If you want to get more of what you want, then consider the power of three letters. Together, they spell out the word, “ask.”
I’ve found the word to be very powerful, even though I can, at times, be reluctant to ask for help. And yet, I know so many instances where simply asking for something has led to a dramatic improvement or increased opportunities.
Consider my alma mater, Arizona State University. I graduated from The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications. How did Cronkite’s name become associated with the program, starting in 1984?
To my surprise, it turns out that Cronkite had no previous connection to the school. ASU officials are not shy about telling the story of how they convinced the journalism legend to join forces with the university. It’s a simple one. They asked him.
They asked Cronkite if he wanted to be part of an evolving journalism program. They asked if he would be willing to come to the campus and meet with students. They also asked if they could give out an award, in his name, that would recognize excellence in journalism.
To their surprise, Cronkite, who was three years removed from the anchor desk at CBS news, agreed to become a part of the program. His annual visits to campus became a highlight for students.
While I may be biased, the association focused the journalism program and allowed it to reach new heights.
It’s likely that any school in America could have made the same pitch to Cronkite. But no others did. ASU achieved newfound success simply by asking.
The ability to ask and get more of what you want extends beyond organizations. How many times have we wanted guidance from a potential mentor, support from a leader, or even a second cup of coffee but froze at the moment when you needed to make that ask. Perhaps the problem was that you were not sure if your request was worthy.
Sometimes we will delay our ask because we feel that everything has to be perfect in order for the pitch to succeed. That’s a mistake and a limiting belief.
The key is making the ask. Don’t get hung up on the outcome. You can’t control it and there can be many unknown reasons why you are turned down.
There are also the times when everything lines up just right. When this happens, you usually end up getting more than you ever expected.
Over time, you will build up your asking muscles and find that the desire to hear a, “yes,” will outweigh your fear of a, “no.” It’s how you can get more of what you want.
Maybe it’s time to bring Ken Okel to your next meeting…
Read any good books lately?
