A few months ago, I decided to actively try Helping others succeed. Thus I posted on Reddit, offering to assist anyone who wanted help setting and achieving goals, staying accountable, or with general self-improvement. My plan was to work with a few individuals for ~8 weeks to see what we could achieve with a bit of guidance. At the end of the 2 months, the results were rather satisfying: From successfully planning a fulfilling trip around Asia to securing a more enjoyable job that paid 25% more – every individual (especially me) took something positive away from this experience. The brief time I spent working with Chris was the most productive time I’ve had in quite a while. He is someone with will truly work with you and fight for you. Helping others succeed is an extremely fulfilling endeavor that also provides a fantastic opportunity for personal growth and development. Below are some of my takeaways that may be helpful for those working towards their own goals, or for those trying to help others succeed. Everyone can use some help From an individual making over 200k a year to another who felt distressed by their financial situation, to someone who seemed overly ambitious and a touch quixotic, to another who struggled with depression, the individuals I worked with were extremely varied. Goals ranged from getting in shape to getting ‘back on track’ with life. Everyone can use some support and assistance – so if you’re in a position where you can offer help (without too much inconvenience), do so generously. When you actively create and provide value to those around you, you encourage those around you to reciprocate. Furthermore, you attract those looking to do the same – and these types of people are some of the most valuable people you can have in your life. The people I worked with were very willing to reciprocate my assistance. Throughout our time together, they often asked what help they could provide me. Everyone I worked with was extremely willing to write me positive recommendations or take the time to give me feedback on my process. Chris was attentive and responsible. He helped me clarify and focus on the important things in my life and provided inspiration to keep going. Helping others succeed is pointless if they’re not interested Although eight people had originally reached out to me, four of them quickly dropped out. They either didn’t follow up, weren’t willing to put in the work, or gave up pretty quickly. For those where the structure wasn’t the right fit, it made sense not to continue. But the majority gave up before we even got started. I wouldn’t chase after those who decided to drop out either. There’s no point in helping others succeed if they’re not actually interested in success. Most of you say you want to be successful, but you don’t want it bad. You just kinda want it – Eric Thomas Success is driven by the individual. Helping others succeed only makes sense if an individual is willing to put the effort to achieve results. Unfortunately, a lot of people say they want to improve but they’re not actually willing to put in the work to get there. When you decide which goal to focus on – make sure you want it bad. If you’re lacking dedication or drive, you won’t go anywhere. Don’t expect or look for external forces to push you to greatness. That will never happen. No one can succeed on your behalf. Which brings me to my next point… Help isn’t required for success Although it would look great if I could take all the credit for the results achieved at the end of these two months, I really can’t. After all, I didn’t achieve anything. I wasn’t the one applying to jobs, working out every day, or hustling to book music gigs… My boxing coach would always say “Ultimately it’s you in the ring who’s got to fight the fight. I can’t fight it for you.” At best I was a helpful navigator sitting shotgun, and at worst, a glorified cheerleader. Everyone I worked with could have succeeded in their own right. With the drive and passion each of them showed, success was just a matter of time. I was only there to help guide them, pace them, or remind them of their goals. Realizing that your actions are the strongest driving force towards your own success is extremely powerful. Having external support is helpful, but not having any is no excuse for not putting in work. Your success was never dependent on the assistance of others. Final Takeaways If you’re looking for another way to make life interesting, try helping others succeed. It’s definitely not a trivial endeavor (it’s actually quite time-consuming), but I found it to be enjoyable and fulfilling. I do plan to do another round of this, but for now, I’ve decided to hold off as there are quite a few other projects I want to focus on. If you’d like to know when we do something like this again, follow me on Instagram or like our Facebook page. For those interested in helping others succeed, go out and be generous with your time and support. If you’re looking to improve and achieve your own goals, go get started.

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