Three Allies

While recently reading the book Make Your Contacts Count by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon (Amacom 2002 – ISBN: 0814470939), I came across a section that hit home. The authors discuss the types of contacts readers should strive to make to extend their careers and how the contacts hopefully evolve into deeper relationships. The highest relationship they refer to as “Allies.” These are, according to the authors, “people who are experts on you, your business, your career, your needs, your aspirations, and your vision. They can talk about you in detail. They know where you’ve been and where you’re headed and they want to help you get there. They are your senior advisers and you are theirs.”

There’s more about Allies in the book, but as I read this, I realized I had three “Allies” in my writing life. They are Crystal Miller (www.Crystal-Miller.com), Cathy Shouse (www.CathyShouse.com) and Jim Langham, a prolific writer for three newspapers in OH and IN. These three have been friends of mine for several years, but this spring they have been particularly helpful as I dealt with some personal issues, not all related to writing. They listened while I poured out my story. Their subsequent advice was always supportive, yet they helped me to see the other perspective.

I appreciate the time they spend on me and hope that I’ll be able to give them just as valuable counsel when they need it.

I recommend you go to their websites to see their quality of work and get to know them as talented individuals who have achieved a balance of family and ambition. I’m proud to call them my Allies.

Thanks, friends. You’re all godsends.

I hope everyone has a good day.

http://www.KayleenR.com