed in my in box. I’ve been in touch with Karin Behringer, for a while, and she has been a subscriber to the Inspirer for quite some time. Today, I received the following email:
My book is out! It is available in every German book shop and through Amazon or book-on-demand! http://www.pb-bookshop.de/product_info.php?products_id=1371
I really want to thank you for the inspiration and help I got through you and the Inspirer and the Book Cooks!
Best regards
Karin Behringer
Karin has never bought one of my courses, though she did read and review my book Expat Entrepreneurs, and she has never paid me for mentoring, yet my work has helped her to write and publish a book about her life in Saudi Arabia as an expat. I think this is a wonderful compliment. If the value of the stuff I give away for free is that useful, then that makes me feel terrific.
That Karin took the time to write and thank me is all the payment I need.
Yesterday, I met with my teen mentee, Sian, in the pouring rain, so I could give her another book to review. In just a few weeks I have watched her place several articles and reviews in online and offline magazines so that her imminent university application could stand out. I danced round the room when I saw her piece appear on WhileAbroad.
“Thank you so much for helping me get published,” she said. “I really appreciate it.”
These days it is easy to forget to say thank you, but when you are on the receiving end I tell you, the value of hearing those words is priceless.
If you need to thank someone, why not do it now?
