MAKING BIG REQUESTS
Ask for exactly what you want.
The old cliché statement, “You never know until you ask,” holds a ton of truth. The answer will always be “no” if you never get out there and ask for what you want. The universe is abundant and there are miracles in store for you. You just need to get out there and ask to tap into what is yours.
During the next 90 days, we want to you push to go for the big ask! Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, tells an incredible story about how going for the big ask helped get her company off the ground. Instead of attending trade shows and hoping for a major retailer to pick her line, she just called up the Neiman Marcus rep and asked for a meeting. When she finally got her product into Neiman Marcus, others asked her “How did you get into Neiman Marcus so quickly? I’ve been going to trade shows for years, hoping that someone would pick up my brand.” Blakey replied, “I just called Neiman Marcus and asked.” BOOM!
One big ask could change your life. But, often, we’re so afraid of being rejected that we play small, and we don’t ask for the things that could be game-changers in our lives. Below are some exercises and tips to help you ask for what you want.
Complete the exercise below to up the ante on your asks.
1. What is your goal?
2. If you were on the line to achieve your goal in less than a week, who would be able to help you get there?
3. Now, go ask that person right now for help.
Below are some tips on crafting a script or email to prepare for your big, bold ask:
1. Keep your ask short and sweet. People are super busy, so they are more likely to respond if you get right to the point.
2. If you’re calling someone to ask for something, ask upfront, “Is a good time for you?” If they say, “no,” ask for another time that they will be available.
3. If you are cold calling or cold emailing someone to ask for something, take some time to familiarize yourself with their work. Read their latest content, learn what they like vs. don’t like, and try to understand their biggest goal(s). Then, see if you can add value to help them meet their objective.
4. Follow up! If you don’t hear back, don’t forget to follow up. Many email systems have plugins like Boomerang that automatically send out a follow up. Or, add a reminder to your calendar to follow up.
5. Don’t get discouraged if you hear a no. Be appropriately persistent and ask again. If your continued attempts don’t work, take the advice of Jack Canfield who said, “No means next.” If you can’t get past go, move on and ask someone else to help you.