Hello everyone, welcome to my weekly audio journal.
I recently came across an inspiring tweet by Jakob Greenfeld that got me thinking. He wrote:
"You can literally just ask for what you want. In hotels, you can just say 'Can we get a better room?' You can write in the support chat 'Hey, any chance we can get a discount?' You can reach out to people and simply ask, 'Would you like to chat?'"
This resonated with me because so many limits in life are self-imposed. We assume the answer will be "no" or that we don't deserve something, so we don’t even bother asking. But often, getting what you want really does simply come down to asking for it directly and unapologetically.
Sometimes we psych ourselves out and make requests seem like a bigger deal than they are. But asking is free, and the worst that can happen is someone says no. On the other hand, the reward if they say yes can be tremendous.
So this week, I challenge you to ask for something—something that scares you a little. Here are some ideas to get you started:
* Ask a mentor or someone you admire for career advice or to get coffee. Most people are flattered to share their knowledge.
* Ask your landlord if you can end your lease early or sublet your apartment if needed. They may be flexible.
* Ask your bank for a fee waiver, lower interest rate, or deferred payment on a loan. There may be options.
* Ask your boss for more flexibility with your work schedule, if that would help your work/life balance.
* Ask your current clients for referrals to new potential clients. Most are happy to make introductions.
* Ask your child's teacher for advice on how to better support their learning at home. They'll appreciate your initiative.
* Ask your partner if there is anything you can do to be a better boyfriend/girlfriend. Communication is key.
* Ask a nonprofit you care about if they need volunteers. Giving back feels good.
The key is to ask confidently and politely. Show you believe you are worth what you are requesting. And don't take it personally if the answer is no. Just move on to the next thing.
You might be surprised by how often a simple ask leads to getting what you want. And even when it doesn't, you’ve built the courage to speak up for yourself, which serves you well in the long run.
So challenge yourself this week. Ask for something that scares you a little. The worst that happens is you’re in the same spot. But you just might get a life-changing “Yes!”
Thank you everyone for listening.
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