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(The Helping People Series: Part 2) Click here for Part 1

Why its important to help people.

1) Reciprocity

2) Connectors

Reciprocity

Help someone out and they owe you one. It’s an unwritten law. It’s reciprocity.

Put two people you know in touch with each other, and you’re a lifesaver (first) and a connector (second but also important).

Reciprocity isn’t defined by the old adage “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours”, but more by way of mutual exchange; when someone has gone out of their way to do something for you, you too will subsequently do the same when called upon, naturally. Without getting too technical its classic psychology/understanding human-behavior stuff!

Ok let’s have it right! By now you’ve grown out of your old self and have acknowledged that there are new rules in the “NOW”. You can either create your own or follow the new community rules (either or, depending on the kind of person you are…?).

To throw down with entrepreneurs, hustlers, go-getters, philanthropists, bosses (and any other inspirational folk I’ve missed) you gotta get out more. Be vocal, contribute to the happenings of the people you encounter everyday (the web lets you reach even further, that’s a major plus!). Play the productive game with your peers to make a name for yourself or don’t! (and be forgotten).

Connectors

Connect your people to your “people”.

Despite us all maintaining a social presence, we’re still so choosy about who we interact with in our “network”, and that’s not the “way” forward. Sure we interact with a handful of people (and literally I mean a handful) on a daily, but we could and should be more involved with the happenings of the timelines and live-feeds of our friends and their friends. We’ve already committed. Preferential treatment is unfair and actually lazy on your part!

I’m not saying get personal with everyone; I’m saying be a connector. Volunteer your support and extend a hand to your contacts (if and when you see a “cry for help”).

Why connect friends?

1)    You know people your friends want to know (and vice versa)

2)    Friends rely on each other for help and support (you included)

3)    Community involvement (to be seen/known as an influential figure)

4)    It doesn’t cost you anything (and there’s no conflict of interest)

5)    It’s expected of us! (HELLO social networking!!!)

Start using Viewpointr today!

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(The Helping People Series: Part 1)

Why its important to help people.

When Andre (CEO) said “dude lets do a blog about helping people?” minus the swear words I was like YES!!!! Then we got over-excited about putting this blog post out here. HOWEVER L as I started to write this post, it hit me, hard! “this is gonna be a loooooooooooooong read”. So I’m giving it to you in a series (how many? Not sure yet haha) of posts centred around “helping people”.

There’s a number of terrific reasons to help people which is why I opted for a series, but we’re kicking it off with “Why its important to help people”.

1)    Karma

2)    Mentality

3)    Collaboration

Karma. What goes around comes around so get involved with society. Be a nicer person, a better person and help those people around you. Set a good example to others and let society do you right!! Putting people on will not only make you feel good about yourself, but it will result in good karma. It doesn’t cost you much at all.

Mentality. As we get older we start looking at things differently. More aware of what’s going on around us, keen to succeed and make sacrifices in order to get ahead, appreciative of the smaller things. We value our friends more, and if you value yours you wouldn’t think twice about helping a friend in need. Most if not all of us are working on something with great potential, trying very hard to get our individual projects off the ground.

Collaboration. Who can we rely on? Who do we trust?? People we know! Working with people we know to achieve a common goal (big or small, fun or professional) is gratifying and frankly easier than finding a complete random to get to know and trust. Collaborate with friends when pursuing dreams, starting ventures and taking on passion projects.

Viewpointr wants to capture you helping others. So that people around you know who to reach out to for help, because often times we just don't know who to approach.

When someone asks for help it puts us on the spot. What does this person want from me? I have my own stuff to deal with and so forth. Actually most of the time we call on our friends when we need something low-hanging (something small): Do you know anyone who wants to buy my car? Can you speak to your mate who does websites and get me a quote? etc. Its literally just to be introduced or put in touch with someone we need to track down. No big deal! Friends help each other out; that’s what we do; its part and parcel of being a good friend.

It doesn’t hurt to be a good person either. Take us at Viewpointr. We’re a lovely bunch of blokes; always on-hand to help people around us. Its gratifying first and foremost that people request our help and value us enough to come to us in the first place. Furthermore if a friend vouches for someone we don’t really know, then we extend our friendship out to our “mutual friend”, because we never know where or how opportunities will present themselves. One thing is for sure though. Networking is the only way to increase your chances of making things happen. Cold-networking (with strangers) is a different ball-game. Networking amongst friends and mutual friends is where its at. We rely on referrals and recommendations to enable us to make our choices and decisions. We trust people we know (and who know us). Yet we don’t really utilize our friendships to network, instead we just browse profiles and hang out with our mates, keeping friends and productivity separate.

Surround yourself with positive people. Network amongst those who can pull a few strings and help you out, but be prepared to do the same. There’s a word for that: RECIPROCATION. The only way to succeed in this day and age.

Start off by making a request. Invite some friends to help you on your way. Friends should (and will!) be able to help you by way of pointing you in the right direction and getting you traction; positive feedback whatever your request may be.

Whether you know us or not, helping people is the REAL meaning behind “POINTING REQUESTS” and ultimately the vision of Viewpointr, heck we’ve built a business around being approachable and helpful. We live to inspire people, to encourage them to believe in the things they do, to never give up and always go for glory! Some people may call us dreamers, but our users, you guys are the living proof that we are indeed living the dream!

Now go help some friends out!

JW (community g-man)

http://viewpointr.com | http://facebook.com/viewpointr

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