The Power of Asking

Many of my experiences show power in the bible verse "Ask, and you shall receive" in real life.

Whenever I make purchases in bulk, I will not hesitate to ask the seller for a discount. And you know what? They are more than willing to give me the discount I ask for, and sometimes, they even throw in some freebies for my order.?

I also would always ask for a complimentary upgrade for my hotel stays overseas! 6 out of 10 times, I'd get it if the hotel has sufficient rooms at that point in time.

These are just two examples provided to show you the power of asking. Of course, there are many more real-life situations that I can share if you're interested, but my point is that whether you are in a personal or professional setting, if you never ask, others wouldn't know what you are looking for. Hence, you will not get what you want most of the time. It's that simple.

And this is what most people experience. The problem is that they never ask! And if you don't ask, you won't get it. Ever.

If you muster up the courage to ask for what you want, and if what you requested is within the means of the other person, they will accede to your request.

That brings us to the golden question. If asking is so powerful, why do most people fail to ask?

Here are 3 common reasons that I've identified:

• The number 1 reason is that they fear rejection. They are afraid that their request will be turned down.
• The second reason would be the fear of embarrassment. They are worried that they ask the "wrong" thing, which would make them appear silly and unintelligent.?
• The third reason would be that they don't believe that they can get what they want simply by opening their mouth and ask in the first place! After all, it all seems too good to be true, isn't it? But you better believe it!?

The power of asking can be applied in every situation of personal or professional life.?

• When it comes to selling, asking is a crucial part of closing the deal. If you're afraid to do so, you'll never clinch the sale.
• If you want your spouse to help you with the dishes instead of just sitting down and watch TV, ask for it.
• If you wish to purchase an item and would like to pay a lower price, ask for it!
• If the food you ordered is subpar and you'd like to return or exchange it, just ask.
• At work, if you need help with a project, open your mouth and make the ask.

As you can see, you can apply this in any situation. And in most cases, you will be pleasantly surprised at what you can get just by asking.

Are you convinced with the power of asking yet? If you are convinced yet still unsure of how to ask, fret not! I've prepared some tips to help you with your asking adventure!

1. Know what you want

Remember, you can only ask for what you want if you already know what it is. Therefore, prepare your wish list or a target figure in mind before you make the ask!?

2. Be specific about what you want

Don't be vague when you make your ask. For example, instead of saying, "Can you give me a lower price?", say, "Can we deal at $100?"

3. Be bold

Ask for something much better than what you expect to get! It gives you some negotiating room to bring you closer to the price you are willing to pay. For example, if you wish to buy an item priced at $600 and you're only willing to pay $550 for it, tell the seller that you can only pay $500. Then, a negotiation would most likely ensue, and it'll be more likely for you to reach your target price. In some cases, if the shop has marked up the item significantly, you might even walk away with a price that's much lower than you expected!

4. Be confident?

When you make the ask, don't avoid eye contact or sound hesitant. Be confident and smile. If you lack confidence, the person you're asking may find it easier to reject you as they presume that you'd accept the outcome anyway.?

5. Stop caring about what other people think of you

Remember, your goal here is to get what you want. And it's up to the person you are asking to determine whether your request is reasonable or not. You are not here to please anyone or look good.

Conclusion

If you feel fear creeping up when you are about to ask for something, ask yourself this question, "What's the worst thing that could happen if you ask?" Well, at most, you will get a 'no.' It's not a big deal, and you have nothing to lose if they say 'no.' However, if you don't ask at all, the answer will always be a 'no'.?

I hope you found the above tips helpful. Keep in mind that by simply asking for the things you want, you'll find that your life will become more rewarding and exciting. Remember, "Ask, and you shall receive." And if you don't ask, you will never get the chance to receive.