Stop Hoarding Information!

OK, picture this...

You are very accomplished in your career. You invested time and money to learn how to do what you do as well as you do it. You made some embarrassing mistakes when you were just an amateur, but you learned from them and improved your skillsets. You experienced rejection, lack of interest from gatekeepers, and underpayment for your time and services. You've failed many times--privately and publicly. But now, all your diligence and sacrifice have paid off--you are now at the top. People look up to you.

You get a notification on your phone. It's a message from someone who admires your work but has never met you. They introduce themselves and ask for your advice in starting their career in your field. Do you help them or nah?

Too often, especially if the person asking belongs to a group that is historically oppressed, the answer is "Nah." Even when the person being asked belongs to the same group! I firmly believe that the energy you put out into the world comes back to you. I've seen firsthand what extending kindness can do. If not for the kindness of my elders who poured into me, I wouldn't be where I am now. I am the continuation of their legacy, even when they are no longer here (shout out to the late, great Dr. Walter Dallas!) I only hope to have the same impact on someone who comes after me, and the way to do so is by sharing what I know with the generations who come after me.

Dr. Walter Dallas and me