One of the best ways to grow your business and get what you want is to help someone else get what they want. Seriously. That’s how it really works.

Help someone else and you end up helping yourself.  One of the things I am most proud of, as I reflect back on the 5 years of very hard work, and tremendous success, in my own business is the fact I have consistently focused on helping others get what they want and need too. One of the ways I do this is to maximize my presence wherever I go.

At the end of this month, I will be heading to South Africa as part of a mentoring project for women in business in Zimbabwe. This is my second trip to work with these women and is really speaks to my heart – but also to my values and vision for my company. This IS why I do the work I do.

AND SO WHAT, YOU ASK?

And so, if I am going to travel around the world to help women, then I want to ensure that I use my time, energy and expertise to the MAX! Here’s how I do this:

TIP #1: LET PEOPLE KNOW YOUR PLANS.

Sandy Salle, President and Founder of http://www.hillsofafrica.com, is from Zimbabwe. She also happens to be in my mastermind group, is a colleague and a friend, and coordinates this mentoring trip to Zimbabwe each year. I simply reached out to Sandy and asked who she knew in Zimbabwe that I needed to know – so that I could arrange additional speaking engagements, networking and meetings. Sandy was amazing (and excited) and immediately started sending introductory emails to connect me with several different business people and groups all around the region where I would be. That’s the first step. Let people know.

TIP #2: GET CLEAR ON YOUR INTENTIONS AND GOALS

I know clearly and specifically why I wanted those introductions and what I would do once I made connection with those business people. It is vitally important that you know your WHY so that when you do meet new people, it is easy to help them see and support the vision and the purpose for what you want to accomplish. My focus and my energy is on spreading the word – sharing my story and my expertise with other entrepreneurs with whom I would, otherwise, not have access. If I am going to spend the time and money to get that far around the world, then I’ve got work to do to teach my success strategies to as many people as I can!

TIP #3: DO THE FOLLOW UP

Sandy very kindly reached out, extending her own reputation, to introduce me to her valuable contacts. I appreciated that and now it was up to me to take things to the next step. I did all the appropriate follow up and the vision has now become reality – and it is so exciting because of the timing. I will actually be in Johannesburg on International Woman’s Day – AND I have been invited to participate in a Global Mentoring Walk. Jackpot! I will join these women on their walk – will speak to them following the walk – and have created a coaching sponsorship opportunity for one young woman to work with me over the coming year to bring her own entrepreneurial dreams to reality. In the course of finalizing these contacts, I simply asked what I could do to support these people in their own vision, dreams, projects and goals. I made myself available – and now, it has snowballed and I have many speaking opportunities (along with media and press coverage) which really makes it a win-win-win-win situation.

HELP SOMEONE ELSE WITH THEIR DREAMS!

It’s really that simple! I remember last year when I travelled to Rome with another colleague, I followed the exact same plan and, boom! – while in Rome, created some great networking opportunities and new relationships. Bottom line is that, as entrepreneurs, we are more alike than different. It’s so easy to share our knowledge to benefit someone else’s dreams and goals and, in the end, we all win.

SO, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS – REACH OUT TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE AND WATCH THE ABUNDANCE BEGIN TO HAPPEN FOR EVEYONE.

What is one thing you can do this week to help someone else reach their goals?