Learning To Ask

What if I told you that, at the heart of every entrepreneurial and personal development journey, there lies one crucial skill that must be mastered??

It doesn't matter what your aim is: to rally people around you, source funds, or land yourself that dream job. The foundation, invariably, lies in learning how to ask for what you need.

Over the last three years I've gained valuable insights into the art of asking; from raising capital for the Studio and our startups, asking people to join the team, encouraging friends to try out MVPs as an early customer, to sourcing meeting spaces in cities all over the world when a bunch of Nobodies get together.

It's been hard, daunting and delightful in many ways—plus packed with surprises I’ve learned about the way.?

So how do you learn to ask, in your way for what you want??

Learning To Ask

This month's featured blog,? "Overcoming Rejection: A Guide for Entrepreneurs on Raising Capital", goes beyond just offering tips in the title.

That sweaty, heart-pounding feeling can be all too familiar for many folks. It's uncomfortable, awkward, and you'll be tempted to shy away.

Here’s why you must learn to push through.?

Learn How to Ask: Start small, making the initial ask easier and safer. Practice your pitch with friends or mentors to build confidence. Gradually increase the size and scale of your asks to expand your comfort zone.

Overcome Fear of Rejection. Cultivate a mindset that separates rejection from personal failure. Instead frame rejection as new information. Each 'no' brings you closer to a 'yes.' Understand the reasons behind rejection and use the information to iterate on your ask, target audience, and strategy.

Most People Never Ask—Don't Be One of Them. If you never ask, you’ll never know. Don’t like the internal voice of negativity win over. Most people never ask, so never really know. Don’t be one of them. Learn to ask?

Pushing Boundaries

In the recent Unlearn podcast episode, "From Code to Climate," I had the pleasure of speaking with Adrian Cockcroft about making a difference through technological innovation. His audacity to openly challenge AWS to better their sustainability efforts struck me profoundly.

Adrian's endeavor wasn't just about asserting his ideas, but stepping beyond comfort zones, risking scrutiny yet gaining immense growth in return. Courage, as he exemplifies, isn’t just in innovation but also in catalyzing dialogue around it, even when it's daunting.

His willingness to seek his dream role by pushing for change resonates powerfully with me. It's a testament to the transformative power of daring to put our ideas out there, advocating changes to shape our world. Daunting as it may be, there's an undeniable merit in expressing our aspirations and ideas for the greater good.

In short, Adrian's audacious efforts illuminate the valuable intersection of innovation, advocacy, and personal ambition. It’s an inspiration to us all, a reminder to put our ideas forward for the advancement of our professional journey and the betterment of the world.

Pursuing Purpose

In a fascinating episode of my podcast, I spoke with James Williams, who courageously left Coca-Cola to charter a career path guided by purpose, people, performance, and partnership.

James’s remarkable approach to progress captures the essence of real success; it’s not about winning, but about improving. “Fundamentally, it’s not about winning. It’s about improving. And that’s what I mean by performance,” he clarified during our conversation. It's a perspective that places learning, personal development, and resilience at its core, fostering a growth mindset.

His career transition serves as a powerful testament that success is not about outperforming others, but about surpassing our limitations. It’s not just about the immediate victories but the constant journey towards improvement.

Fundamentally, James's story is a striking lesson in redefining success: placing value in continuous improvement and honoring the pursuit of purpose, alongside the people we journey with and the partnerships we build. His perspective presents an invaluable reminder of what truly matters in our personal and professional lives.

From Asking to Achieving

It's evident through the inspiring journeys of Adrian and James that the essence of true progress lies in the art of asking and the courage to pursue purpose, hand in hand. Adrian and James didn't just talk the talk; they walked it by asking tough questions and making bold choices. These stories demonstrate that reaching out for help, seeking change, or taking a chance can lead to incredible opportunities.

Think of it this way: asking is the key that unlocks doors we sometimes don't even see. It's not about the nos you'll hear; it's about the yes that could be just around the corner. So stay curious, keep asking, and let's keep pushing boundaries together.

Thanks for diving into these tales with me this month. Here's to asking our way to our next big thing - because sometimes that's all it takes to start something great.

Best,

Barry