We all have so much on our own plates that it’s easy to lose sight of anyone else. Join us for a virtual town hall or sign up for a 1-on-1 demo to learn more. The Avanoo StoryApp makes it easy to discover and share your stories with your team.
But after I thanked him, hurried out the door and started driving home, it hit me: Small favors are the lifeblood of a thriving team. I suddenly felt a flood of relief and gratitude that seemed totally out of proportion with the small favor Michael had offered. I sighed and told him about the hard drive – how it still needed to be packed, taped, labeled, and dropped off at FedEx – and how I was already late getting home.
I stood in the doorway for a second, hands already full with my backpack and coat, feeling frustrated, frazzled, and frankly even ashamed because my forgetfulness meant I was about to let somebody down.Īt that exact moment, my colleague Michael happened to walk by my door. I knew she was counting on my help with dinner and bedtime – but I also knew our freelancer was counting on having his equipment back in time for his next gig. If I did it now I’d once again be late getting home, where my partner had been taking care of our 1-year-old all day. I’d finished copying the footage and was supposed to stop by the FedEx store on my way home to mail it back.Įvery day you’re at the center of many small yet meaningful vignettes.Įxcept – groan – I’d forgotten to pack it up. The drive belonged to a freelance videographer in Montana. – anyway, I was gathering my things when I noticed a hard drive sitting on my desk next to an open cardboard box. (Note for the youngsters: An “office” is a building where people used to go to sit around conference tables and put fish in the microwave, back when we were allowed to leave our homes. Because while you may not be off on grand adventures, every day you’re at the center of many small yet meaningful vignettes.įor instance, a few months ago I was about to leave the Avanoo office – Not to make yourself out as a hero, but to help the people around you learn from your experiences. Or at least, you could be – if you gave yourself permission to tell the tales of your daily life and work. Of course you don’t go around imagining yourself as the protagonist of a never-ending story. And I hear a common objection: “I just don’t have that many interesting stories.”
I talk to a lot of people about how to find the power of their own personal and professional stories.