One of the biggest mistakes you can make in your career, business, or life might not be what you think it is.
Most people never get what they want because they don’t ask.
I can’t even begin to tell you how often this comes up for me, but I will tell you a quick story that illustrates the power of the ask.
I often speak at events and conferences, and sometimes I pull a significant speaker’s fee. But, as you may know, professional speakers frequently agree to speak for free because we know how to create money-making opportunities from the stage. Every gig offers a chance to raise your visibility, expand your network, attract more leads, and sell your services.
But when considering an upcoming conference in Las Vegas, I decided not to risk leaving money on the table. (It is Vegas, after all!) The materials didn’t mention anything about paying speakers, so I took it upon myself to make the ask – for my full speaking fee!
It turns out that the organizers, in fact, did not have any plans to pay speakers nor did they have a budget set aside to do so.
But you know what? They agreed to pay me anyway!
If I hadn’t asked, I wouldn’t be getting my fee, and they wouldn’t have even covered my expenses.
It’s as simple as that.
Whether it’s about negotiating your salary, making a sale, gathering the information required to close a deal, or getting the help you need to take your business to the next level, nothing will take you further than the power of the ask.
The worst someone can say is “No.” But the best move you can make is assuming they will say YES.
Going into any negotiation, always be prepared to ask for what you want. Go in with confidence and be willing to walk away.
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