December 13, 2009 67 Comments

Put Your Skills to Use

I’m inspired by Chris Kieff’s idea to Make a Facebook Page for someone. His point is that you know how to do it, and people you know (or are related to) could use your help. Not just for money, but because you’re a nice person, and the help would do them good. Your church, your scout group, your grandmother. Whoever needs it. I like this idea a lot.

Want to add to it?

If you’re out of work, figure out something helpful to do as a project for others. Figure out if there were other paths you might want to try that you can “pretend” to try until your next big gig gets going on.

Who could you help with what you know?

Mmmm, December’s a great time to be helpful. So’s January.

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  • http://www.michaelsmale.com Michael Smale

    This is a great idea. In Australia we talk about 'swings & roundabouts' as analogous to the cliche 'what goes around comes around'. (A bit cryptic maybe)

    Personally I have had the experience that what really matters when you've got everything yourself is what the people around you have got. That is my reason for placing community so highly in my values because if you've got everything but no-one with the same it just ain't no fun.

  • http://blog.jeffharbert.com/ Jeff Harbert

    It sure is easy to unintentionally put blinders on. Thanks for the reminder to pay things forward, Chris.

  • secretsushi

    I saw the same article floating around the interwebs and thought it was a great idea since you can in fact “hand it off” to someone once your done. Beyond that, simply helping someone out using a talent or skill from time to time is a great way to get noticed and/or try something new out without the pressure of usual projects. Small gestures like this can make a positive impact in a number of ways.

    Nice to remind folks like this Chris.

  • tarynp

    I saw the post you are referencing about creating a facebook page for someone and I think that it's a great way to get people thinking about putting their skills to use for good and not necessarily profit.

    One thing that I've been doing every time when I've gone through the tollbooth this week is pay the toll in advance for 1-3 people behind me and asking the tollbooth person to tell the people “happy holidays. please consider paying it forward.” It's been great. People have been speeding up to wave enthusiastically and say thank you. It's small but powerful – the butterfly effect in full force (i hope!!)

  • csread

    One of the things I've been doing is giving presentations on how to use social media tools to various groups where people are very much in need of the information. I did a presentation on using Linked-In (really *using* it!) to a group of job seekers in DC who are part of the 40Plus.org program. I'm also a Rotarian and have been giving presentations to various Rotary clubs in the Northern Virginia area on using social media for business development, career growth, building the club membership, and creating awareness for the mission and projects of Rotary. I've come into contact with a number of non-profits through these presentations and have given my time to them as well in helping them to leverage various social media tools to benefit the services they are providing to the community. I totally believe in sharing what I have to offer as often as I'm able to. It's probably even more rewarding for me than it is for them.

  • macsharp

    Sounds like a good idea to me, Hopefully the name picked and how it's set up is liked. Anytime of the year is a good time to be helpful.

  • http://inklingmedia.net Ken Mueller

    This is how I kinda got started, Chris. I have been doing social media as a part of various jobs for years. My marketing job was cut to half-time earlier this year, and I started helping some bands and non-profits out with social media. Some folks who knew me ended up hiring me as a social media consultant. Since then I've picked up more clients and hope to make this a full-time thing soon. I still have a good way to go, but I'm also still helping out a lot of friends whom I know can't afford to pay anyone. I try to go about this quietly, but people talk, and word of mouth has become my best friend. I'm confident that by doing good now, I'll reap the benefits later. That's not my motivation, but it is a very real possibility.

  • http://thewebcoach.net Donna Payne, The Web Coach

    Ah! Excellent Chris.

    This reminds me of the book “The Go-Giver” by @bobburg. http://www.thegogiver.com/

    *Always* be giving.

    Keep on Sharin’ the love, @thewebcoach

  • kishizuka

    Great idea. Indeed, doing for others is the way to go, and identifying one simple effort at sharing, be it making a Facebook or LinkedIn profile for someone in need, eases the way toward acting generously.
    Teaching someone a skill or demonstrating a Web tool also helps bolster your own knowledge. I'd want to brush up on the latest features of certain third-party apps, for example, in order to give someone the full tour of Twitter.

