EP07: Five Things I Have Learned About Asking for Help - Thanks to Life in France

Thoughtfully asking for help isn’t just about solving problems, but also about building meaningful relationships. For Jane Bertch, this practice has been a cornerstone of her personal and professional growth. Drawing from her years as a business owner in France, Jane contrasts the shallow, one-sided act of “picking people’s brains” with the enriching experience of fostering reciprocal relationships that allow both parties to grow and learn.

In this episode, Jane shares five practical strategies for approaching help with intention that turns it into a mutually beneficial exchange. She focuses on the importance of clear communication that ensures both parties understand their needs and expectations, and points out the role of commitment, integrity, and respect in sustaining meaningful connections. By framing help as a negotiation rather than a request, Jane encourages us to think about what we can offer in return, hence creating a collaborative environment that’s rooted in trust.

With her passion for mentoring and community building, Jane inspires a shift from transactional interactions to deeper connections that support personal and professional reinvention. Listeners will leave with a renewed perspective on the power of asking for help—not just as a tool for achieving goals, but as a way to cultivate belonging and unlock new possibilities in every area of life.

Quotes

• “Helping others is really the foundation of community, isn’t it?” (02:59 | Jane Bertch)
• “Asking for help can actually be a really beautiful way to start a relationship if you do it thoughtfully.” (08:12 | Jane Bertch)
• “What I want to do is to share resources, to be conscious about how I can help them, to be conscious of what I can bring to the table. Because you know what, I think it’s better when we can grow together.” (10:21 | Jane Bertch)
• “Commit to it until you said you wouldn’t. Commit to it to the deadline that you gave it. See it through. Having said that, sometimes there are things that are out of our control. Sometimes we have to leave an activity or a business or a project.” (21:48 | Jane Bertch)
• “Sometimes we have to leave an activity or a business or a project. And if you’re doing that with others, you need to be very thoughtful about how you do so. Again, you want the activity or the project to end, not the relationship… it’s never about leaving. It’s always about how you go.” (22:06 | Jane Bertch)

Links

https://www.instagram.com/meghandono/

https://www.moritaheripour.com/bringyourselfbook

Connect with Jane Bertch:

Website: www.janebertch.com

Instagram @janebertch

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm