If we all worked together, what would happen?

Last week I met (and met with) Shawn Blackwell from Wausau To Go for the first time. We had chatted on LinkedIn and he had called previously to schedule an appointment to chat about social media, marketing, and to learn how I work as a career professional.

As we talked about Facebook, he said he needed more fans for his  Wausau To Go page. So I said, “I can make that happen” because I knew I could. I invited my friends to fan his page and posted thoughts on his page as I was starting to understand how his business worked, a few posts like this one:

“I didn’t know you had all these restaurants… Choices, choices…”with the link to www.wausautogo.com

I knew that I could get the support of other friends, if I said, “Here’s something else I didn’t know… if you order from Wausau To Go, there is a $3.99 delivery charge but it costs the same as if I was in the restaurant and I don’t have to go outside… Learning more all the time!”

Dan Gacke said, “Um, Julie, Wausau To Go ROCKS!”

Darcey Westcott said, “Check for coupon codes at their site…delivery charge, schmelivery charge!”

Darcey posted this on her own wall: “Mmmmm….food! Is it dinner time yet? Love Chinese food and a movie…in my PJs. WausauToGo can make that happen…with the food, anyway!”

Shawn’s fans grew, not astronomically, but they grew from 69 to 105 in about 24 hours.

Here’s what I learned about his business by sitting down and talking with him. Shawn provides inbound and outbound marketing for restaurants, by delivering from the restaurants, he expands market share for restaurants. People who would love to enjoy more than just pizza can order online and have it delivered, both lunch and dinner. Think of the possibilities! You could have food delivered to the break room instead of running out or you could have a client meeting in your office and have confidential conversations with great food or work through lunch using your computer to teach or share.

I learned much about Shawn, Wausau To Go, and marketing. I took a little time to connect him with some of my friends who I thought might enjoy his service.

What if we all worked together? If you are employed, what if you took a little time to talk to someone who is not? What if you listened to what he (or she) needed and figured out who you might know that could help him? What if you asked a friend to have lunch with you and your unemployed friend? What if you strategized together people you know and places that might match the persons talents? What if you just worked together, what would happen?

Job seekers often feel isolated and solutions don’t readily appear. It doesn’t mean there aren’t any, it just means  you might need a different perspective. Most of the time, people go about their lives ignoring the needs of the people around them. But you saw the difference in the current Haiti crisis. The combined power of social media and people working together has raised over $10 million for Haiti. Working together produces results but much of the time we don’t step out of our comfort zone to do that. All I am asking is, what if we did?

Talk to me, I talk back!