  • http://zaneology.com zaneology

    Awesome. I've been thinking about doing the FB page for the Salon that has been taking wonderful care of us since 2000. Thx for the validation, inspiration, kick in the butt, etc.

    And…truly you guys – Anytime is a good time to help someone. So Just Do it. :)

    Happy Holidays

    Zane

  • http://www.facebook.com/ckieff Chris Kieff

    Chris,
    Your generosity is exceeded only by your kind heart. Thank you so much for helping to publish this meme. The heartwarming comments I've gotten from people have become my gift this holiday season.
    Thank you,
    Chris Kieff

  • http://www.pixelpointpress.com/blog/ pixelpointpress

    Thanks Chris – It's an excellent reminder that what might be simple and quick for many of us to do can pay big dividends to others who don't know how to begin. Thanks for giving me the spur to do this – it's been on the to-do list for awhile.

  • Joaquin de Castejon

    Thank you, Chris. Great idea.

    This reminds me of a cool challenge/project that has been going on over at Marketing Over Coffee (http://www.marketingovercoffee.com): the 12 Days of MoC. They give 12 things you can do for a local charity of your choice, to help them improve their efforts on the Internet. The introduction to the project is at http://www.marketingovercoffee.com/2009/12/01/1…

  • http://www.geciktirici.net/ geciktirici

    Great idea. Indeed, doing for others is the way to go, and identifying one simple effort at sharing, be it making a Facebook or LinkedIn profile for someone in need, eases the way toward acting generously.

  • http://www.zoombits.fr/carte-memoire/micro-sd-transflash/memory2go--carte-mémoire-micro-sdhc-8go-classe/12315 carte memoire 8gb

    anyway to me the statement “Put Your Skills to Use” was an incredible.. I really like this information so thanks a lot Chris for this interesting post..

  • http://www.ribeeziemedia.com/blog Ricardo Bueno

    I've been doing basic wordpress installs for folks in varying fields. I hang out a lot with budding entrepreneurs who are out of work and looking… I try to be especially helpful to them (having even a basic web presence is a very good thing).

  • jamesiharris

    Great idea Chris, and who knows it may blossom into a career change.

  • avilbeckford

    This is a great idea, but I wonder how much I can help. I am not an expert. I do not use most of the functionalities of facebook, but perhaps it's time that I get up to speed. My brother is not on any social networks so perhaps I could talk to him and create a page for him. It's ironic because he built my first website for me over 10 years ago, one of those Geocities ones. I had a website before most corporations had one and that's thanks to my brother,

    Now you have planted a seed. Thank you! Avil Beckford @avilbeckford

  • http://www.ryanhanley.com/about Ryan Hanley

    Chris, two thoughts from this post I find very important: First, having a goal with every blog post that you create. Too I read great titles followed by posts with no point. Don't post to post. Second, the call to action. This is something I sometimes struggle with I feel is what the whole of idea of blogging is about. Thank you,
    Ryan H., http://www.ryanhanley.com

  • http://dannybrown.me Danny Brown

    Already doing this with 12for12k – http://12for12k.org – and honoured and privileged to be surrounded by amazing community of like minds wanting to simply help our fellow planet sharers. :)

  • http://www.CampbellDuke.com Elizabeth Campbell Duke

    Awesome idea! I've been making these pages left, right and centre because it's just so easy. It's great when they “take off”!
    * Fanny Bay Service
    * Baynes Sound Lions (although I'm the only one… not too many of our older Lions are on Facebook)
    * Vancouver Island Antiques (for fans of antiquing on “the Island”)
    … and then the ones for our businesses.

    I'm expanding to websites and blogs – in an effort to “grow our pie” in the Antiques trade on Vancouver Island. “Antiquing” for those who do it, is an activity that's easier when all of the antique shops have worked together to provide the customers with more than just a (literal) roadmap. I started by putting a price tag on my services, but the hardest sell is to get the antique dealers to get a web-presence…. so setting them up on Facebook or with a static page is the first step to being able to link them in to our website.

    We'll see what percentage of the dealers need to be on the web (whether or not I have to “drag” them through the last century and in to this one) before they all start seeing the value. Right now we're at 25% – yep, 75% DO NOT have a web presence.

