Dont be Afraid to Ask for Help
How many times in your life has someone asked you for an outrageous favor and you did it fir them? Have you ever wondered why you did it after the fact? This goes to show that asking for what you need often brings results. You should not be afraid to ask people for what you need from them. The only caveat that I will include is that you should not ask for more than you would be willing to do yourself if you were asked. Remember also that people have the right to say no just like you do and if they choose to say no to you it is their perfect right to do so.
When you need to ask for whatever help that you need ask with confidence. Tell yourself that they have already agreed with you before hand and that all you need to ask in order to seal the deal. People will respond to the level of confidence that you exude whenever you do ask them. A confident person is used to getting his or her way. If you get several turn downs keep asking. Remember that Babe Ruth struck out many times for every one that he was able to smack out of the ball park. Keep smiling, keep asking, and dont get discouraged.
You must know what you want before you ask for it. When you are not sure of exactly what you need from a person you come across as timid or insecure. Make up in your mind exactly what you need before you ask. Write it down and see what it looks like on paper. Say it out loud and listen to what it sounds like. Dont practice how you will ask because when you do it will come across as rehearsed which will sound phony and insincere to the listener.
Dont make asking a habit. Only ask when you absolutely need to. Look at asking as holding a ticket. Once it has been punched you can no longer use it. Most people will gladly help you the first time but after that it begins to get old. People will also be more inclined to help you if they perceive that you will respond in a positive manner when you are asked for help.
Dont be afraid to talk to strangers. There have been times when I was in desperate need of something and just happened to mention it in a conversation and someone either provided for me or gave me the name of someone who could. Opening up and talking to people definitely has its advantages. Many times people will be more than willing to help you out but they may not know that you need help.
Dont be afraid to drop a name if you have to but dont do it unnecessarily. I, for example, live in a small town of which I am not a native. My Father in Law was born here and knows everybody in the county. He is in his late eighties and used to be a plumber. Over the span of his career he built quite a reputation for himself in the area. There have been at least three separate incidents where I got help that I would not have gotten when I mentioned that I was his Son in Law. In the latest incident I saw a small pond that I wanted to fish in. I asked around but couldnt find the property owner to get permission. When I asked a neighbor he advised me to go ahead and just leave if I was asked to leave. It just so happened that the property owner happened by when I went to fish. He was adamant that I leave his property and wouldnt budge. I had to think fast and mentioned to him who my Father in Law was. When I mentioned my Father in Laws name his demeanor changed completely. He told me that in that case that he would be proud for me to fish in his pond. He then proceeded to tell me to fish whenever I wanted to and to take all the fish that I needed.
So the moral of the story is this; ask and it shall be given. You will be surprised at the talent that people around you posses which they may be willing to use to help you in your situation. You will also be surprised at the people who will gladly help you out of a fix. Learn how to ask for help. Riceland Enterprises