How to Execute a favour

How to execute a favour (is it just me that this sounds weird to?)

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how I dislike favours Almost certainly someone whom knows me well has read the article and thought b*llshit, you’ve done me favours!

Its not true though, I don’t do favours anymore, I only do “specific favours”.

A couple of years ago I met with a “Captain of Australian Industry” for coffee. We had a wide ranging conversation about what I was doing with the Churchill Club. During the conversation I mentioned that I felt concerned about the number of favours I was doing for people and whether I was wasting time and insane. M y coffee guest, pointed out something that was obvious as soon as he mentioned it, but I never would have though of before hand – when I did favours, I threw a business like approach out the window.

If I was offering to sell services, I would be very specific about what I would and wouldn’t do. But when offering to a favour I would be too vague, just a “happy to help you”. My coffee guest pointed out that my favours would be far more effective and less demanding on my time if I put some structure around them.

So I came up with some simple rules…

Rule Number 1. – Is there intangible value to be had here?
If the favour is going to introduce me to new and interesting people or opportunities, I am happy to get involved. If not – goto rule no 2.

Rule Number 2. – Is it good karma?
Because I am not a self centered b@stard, I am happy to do favours that need to be done. However If there is no intangible value for me, and its not good karma, I have learnt to say no. However if it is good karma, goto Rule no 3.

Rule Number 3. – Will it take less than two hours?
I, like the majority of the population have to make a living and can’t spend all my time doing favours. Just like I can’t give to every charity, despite how deserving the may be. Therefore I have to ration my time. If someone asks for a favour that’s going to take longer than two hours, I really have to look at “whats in it for me” as its highly likely its not actually a favour, but someone wanting to save money by getting me to act for free.

So once I have decided that I will do the favour, I am now much more specific about what I offer, I tend to focus on limiting the actions I can control, and not owning outcomes that I can’t. Eg.

- I will help you for two hours, sorry I can’t spend more time on it.

- I show you how to do this, but I won’t write the instructions down, you will have to take notes.

- I will introduce you to person X with my recommendation, but I won’t make the meeting happen, you need to impress them yourself.

Doing these specific favours allows me to still think of myself as a good guy, without having to rip my hair out.

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