  • http://twitter.com/coachcohan Melinda Cohan

    Hi Chris, Yes, this is the season for helping others! I like to think that we “pay it forward” all year long! We have a related post on our blog about Paying it Forward with a challenge to coaches. http://bit.ly/25AWMI

    I would like to challenge your readers to help make 2010 the year to “Pay it Forward”!

  • Theresa Ceniccola

    Absolutely – great idea! While you are at it, set up a Google Docs account for a group you belong to so they can share team rosters, calendars, carpool schedules, whatever! Or tell them about freeconferencecall.com or adobe connect now, or some other 'magic' tool in your toolbox. They will be grateful and you can feel good about helping others. Thanks for the inspiration, Chris.

  • http://www.ziparticles.com/ greg cryns

    Thanks for the reminder that Christmas is better without the glitter.

  • http://twitter.com/clayhebert Clay Hebert

    Chris and Chris,

    Love it. My Christmas gift this year to friends & family is their domain name plus whatever help they need to get a blog & develop their personal brand and I was just helping a friend last night redo his Lebanese restaurant website to be more social.

  • patrickdomingo

    Ahh you totally stole my idea :P just kidding, you probably knew this wayy before me anyway, but I'm in high school, and this winter break i'm planning on “pretending” that I'm an unemployed freelance writer who lives with his parents (which is what I am, essentially) just to see if this is really something I can do as a living. It's almost like test driving your future :) Excellent post, I really loved your overnight success series and I freakin love all the posts I've read. Ciao

  • gbatalibrooks

    This is a great idea! In fact, you never know where the good deeds lead. A year ago, when I found myself unemployed, I started volunteering at my church to do general marketing tasks i.e. maintain their website, lead a project to redesign the website, set up sermon podcasts, set up a youth Facebook page, ect. A year later, I have a full fledged marketing consulting business that includes other churches in the area. It all started by word of mouth from my volunteer activities. I learned about non-profit organizations, put my skills to work helping the church and spawned a new career. It is a true testimony to the power of giving and following ones heart.

  • http://twitter.com/pnstlion Gabe Young

    Not only do I know mind helping others, I enjoy it immensely. Unfortunately, many of these folks want actual fish rather than learning how to fish.

  • http://www.blogadmonkey.com/blog Dragan Mestrovic

    Hello Chris,

    I fully agree with you.

    To help others is a great thing, and we do not need to look out what we will get in exchange. I love it to help.

    How you mentioned in your book: Someday the good things come back to you in different shapes.

    We should also take care not to be exploited.
    To be helpful and to be exploited by greedy and calculating people can be a thin line.

    I am just reading your book ‚Trust Agents’ and I like to thank you for your generosity to share this valuable knowledge. You are a great guy! :-)

    Take care.

  • bkjrecruiter

    Pay-IT-Forward…. Great idea… Thanks for sharing…. Service=Happy….

    Best, Brian-

  • http://freenuts.com Young

    I think most people are willing to help people, but not everyone know how to help, so sometimes you need to ask for help.

  • JenHarris

    Funny you wrote this.
    I have been out of work for almost 5 months now & it is driving me crazy!
    So, I am going to be giving away my knowledge for coffee and chicken nuggets (the 3 year old twins have to eat too).
    Just wrote about it today…hopefully Karma will take care of things!
    http://bit.ly/7MVhhu
    If anything, it will keep me “out there” and get the Social Media itch I have to help others cured.
    -jen
    @jenHarris09

  • http://artofgreatthings.com Jeffrey Tang

    I'm starting to really appreciate the value of being active. Doing something, even if it's small and possibly insignificant. It matters that I can look back at the end of the day and know that I've accomplished something. That I'm one step closer.

  • http://twitter.com/mcbrundage Mark Brundage

    It would be fun to organize people who understand our space and pick a day for all of us to help a charity for a day become better voices for their cause.

  • http://www.mydoodlebop.com Kristin Gentry

    I love this idea! The Middle TN community (where I live) is very important to me. SO, at your wonderful suggestion, I'm going to volunteer to create a FB Fan Page for a Nashville non-profit. I'm open to suggestions from you or your readers; I'll also blog/tweet about it in the next day or two so I can find the right organization to help. Once I've completed the page, I'll return to this post and share it with you. Thanks for the inspiration!

