Top 108 Signs of Success - Yilin

Author: Xiaoping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: In times of difficulty, don't be ashamed to ask for help.
Everyone faces tough situations. Some people adhere to the philosophy of solving everything on their own, always tackling problems silently without seeking help from others. This kind of person has a noble mindset—unwilling to trouble others. However, their efficiency and effectiveness in solving problems may not necessarily be the fastest or best. I know such a person. He doesn’t play any musical instruments, can’t sing, nor can he compose music. Yet, he is the editor-in-chief of a national music publication and a renowned music critic. When I asked him how he got into music criticism, he shared the following personal story.
In the 1970s, he had just graduated from university and worked as a journalist for a newspaper. One day, while he was rushing to write an article, the editor-in-chief called him to the office. The director told him that there was an important concert that evening, but the newspaper’s music critic had suddenly fallen ill and was undergoing surgery in the hospital. Therefore, they decided to send him to attend the concert and write a critical article to be published the next day. He wasn’t trained in music and knew nothing about it—how could he write a critical piece? He wanted to refuse, but didn’t have the courage; he wanted to accept, but feared he wouldn’t be able to handle it. Seeing that he remained silent, the director asked if he was facing any difficulties. He said, “I’m afraid I won’t be able to complete the task.” To his surprise, the director smiled and said, “There’s no mountain too high to climb, and when the boat reaches the bridge, the path will naturally clear. You’re quick on your feet, and I believe you’ll overcome the challenge and write a decent critical article.” Then, the director waved his hand, not giving him a chance to say more, and dismissed him.
That evening, the man, who knew nothing about music, sat in the theater looking worried, while on the other side of the theater, he clearly saw the music critic from another daily newspaper. The guy was lounging with his legs crossed, eyes slightly closed, head swaying gently with the rhythm of the music, looking completely confident. Tomorrow, his article would definitely appear in their newspaper. But how could he complete his task? As the concert neared its end, his mind was racing like a computer. Suddenly, he had an idea.
The moment the grand curtain fell, he rushed backstage and found a famous violinist. He introduced himself, explained his predicament, and honestly asked for her help. He said, “In reality, I’m asking you to help me write this critical article. I think you’d be willing to help this newcomer.” The violinist smiled at him, took a sip of water, and then began to speak at length. As she explained, he took notes rapidly. He thought to himself, “My fellow journalist, no matter how talented he is in writing, how deep his experience, how his understanding of music, or how fresh his perspectives, he couldn’t write a better article than mine. His musical expertise can’t surpass the musician standing before me. Originally, the gap between us was huge, but now I’m standing on the shoulders of this famous musician, borrowing her strength, and using the wisdom of two people—where one person clearly has far more musical knowledge than him.”
The next day, both critical articles were published in the newspapers. Industry insiders exclaimed, discovering a new rising star in music criticism. After this success, the newspaper leadership appointed him as a full-time music reporter. He applied the lessons from his first successful experience, combined with continuous learning and research, and over the years, he gradually became a recognized music critic, eventually becoming the editor-in-chief of this national music magazine.
In life, there will always be times when you’re unable to handle things on your own. You can’t rely on others for everything. When you’re in a difficult situation, as long as you honestly share your struggles with others and sincerely ask for help, those you ask for help from are unlikely to stand idly by. From the perspective of the helper, helping others often brings more satisfaction than receiving help.
P15-16