Don’t Forget Your Family! from guest poster Dayna Steele

Posted on August 26th, 2008 by admin

Today we have a guest post from Dayna Steele, author of "Rock to the Top: What I Learned about Success from the
World's Greatest Rock Stars, about how her editor's brother helped her win the cover of Reader's Digest.

Don't Forget Your Family
Dayne Steele

“Relationships are everything.” That’s what tennis great Billie Jean King (who probably never eats alone unless she wants to) started a speech with in Houston a few years back. I was the event emcee and that simple statement was so strong. We all shook our heads up and down and marveled at all she had to say following that statement about relationships and networking.

However, what amazed me that day and still amazes me as my speaking career begins to grow around the country, is how many times all of us forget that that philosophy not only applies to business partners, clients and co-workers, it also applies to friends and family.

Out of everyone in the world who knows you and has heard of you, your friends and family are your biggest supporters and want to see you succeed beyond your wildest dreams. They love you. They know you. They support you. Most of them even genuinely like you.

But do they know what you do? Do they know what you need? Really? Are you sure? Have you told them? Other than your mother, none of them can read minds. How can they help if they don’t know what you need or what you want?

Operation National Anthem is a perfect example. It is a website I created to encourage people to pay attention at sporting events during our National Anthem. Just a side project I felt strong enough about to create a website and some videos. Once the website was done, I sent a note to friends and family asking them to pass the website on to others. That was it. No press release, no big splash, no advertising, no blogs. Just a simple website with a simple request to friends and family.

A year later Reader’s Digest called to say they ‘might’ feature the website in a future issue. When asked how they found out about it, the editor replied “my brother knows you and forwarded your email to me a year ago – I’ve been holding onto it waiting for just the right issue.” In May 2008, I was featured on the cover of the Best of America issue of Reader’s Digest as one of “35 People Who Inspire Us.”

All because I let friends and family know what I was doing and what I needed.

Dayna Steele is the author of "Rock to the Top: What I Learned about Success from the
World's Greatest Rock Stars, motivational speaker and media
consultant/entrepreneur.

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5 Responses so far | Have Your Say!

  1. really inspiring:) I do agree with the quote “Relationships are everything”.

  2. Kevin Cousins says:
    August 29, 2008 at 7:19 am
    Reply

    I have had the good fortune to meet and know Dayna and her husband, Charlie. Dayna certainly lives the principles of NEA. I really enjoyed her first question to anyone she meets, "What is your favorite rock band?"

  3. As always, Dayna shares some great information and ideas about helping one another succeed. No one achieves success on their own, and when we help others, we help ourselves at the same time. Working together and cooperation helps everyone achieve great things. We all need a little help from our friends. That special assistance, referral, or new contact can arrive from someone you least expected. All my best Dayna.

  4. Definitely concur with what you stated. Your explanation was certainly the simplest to understand. I tell you, I usually get irked when folks discuss issues which they plainly do not know about. You managed to strike the nail right on the head and explained out everything without having complication. Perhaps, individuals can take a signal. Will likely be back again to get more. Thanks

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