Good people along the way

The business trail is not an easy one, but sometimes it summons wonderful encounters. A few of those encounters happened last week, with people who are trying to help e-Clips, with no incentive but kindness.
I'll start with Jon Handlery, the proud owner of the Handlery hotels in San Francisco and San Diego (http://www.handlery.com/). I met Jon while shooting the doorman tribute video for the SFCVB, and interviewing his hotel's doorman. Last week I contacted him, seeking advice and help on getting the word out. He met with me a few days later, gave me incredible advice and guided me to other organizations who might help me. Helping a perfect stranger is not common in this world, I was truly touched by this show of kindness and generosity.
Last week I also met Lisa Cleveland and Dan Goldes from The SFCVB. I have no better words to describe the working relationship with the Bureau other than "a love story". They were a fantastic client. Quick, professional, punctual and full of constructive criticism and compliments. If there was a competition for “best client in the bay Area”, I would sign them up.
Lisa Cleveland, Director of Member Services for the SFCVB, met with me and gave me some good advice and helpful tips and recommendations on who to approach. Dan Goldes , executive vice president, strategy & development, met with me for coffee as well. He was kind, gave me some good networking tips (not one of my better skills) and people to talk with.
It is extremely hard to ask for help, especially from people I don’t know, especially in my unique position as an immigrant. I don’t do it too often, fearing that it might be taken as a sign of weakness, and that I might lose my independent business posture (even in my own eyes). I’m happy I did seek help. Besides helping me, all three showed kindness and belief in me, my company and in our video invitations. In this harsh business environment (even though everybody around is smiling politely, I can still feel “the race” for the fortune, the competition for a share in the limited pie of revenue), it is a good reminder that bottom line – it’s all about people. The bad, and I’m happy to say – the good. The very good.