The Simple Wisdom of Asking for Help

Last week, Ami Dar of Idealist/Action Without Borders sent out a message that surprised many. Idealist is feeling the financial pinch so much that its existence is threatened. For those of us who are huge fans of Ami, his team, and their work, this was really bad news.

In his message, Ami offered a transparent view of how economic and business conditions had challenged Idealist over the past few years and how they had adapted to survive – and how that hadn’t been enough. In the end, Ami realized that Idealist’s future lay in the hands of its community, a community of passionate people who might be able to help Idealist find sustainability again, and more importantly a community that could spread the word and find more communities of support. And so he asked for help.

From the buzz in the social media, it looks like people are spreading the word. Looks like it is translating into a huge outpouring of support. So far, people have chipped in more than $140,000 to help Idealist out.

Asking for help can be a profoundly confronting thing. It can uncover all sorts of organizational dynamics and personal insecurities. If I ask for help, do I give up my ground as an expert? What if no one wants to help? No one else is asking for help – am I the only one struggling?

An authentic appeal for help can surprise us and prove those worries unfounded. Asking for help opens up new possibilities, it shifts our relationships, it creates new upsides. And it’s one of the hardest things to do.

You will notice Craigslist Foundation asking for help often in 2010. We are thinking about how our community building mission translates into a new program slate. We are constantly reinventing Boot Camp and need to know what’s going on in the field. You hold the answers. Our job is to listen. Our hope is that through listening, we will translate our call for help into services that can offer meaningful help for those who want to strengthen their neighborhoods and communities.

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3 Responses to “The Simple Wisdom of Asking for Help”

  1. Ami Dar - February 4th, 2010

    Thanks Susan and Arthur! I so appreciate this! And yes, the fear was there but the response, as you say, has been wonderful. Another week like this, and we’ll be OK. Thank you!

  2. uberVU - social comments - February 5th, 2010

    Social comments and analytics for this post…

    This post was mentioned on Twitter by craigslist_fndn: the simple wisdom of asking for help – inspired by @amidar and @idealist http://ow.ly/1405n...

  3. Stephanie Doty - February 7th, 2010

    I appreciate your supporting Idealist in their innovative approach to asking for help. How many organizations’ leaders stand back, fuming about this or worrying to death, thinking people “should know.” If we do not ask, we cannot expect people to simply know we need help.

    I admire the strength and fortitude of Ami Dar and those like him who do understand this fundamental principle of life — ask and ye shall receive. Stand back, assuming and the chances are you will likely be frustrated. Again, thanks for supporting this effort.

    I made my donation today and feel great, knowing that I have taken action toward solving a difficult problem.

    Stephanie