The Power of a Five-Minute Favor

Laura Rowley is an author and content strategist.

By Laura Rowley

Nearly 20 years ago, I received a cold email from a young engineer at a Fortune 100 company. She didn’t ask for anything dramatic—just advice on how to build a more flexible career. I wrote back with one small lead and a website link. A single suggestion.

Last year, I ran into her at a conference in Washington, D.C. She stopped me and said, “Do you remember me?” I didn’t. But she remembered me. She told me that brief email—that tiny nudge—had helped her take a leap that eventually became a thriving business.

Our reunion reminded me of something we often forget about empowerment: it doesn’t always arrive as a sweeping movement or a formal mentorship program. Sometimes it shows up as a five-minute response. A warm introduction. An encouraging sentence: “I believe you can do this.”

Today, I continue to make a point of answering cold outreach from young women and recent graduates, especially those who don’t have built-in networks. But I’ve also learned that “coffee chats” don’t change outcomes. So I’ve developed a practical approach: I ask women to identify a specific job they want, do the research, and draft a short email explaining why they’re qualified for the role. If I have a real relationship with someone at the company, I forward that message directly.

It’s a small act, but it can move a resume from invisible to considered.

I grew up one of 11 children on the south side of Chicago. I worked from the time I was 14 and paid my way through school. I learned early that hard work matters—but doors don’t open on effort alone. Someone has to reach for the handle.

That is the power to change: noticing who is standing outside the room, and quietly opening the door.

Laura Rowley is an author and content strategist. @LauraRowleyNY ; https://www.facebook.com/laura.rowley.908/ ;https://www.instagram.com/laurarowleyny ;https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-rowley-84086a5/ ; https://laurarowley.com https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/57007580.Laura_Rowley