In two weeks...

...I'll be speaking to a group of college-age interns at a chemical and plastics manufacturing company about my book, RESET, and how to do more of what they love. I'll get paid well to do it and sell 20 books in the process. It's exactly what I want to be doing.

So how did I land the gig? Let me back up and explain because there's a lesson embedded in there that is crucial for anyone trying to reset their career.

One year ago-ish I got an email from a guy named Rick -- a banker -- who was passed a copy of my book from a friend at the organization I was working for at the time. He read it and reached out to thank me for the book and asked if we could meet up to talk more.

At first, I was hesitant. I was just starting my business and the time it takes to meet for an hour really ends up being more like a 2-hour round trip with travel included. And I wasn't convinced he would end up as a long-term paying coaching client, but I went anyway.

We met at a Starbucks, talked through the book, and I pointed him toward his next steps to figure out what to do with his life. We had a great meeting and I was inspired by his reflectiveness and commitment to do more of what he loves. In short, I was glad I got over myself and met with him.

Fast forward a year. He quit his banking job, landed a great job in the social sector doing more of what he loves, and emailed me to say thank you.

He then sent my name along to some colleagues who are part of a large organization that brings in speakers. I met the leaders for lunch, gave them each a book, paid for their lunch, and we set a date for me to speak for free at the event.

On the drive home from lunch, I talked with my wife and we reflected on the idea that I had given up a few hours of time at this point plus $50 or so for lunch with no financial return. I remarked that my goal was simply to serve people and good things come around when you put good into the world. It's the law of reciprocity.

At the event, I spoke, sold ~$200 in books, and connected with some great people. But it didn't stop there.
One of them reached out to me this week -- a month after the speech -- and asked if I could speak at her chemical and plastics engineering firm for 90 minutes to a group of 20 interns. For a great speaking fee. Plus $250 in books.

Done and done.

I've also connected with a few others from the event for one-on-one coaching and to help them do more of what they love.

In short, I'm doing what I love and getting paid to do it.

How did it all come to be? A few keys I've learned:

1. Be exceptionally generous. Share your content. Your message. And, most importantly, your time. That gig a year later never happens if I didn't meet with Rick. That job you want that seems like a great fit? Probably won't happen if you don't make the phone call, set up the meeting, or grab a cup of coffee and establish the relationship.
2. Stay connected. Be genuinely interested in others and their success. Add value whenever you can and let the relationship grow. "Networking" is another word for "short-term-give-me-what-I-want-now" relationships. What I'm suggesting is a long-term investment in other people that may or may not lead to direct results, but usually does anyway.
3. Take advantage of opportunities large and small, free and paid. I've missed out on quite a few of these because I've stuck my nose in the air and thought, "Not worth my time." I've repented, and will never miss an opportunity to help a person or change a life.
4. Pay it forward to others. Be a connector and enable others to do what they do best.
5. Show gratitude.
6. This is perhaps the most important lesson of all -- this whole story doesn't happen if I never published my book. That book felt risky to me at the time of publishing, like "who am I to publish a book." There were many times when I almost didn't persist. Times when I almost didn't click submit on the manuscript. I shudder now to think that I almost short-circuited my own success and opportunities to do more of what I love and get paid to do it. Moral of the story? Take that thing that you know you should create for the world and create it. Package it, publish it, ship it, and let the universe do the rest.