# Getting out of orbit

By [Doug Lane](https://paragraph.com/@axalane) · 2022-03-30

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This seemed like too long of a side journey to take during [yesterday’s recap](https://mirror.xyz/axalane.eth/wD-P1x0wk7k5kLx2DnJL9JHb1pC0bJ5OszVQEdXPbc0) of “Trillion Dollar Coach,” but the book got me thinking about how important it is for people who want to help others to reach out beyond their immediate orbit.

The book’s descriptions of Bill Campbell reminded me of other powerful and generous leaders I’ve met during my career. They’re universally caring and kind to everyone in their orbit. It doesn’t matter if you’re the office cleaning person, the shuttle bus driver, the administrative assistant, or the CEO. They see you as a person who matters, and they will help you whenever and however they can.

But here’s the problem.

Only a very small percentage of people come into proximity of power. And an even smaller percentage encounter someone in the inner circles of power who takes the time to notice them and lift them up.

So while being helpful and kind to everyone in your orbit is admirable, I think it’s important for people who are in a position to help others to find ways to reach out beyond their orbit.

It may not be practical for any one person to help the entire universe. But I do think there are ways for us all to reach out beyond our immediate networks in focused and selfless ways. I also think doing so has a multiplying effect. I won’t ever achieve the success or influence that Bill Campbell achieved. But if I help a small group of people outside of my orbit even just a handful of times, and those people then do the same, our collective impact may actually be much greater.

\-Doug

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*Originally published on [Doug Lane](https://paragraph.com/@axalane/getting-out-of-orbit)*