  • http://www.mondaymorninggold.com/ Spencer

    You know Chris you give me good pause about blogging. I have been at it for about ten months now. It has not been the success I had hoped. My intention was to right from the heart about personal development, motivation, and leadership. My first thought is, my blog is not focused enough.

    In the motivation world there seems to be heavy competition and some heavy hitters who seem to dominate. Maybe I am tackling something to big to win with. Maybe my blog needs more laser focus. Maybe it needs a twist on the topics. What came to mind while reading your awesome blog was that my blog could be better if it were more focused on motivation in the workplace.

    I need to spend some time thinking about the direction of my blog. This will be my commitment by the end of the year. I will focus on a better niche within the personal development world, more effective pages and links, and a purpose that is not so muddied.

    Thank you for writing these things about blogging. Every word has been enlightenment for me and will help me craft a better blog filled with content that matters and is better targeted.

  • http://www.davidwalker.tv/ David Walker

    Wonderful idea, Chris, and with Noel at the door, it would be a perfect way to bring good cheer.
    @ tarynp, I like what you're doing. Reminds me of when I watched “Pay It Forward” and wondered if anybody else thought the idea was feasible, besides simply enjoying the movie.
    We need reminders that we're human and that giving, without expecting anything in return, is fun and makes you feel better than if it had been for your benefit. What has happened to us? And on the tenth day to Christmas..

  • http://twitter.com/dougmcsorley Doug McSorley

    Great idea Chris. I actually did this for a long time client & friend of mine the other day.
    I may plan on doing it for a few more clients of mine as well. Like you said, tis the season. Happy Holidays Chris! DM

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  • frankkenny

    I was in a meeting with of most of the non-profits in our community this week. Most of the people in the room had FaceBook accounts for themselves but very few of the groups did. Time for people to get up to speed. I did offer to train the groups but they seemed too wooried to take the leap.

  • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

    Get that barnraising event put together, Mark. Maybe around a wiki or a Wave or a whatever.

  • http://www.lookwhatmomfound.com Rob Babiak

    I am out of work and I know my sons 1st grade teacher needs some classroom help during the day. Maybe I need to get off of my butt and lend a hand while I am unemployed. Thanks for this kick in the butt Chris.

  • http://www.beginnerblogger.com/ Sarge

    …So's February!

    Any time is a great time to help someone out in need. This has given me a great idea for a blog post as well as help out a lot of people – thanks Chris.

    Give more than you receive and you will live a happy life :)

    Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com

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  • http://misterfnygy.com misterfnygy

    I agree!! In that same situation now- recently laid off and have some free time till the next project. Working on http://buylocalreno.com to help out locally owned business in my area. Keep up the good work Chris!

  • dubaipropertyportal

    I 100% agree that if you work for others benefits, then people will start responding you in your benefits.

    Regards,
    Bayut

  • http://www.mindsetofablogger.com DianeCorriette

    That's what keeps me going – freelance stuff – until affiliate marketing and information products builds into a big enough income so I can stop (not making any income claims – dont want to break any FTC RULES lol…!)

  • cynthiaccutright

    This is a great idea. Over the last six months or so I have been doing just that. I've been blogging for two years and I have friends and family ask for help setting up blogs, MySpace pages, and Facebook pages. I find the time spent helping others set up their social networks enjoyable. Plus its good experience.

    Cynthia

  • http://flatratewebjobs.com/ Genuine Chris Johnson

    CB-

    My company is committed to 15% pro bono work each year. I pick the projects, but I make sure that we have something for free happening. SOme are non profits, some are for profit small timers that I want to help.

    That's made us connections that we couldn't get. There's a “real” cost to it, but there's also a real good feeling about doing stuff when you don't NEED the money.

    The biggest value though is the discipline of not doing everything for a buck and the goodness that that brings into your life.

    ~CJ

  • debingino

    Great post Chris. Usually when we sow back into someone else life we end up gaining so much more than we could ever give away!
    I tackled this in similar vain in 'Unstuck' on Nov 12th http://debingino.typepad.com/deb_ingino_wired_t…
    Thanks for all you do~

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