Friends Who Go Out of Their Way to Help You

You know, when I was a teenager I was lucky enough to have a mentor in business named Dale Heeley. Dale worked for the Toronto Sun Newspaper, and he took me under his wing and taught me everything I know about people and sales. I worked for him in some capacity from the time I was about 14 until I was about 23. He introduced me to a world that would have been impossible for me to have known, and opened a world where I could be great at what I wanted to have a career in. Sure, he benefited from me, but that is just good business. The difference is, I know that he benefited from me, and I was ok with it because he made me a better person. Dale went out of his way many times for me, and not just when it was convenient for him. Many times, he stuck his neck out for me, when I put him in a tough spot. But he never mentioned it, because he knew I knew...and this made me respect this man immensely. It means more to me to have his friendship now because I can never truly repay him for all that he prepared me for in life. Thanks Dale…


Many times, we only do things for other people when it is convenient for us. We rarely ever go out of our way to do someone a favour, do we? Well, I have many friends that would do that, so I guess that makes me a lucky person. For many reasons:

1)I have a friend who gets me tickets for any concert that I need. Sure Joey makes money from me. -But I have never ever gone to an event that I really wanted to see, and not have had the ability to do so. He gets me tickets whether they are for me, for my friends or clients and he does me the favour by doing so. I once got kicked out of an Aerosmith concert about 15 minutes after getting in, (long story!) and he gave me another set of tickets, and had me back into the Air Canada Centre 5 minutes later at no charge. What a guy! He operates a class operation, and he is always fair. He treats all my friends like he treats me, without even knowing them. This is just good business, and he excels at that. If you ever need tickets to something, you give me a call and I will get you the best you can afford. -Thank you Joey, for being reliable, honest and a good friend in a tough industry.

2)My 2 best friends Gary and Ryan have been with me since I was a young teenager. We have been through ups and downs, and they have always been there no matter what the cause or need. Many times, we haven't agreed, but it never stopped the support. It seemed like many times we were fighting when bad things happened, and that strengthened our resolve to help each other. Nobody likes to see their best friend in torment, right? Both of these best friends of mine have suffered by me to be my friend. Sometimes, I caused them great discomfort, but they were rocks of strength, with no questions ever asked. They have become brothers to me and their loyalty is something I can depend on, and that's a rare thing these days.

3)My friend Karen who works for the Toronto International Film Festival, goes out of her way every year to get tickets for the Gala, and movie passes for me. This takes time out of her crazy busy day when she is already swamped by others, and never mentions how stressful it is to do so. But I know how stressful it is for her, and yet she still does it time and time again. A year will go by, and she will do it all over again, and she has been doing this for at least 7 years so that I can enjoy the film festival with my friends, and experience T.I.F.F. She rarely gets thanked for it, and I often feel guilty for putting her out.

But that's what a great friend does. They are not just great friends when it is convenient for you to do so, -They are friends when it is NOT easy to do so. So thank you Karen; I always appreciate what you sacrifice for me when you can.

4)My friend Marc Roberts has been a steady for 15 years now. -Through thick and thin; where to begin? His bad times, seemed to my good times, and now his good times seem to be my bad times. I don't enjoy a person's company more than I do with him. He gave me the confidence to write, and better yet, to KEEP WRITING. I wouldn't be blogging without him, and I certainly wouldn't ever have written this book without his support.

Did you ever have someone believe in your talent more than you did? -Well, that's Marc "Funk" Roberts. I liked writing before he came along, but he loved my writing, and told me that randomly. -And that's the key. Random phone calls he would leave me of encouragement, when I wasn't expecting it. Positive text messages in the morning when I woke up to start my day off with a smile.

How powerful that was!

And he'll never know how much I needed to hear that. He is BY FAR the most charismatic man I know right now in my life. He has started a Fitness business to teach all the people out there about being healthy and he will be great at it, because he is talented, charismatic, knowledgeable and best of all, he loves helping people. If you ever wanted to get in shape, let Funk show you the healthy, fun and stress-free way to do it.

Marc "Funk" Roberts

Check him out at www.funkrobertsfitness.com, or www.fitfirmandfab.com

Thanks Funk for believing in me when I didn't think I could do it.

I could go on and on about this, but this is getting the point across. Hopefully, I try to help out my friends when they need it. -A phone call, a text, a night out, or a random call or email just to thank them for their friendship. It means so much, and costs so little.

And lastly, to all of you out there that I don't ever know who read my blogs regularly, who comment about them, who send me emails about how my writing touched you, THANK YOU. -It really is a tough job to write. I am not a writer, but I can tell you that it would be a tough job to be a writer.

I enjoy writing, and it makes it so much easier to do with the feedback that you give me. My blog site has moved up in massive traffic from when I began, and it's all because of you, my readers. It has also been because of my friend Glen who manages my blogsite and projects me out there, so thank you Glen for also seeing that I can do this and for your hardwork too..It is the biggest compliment when I can take my feelings, and commit them to paper, and you tell me that you enjoy it. It's a small thing to you, but it really means so much to me.

So do this for someone that you love. Go out of your way when it is easier to say "No, I can't do that." Actually show them that their friendship means that not only in the good times, but in hardship too. Friendship isn't just for good times, you know.

And then you will see what a true friend you are to others, and that will be reward enough...