The Power of Support: Increasing Your Conversion Rate
How often do we say that we support people and their dreams? How often have we been told that? Countless. Now, let’s compare that to the amount of time that proclaimed support has actually manifested into tangible support. I’m willing to guess that the conversion rate is in the single digits, both in the giving and receiving. We gotta do better.
To address this, we have to look at it from a few different angles: why support matters, what support actually looks like, and finally, the value add of support.
Why Support Matters
The first is why support matters. Well, because life is scary and doing hard things is, well, hard. If it wasn’t, everyone would be doing hard things—but the fact is, they aren't. Statistics state that most people are taking the easy way out; they are consumers vs. creators. Is it because they are lazy or lack imagination, intelligence, or resources? In some cases, sure. In most cases? No.
We are all born with gifts, talents, and the ability to thrive in those things, so what’s the real reason? Because creation is an act of vulnerability. Creation is an insight into the heart and mind of the creator.
“What a person puts into the world tells you about who they are, what they value, what they have been through, and the most powerful of all… what they dream to be.”
Vulnerability, ladies and gentlemen, is something we ALL struggle with. So, when a friend, spouse, child, co-worker, Facebook friend, whomever, asks you for support, know that they are asking you to create an environment of safety around their entire world. That’s Big. Don’t mess it up!
The Action: Identify one person in your circle who is currently "creating" something (a business, a project, a new habit). Send them a message today that doesn't just say "Good job," but asks: "I know putting this out there is a big deal. What is one specific thing I can do this week to help you feel supported?"
What Support Looks Like
Now I know what you're thinking: “But what kind of support are we talking here?” That’s fair. Let me be clear: not all support is equal or expected at the same level for everybody.
For some, support will look like a financial investment—buying a product, purchasing a class, or a ticket to an event they are promoting. For others, it will be a like and a share with a public word of support to your personal network. For others, it will be your contribution of talents and/or knowledge. You know your friend needs a logo and you’re a graphic designer? That’s support. You know your co-worker is struggling to edit reels and you know an amazing AI tool that will cut their struggle in half? TELL THEM! Someone has reached out for your help; they need a connection, opportunity, or introduction that you can provide—or maybe you can’t. Either way, answer the phone, return the text message, and follow through. And this last one, a friend showed me the power of: you can support by just showing up. Maybe you don’t have any of the above to offer, but you do have your physical presence, your time, your energy, and your smile. Show up. It matters.
The Action: Look at your "Support Conversion Rate" for the last week. Pick one person whose dream you’ve "liked" from afar and do one tangible thing for them today. Buy the product, make the introduction, or send the tool that will help them. Don't just think it, do it.
The Value Add
Finally, what’s the value add? Well, aside from showing what an incredible human you are, the value add is twofold. One, it puts wind in the sails of the dreams of others, and that is a powerful thing. In fact, if you believe in humanity and the core purpose of our existence, then you subscribe to the reality that we are pack animals—that we were created to be interdependent.
Inside each of us, we carry what the other needs. A part of fulfilling your purpose is to give what you have inside of you to those that need it. So, value add one and two: they get what they need to thrive, and you get the fundamental human fulfillment of using your gifts, talents, and abilities to make the people—and thus the world—around you a better place.
And the final value add? You gain connection, loyalty, insight, and access. You don’t know what tomorrow will bring for you or what venture you will get into, but when you do, how wonderful would it be if you had connections, loyalty, and a level of access to pull from to put wind behind your own sails?
The Action: Create a "Loyalty Bank." Reach out to three people who have supported you in the past. Thank them for being part of your "pack" and ask them what they are currently pursuing. Building the connection before you need something is how you create true access.