Where I Come From
In a week, my husband and I will be heading “Up North” in Michigan—where I’m from. Think small town, rural roads, beautiful lakes, and winters that last a loooooong time. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows everyone, and if they don’t, they know someone who does.
Last summer, we bought a small cottage near the lake. And by small cottage, I mean a place that taught us very quickly that “small” does not apply to the repair list. It needed far more work than we had planned. So… what do you do?
Well, when you’re from “Up North,” you ask your neighbors—starting with the guy you bought your boat from. A couple of innocent questions like, “Do you know a painter?” or “Anyone who does some cleaning?” and suddenly you’ve tapped into the local network. No websites. No online reviews. Just people who know how to work hard and do the job right.
Jay the painter turned out to be the major node in that network, now our network. From him came Rocky, who runs a front loader with the finesse of a fighter pilot and cleared debris from the old well. Then there was Rusty, the drywaller who grew tired of big jobs and was happy to help with our small one. Add Rob the local electrician, Anna the cleaner with exceptional attention to detail, and Carl—the man who does whatever needs doing to serve his customers and feed his family.
Up North, we know how to get our hands dirty, to work until the job is done, to be honest, and to give good recommendations. We leave by the road what we cannot use in our homes so that someone in need can have our old couch, microwave, or bed—or at least know someone else in greater need than us.
This is where I come from. A place where help comes through conversation, trust is built face-to-face, and hard work still means something. And every time we head back Up North, I’m reminded that while the winters are long, the community runs deep.
So, here’s my challenge: next time you see someone tackling a project, lending a hand, or in need of a recommendation, please step in. Share what you know, give what you can, and see how far a small act of kindness can go. Up North taught me that the ripple effects of generosity often last longer than the projects themselves.
It makes me wonder, where do you come from? And how do you, your team or your community show up when it matters most?
Fly high,
Barbara
Want to know more? Need help with your network? Connect with me at CaptainBarbaraBell.com and of course check out my book, Flight Lessons: Navigating Through Life’s Turbulence and Learning to Fly High. #coaching, #ethicalleadership, #leadership, #veterans, #networking
Photo by Zack Urlocker on Unsplash
