Success in 12 Months: The “Difficult” Ask
Welcome to the third week of Month 7 of your “Success in 12 Months” blog series! This month, we’ve been covering the topic of asking for what you need and want.
In this month’s first lesson, you wrote down 5 times you were afraid to ask for something and what the result was of not asking.
Did you miss a deadline? Not had a raise in 10 years? Bought the wrong anniversary gift?
Refusing to ask often takes us down a bad path which then compounds frustration or feelings of failure.
Last week, your challenge was to ask people you know for something.
How did that go? Was it awful? Did you spark a romance or fight?
Was the outcome painful? Yet, you survived!
This Week’s Exercise: Flexing Your Asking Muscles
This week, you are going to bulk up your “ask muscles” and move well beyond this controlling fear. You are going to ask questions of perfect strangers!
Alright, that sounds a little bit scary (and potentially creepy), but I suggest taking things slow. Simply ask some strangers for things like the time, directions or anything else you can think of.
Push your comfort zone if you are feeling it. Ask three strangers for something this week!
Come on! Don’t make it hard. Start simply by complimenting the lady at the grocery checkout counter on her helpful manner. Then ask her why the store stopped carrying your favorite _____ (fill in the blank).
After you do each “ask” in your assignment, be sure to write down how you felt after asking in your success journal.
We’ll take this further next week.
As I always say, if you want to share your thoughts and your progress, leave a comment below or e-mail me and let me know what’s been happening for you. I’m investing in you and want to support you in your success! (Did you notice what I did there? I asked you for something I wanted!)
Your partner in the art of asking,
James