I recently watched this wonderful special on ABC about Garry Marshall. Garry had a fantastic career in entertainment that spanned from being a writer, actor, and director. You may remember him from such classic shows as Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley, as well as such movies as Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries, to name a few.
Listening to the various actors interviewed for this special, so many of them thanked Garry Marshall for being the person who gave them their career or gave them a break when others wouldn’t and being the friendly and supportive mentor and guide for them in their career. In a touching moment, Henry Winkler (a.k.a. “The Fonz”) talked into Garry’s ear before he passed, repeatedly saying, “Thank you. I love you.”
Who has been that person for you?
Who showed up for you and gave you an opportunity when others wouldn’t?
Where would you and your career be right now if you didn’t have that person in your life?
Right now, because of COVID-19, we are called to “SHOW UP” for our colleagues, our leaders, our team members, and our direct reports. And we must acknowledge, we don’t have all of the answers.
When you think about what it looks like to open your state, return to your worksite, resume some sense of regular activity with your family and friends, we are living in a time in this “new normal” where we are figuring it out and determining what is best for us.
How can you “SHOW UP” to give someone an opportunity, a chance, or an experience that will change their career? What’s one thing you can do for someone, right now, that will make a difference in their career today? This is about how you choose to “SHOW UP,” and your impact will be lasting. People will never forget what you did for them in a crisis. It doesn’t have to be anything grandiose. Be you and reach out to help someone.
And for the person or people who gave you a chance to help set your career where it is today, I hope you will take a moment and thank them. I bet you will make their day!