The Power of Asking For Help

I recently shared some thoughts on the Power of the Spoken Word. I spoke some words... I said "I am a Maker".  I said it, so I must do it.  I'm browsing my way around the internet, and finding out lots of things.  I found the schematics to the LilyPad Arduino Simple Board and I want to make notes on the way the board works.  I've seen schematics before and spent some time looking at them before, (but not at a work level).  I must use a new power: The Power of Asking For Help.

Now, it's a wonderful thing, the Power of Asking for Help.

It's amazing to me sometimes, how relatives, friends, co-workers and even absolute strangers rally around a call for help.  Now, for some, this particular request for help will result in glazed eyes.  If you are lucky, someone you ask will know everything about the subject of the request for help.

Most won't.  Many will pause and move on.  What you are looking for when you use the Power of Asking for Help, is someone who knows enough about the subject matter and is willing to spend some time figuring things out with you.  That person must know this.  That it's ok to not know, so long as he/she is willing to work it through with you.

And the real benefits of using The Power of Asking For Help?

• You will find incremental bits of information that will lead you to the answer
• That person will get the chance to share what he/she knows
• That person will gain knowledge as he/she explores
• Putting learning opportunities into a community context (by asking for help) will encourage you seek out more... different... information
• Your subject matter will become more interesting to you

I've got a few relatives, friends, co-workers in mind... Let's see what we can dig up.

Trish is very excited about her impending visit to the Bay Area Makerfaire in May.

Trish writes as for Patch and as Handmade Penguin for the Handmade Penguin blog