On my way home, I was reading about a couple of studies that I thought carried some really interesting implications. A professor found that if you ask people for their seat on the subway (and anyone who knows New York subways knows that’s a ballsy move), 50% of the people will actually give it up for you. In fact, even when cutting in line, people were successful half of the time.
This reminds me of one of my girlfriends. She always said if you don’t ask, you won’t receive. And she really knew how to milk it. Upgrades, better seats, free meals, extra service – so many little things here and there. I was amazed how much she managed to get. But what truly shocked me was when she told me she didn’t used to ask for everything. It was something she learned along the way. And you know what? Until she started to do so, there were no upgrades, freebies, and little things here and there.
So much of what we do is simply based on being assertive enough to do it. Or, putting it conversely, so many of our limitations are self-imposed. Don’t be afraid to ask a potential client to book or to ask someone to come in for a meeting. Don’t be afraid to ask whatever you need to ask. What’s the worst thing anyone is likely to say? Give it a go – there’s nothing worse than the one that got away, and it’s gotta be easier than cutting in line or asking someone to give up their seat on a New York subway.
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