I am so delighted to welcome Brian Dixon to By His Grace this week! I have looked up to Brian as an online mentor through the Hopewriter’s Community and I am a huge fan of the message of his new book Start With Your People. Earlier this week we had a fantastic conversation on the podcast People Problems with Brian Dixon.

Please welcome Brian to the blog.

Show Up And Serve

By Brian Dixon

Imagine if you could look at your life and work on being on a mission for people. Imagine if your goal were to make their day and to help them win the day. Not only would your life be fulfilling, but you would be rewarded for your efforts. Your company would grow, you would get promoted, and you would feel a sense of fulfillment far beyond anything you’ve experienced before. 

Be on a mission for people. 

When you are on a mission, even the most mundane task has a weighty level of importance. Delivering a meal to a family who just had a baby, pumping gas for an ambulance, or setting up an internet connection so a dying family member can make a video call to their loved ones one last time. Your contribution is monumental when the stakes are high. 

Don’t have any connections? Show up and serve.

Tired of the job hunt? Show up and serve.

Can’t get anyone on the phone? Show up and serve.

Showing up and serving will open up new opportunities and make a massive difference in your life and in the lives of others. 

Let’s take a look at Mike’s story. Mike is a great marketer and copywriter, but he wasn’t always that way. He started out as a musician and worship leader for his church. His day job, as the head of marketing for an educational company, was slowly killing him. Something needed to change if he was ever going to live a life he loved. He signed up for Michael Hyatt’s Platform Conference, where he met an expert copywriter named Ray Edwards. Ray, a legend in his industry, was making a transition from client work to coaching and teaching. Mike recognized the opportunity for mentorship, and he went all in. He invested in Ray’s most expensive mentorship program. He followed Ray’s teaching and became his best student. He did everything he could to serve Ray: helping at his events, promoting his programs, and assisting Ray’s clients. And Ray noticed. Before too long, Ray was using Mike as a case study.

Mike’s success was Ray’s success. Once Mike had proven his value to Ray, a consistent stream of clients followed.

Ray began to refer hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of client work to Mike. Ray was the Big Domino for Mike. Mike has now become one of the best-known copywriters in his industry. And it all started with Ray. Influential people like Ray maintain a tight-knit circle. They are used to people asking for things from them all the time, so they’ve learned to be a little guarded. The key in reaching influencers is to build a relationship with them. It’s simply a matter of paying your dues. Influential people have a lot to lose if you waste their time, so they are naturally more skeptical. But once you have shown value for one influential person, they introduce you to their network, and other opportunities begin to fall in your lap.

Consider Their Goals 

Everyone has a goal. If you’re trying to build a relationship with an influencer at a conference, figure out her goal for the conference. If she’s an author, she likely wants to make a connection with her readers, sell more books, deliver a smooth presentation, and collect names for her email list. Each one of these goals has several volunteer opportunities. Showing up and serving is as easy as getting there a little early and offering to help set up the book table or staying a little later and offering to carry books back to the car. It’s amazing the difference a helping hand can make when offered at the right time.

The same is true with companies you might want to work for. Consider their goals. Most companies publish their goals in their annual report, on their website, or on their social media accounts. If the goal is to become the industry leader in the region, consider ways you might help them reach their goal. Maybe it’s introducing a new contact, recommending a vendor, volunteering at a trade show, or serving alongside them in their community outreach efforts.

Ideas to Consider

• Show up and serve people right where you are, right now, and your mission will follow.
• Figuring out your purpose starts with finding out how you can help your people.
• Offering a solution to someone’s problem often leads to connections, business, and opportunity.
• The knowledge you have gained from your experiences is valuable to people who are just starting out. The things you think are simple and easy can be complicated and overwhelming for others.
• People will invest in you when you show up and serve.

Actions to Take

• Research the goals of a company you would like to work for, and write down ways you can help them reach their goals.
• Begin asking, “What are you working through?” in your interactions with others. Discover what they are struggling with and figure out how you can help.
• Make a list of specific ways you can serve others in your life.

Brian believes you are here for a purpose. As a podcaster, conference speaker, and business coach, Brian is passionate about helping high potential leaders and teams thrive in a world of overwhelming options. He has a doctoral degree from the University of San Diego. You can learn more about his coaching and access free, downloadable resources at BrianDixon.com

Join Brian to discover the people-first mindset that changes everything, including:

Brian has encouraged me to look for ways to better serve people, and I hope his message encourages you too!

Come back next week for more encouragement to empower you with wisdomand encourage you through the struggles of life.

Much Love,