Knowledge as Service

I had a long-overdue realization yesterday, one of those "Well doh!" moments.

I've always thought of myself as someone who wasn't particularly interested in "helping others" as a goal. There's some irony to this, given that I've been working as an administrative assistant most of my adult life. For those who really like helping others it's a great job, for those who are called to serve it's a great job. Me? No. I'm good at it, but I don't enjoy it.

But I realized the other day that I do enjoy taking calls from members who need help and don't know what to do or where else to go. About a decade ago I was temping at Nintendo and enjoyed being a help line rep. A few months ago on Facebook I joked that "I answer phones and I know things."

My realization of yesterday was that while I don't enjoy scheduling other peoples' meetings, or ordering catering, or taking notes for meetings I don't have another role in, I *do* enjoy helping people with my knowledge. I enjoy eduating them. I enjoy helping them connect with who or what they need. I enjoy 'teaching people to fish' so they can do things themselves.

I don't like helping people with mundane tasks. I do like helping people with my knowledge.

It feels like an important realization.