Who Helped Me the Most in 2016 – Deb Calvert – Inspirational Leader & Communicator
My friend, Jim Keenan, wrote a blog post about who helped him the most in 2016. He then went on to answer how this person helped him. Keenan shared his posting with me and it got me thinking about all of the people who helped me in 2016.
The truth is I received a massive amount of help and support from friends and colleagues. In fact some of the strongest help came right out of thin air from individuals I never knew before.
WHO HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON MY YEAR IN 2016?
Despite the tremendous amount of help I received from others this year, it was immediately clear to me who helped me the most in 2016 and that person is Deb Calvert. Deb is the President of People First Productivity Solutions and an instructor at UC Berkeley.
I knew of Deb by reading her book DISCOVER Questions but I did not know her personally.
WHAT DID THIS PERSON HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH OR ACHIEVE IN 2016?
I reached out to Deb with an early draft of my book The Perfect Close in hopes of getting a blurb. Amazingly, she read the whole thing in one Sunday night. I received three emails from her that night as she progressed through the book. She really resonated with the message of the book and what happened next was amazing… (to me at least).
Deb sent a very flattering message to 50 or so top influencers in my space describing her experience with my book and encouraged them all to read and promote it. Then she introduced me to dozens of top pod casters and recommended they have me on their shows. Each of these was an individual invitation and I remember each new invitation coming every few minutes into my email box like a stock ticker. For me it was a surreal moment.
WHY WAS THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?
As many authors are, I was genuinely concerned that my work would be accepted and respected by the peers in my space. Deb is an amazingly authentic person and her efforts and the efforts of others she put me in contact with to help spread the message of my book really validated that this was the right message at the right time.
WHAT DID THIS PERSON DO TO HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL?
Deb’s first act was to help make key influencers aware that my work even existed, but she didn’t stop there. Deb started a dialog with me. “What are you doing to promote your book?” she asked. “We need to get this message out there!” What followed was a prescriptive marketing strategy which I have followed and am still following to this day.
HOW DID DEB CALVERT’S SUPPORT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
To say that I am grateful for her efforts would be a huge understatement. Because of Deb’s efforts I launched my book two months early to take advantage of the momentum she had created. Since that time I have interviewed on over twenty podcasts, been recognized as one of the top 12 books of 2016 by Top Sales World and The Perfect Close became a best-selling book.
WHY ARE YOU SO THANKFUL FOR THEIR SUPPORT?
It would have taken me months or years to accomplish what Deb did in a week. There should be a stronger word for thankful. Perhaps “overwhelmed with gratitude” could be squished into a single word. That’s the feeling I have for Deb.
HOW IS YOUR WORLD DIFFERENT TODAY BECAUSE OF THIS PERSON?
My world is different in two very big ways. Obviously her efforts have opened up a tremendous number of doors for me. And those opportunities are to do the things I love doing the most. But more sublime is that Deb models and personifies the kind of person – the kind of leader – that I wish to be. To give the way she gives with no thought of return is exquisite and worthy of emulation.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY TO THIS PERSON, THAT YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY TOLD THEM?
Thank you Deb Calvert. You are a blessing and a gift to me and all those around you.
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Please copy and paste these “who helped me the most” questions into your blog, your Facebook page or wherever you place your content marketing. Share your thoughts as well as your heart to uplift another and shine a bright light onto the pathway for 2017.