Years ago, I read The Aladdin Factor by Jack Canfield. It’s about getting what you want through the power of asking. The book is filled with inspiring stories of real people asking for, and getting, just about anything you can imagine, even from complete strangers.
It’s also about getting better at asking.
It seems we humans have trouble asking for help and there are many reasons, including the fear of rejection and the fear of appearing weak or needy. The book offers strategies to overcome these challenges and strengthen your “asking muscles”.
One thing we can do to get better at asking is to start small. Ask someone for a favor, for example, that’s easy for them to do and won’t take a lot of time.
For example, you might ask the next client you see to take five copies of your brochure or report and “pass them out to people you know”. That’s easy to do because you’re not asking for proof that they actually did it.
Keep asking for favors, and do it frequently, to build the habit and to gird yourself for asking for bigger favors.
Soon, you might knock on the door of a professional in your building whom you don’t know, introduce yourself, and ask if it’s okay if you put a stack of brochures in their waiting room.
Make a point to ask for one small favor each day. In time, as your asking muscle gets stronger, you might find yourself asking for big favors.
Start making a list of favors you can ask, even if you’re not now ready to ask them. Include big and small favors.
For your practice, this might include asking for referrals, sending traffic to your blog, subscribing to your newsletter, signing up for your webinar, giving you testimonials, introducing you to centers of influence you would like to meet, and so on.
You’ll get more people saying yes if you tell them why you are asking them for help. Even something as simple as, “I know you know a lot of people,” for example, will increase response.
Let’s try this out, shall we?
Would you do me a favor? Please post a comment on the blog (or hit reply if you are reading this in your email) and tell me what you would like me to write about next. This will help me do a better job for you, so please let me hear from you.
See, easy to ask, and easy for you to comply. It’s not like I’m asking you to buy me a car. Not yet, anyway.
