One of the most valuable skills for any entrepreneur (or, who are we kidding, human being) is the ability to ask for help. There’s a hard limit to what we can accomplish alone, and none of us are good at everything.

But asking for help can be uncomfortable, especially if you’ve gotten used to being a one-woman show. If that sounds familiar to you, consider this a sign it’s time to get over that particular hang-up, reach out, and enlist the assistance of the amazing community around you. It’s going to make your business—and your life—better. Here’s what we’ve learned in the past year as we’ve built VIDA.

1.     People want to help. Know that glowing feeling you get when you donate to a cause you believe in or help a stranger struggling with too many grocery bags? That’s not just you. Human beings appear hard-wired to want to cooperate and collaborate. Give your friends, family, and colleagues the gift of being needed and let them lend a hand.

2.     Get Specific. The people who care about you already have a general sense of wanting to help you, but they might not know what, exactly, you need help with. Or, they might be afraid of offending you by offering unsolicited assistance or advice. If you know you need help with something specific—say, proofreading a major proposal before it goes to a potential new client tomorrow—don’t be afraid to ask. Most entrepreneurs know that deciding what to do next is almost as much work as just doing it. Taking that first piece out of the equation makes it easier for people to hop in and help.  

3.     You never know what people know. We’re continually amazed by the breadth and depth of the knowledge, connections, and expertise our community members have. Even if you’re certain you don’t know anybody, for instance, who makes custom furniture or can handle your last-minute tax crisis, you might be surprised by the connections your community has.

4.     Know you’ve made an investment in your own longevity as a business owner. Life happens. It’s a cliché, but it doesn’t make it any less true. Nobody knows exactly what the future holds, but as we’re all mere mortals, there’s an excellent chance it holds unexpected illness, births, deaths, family emergencies, and the burning desire for a real vacation. Asking for help over time is how you build a support team for your business, which is key to integrating work with the rest of your life.