As a rule, most people do not like asking others for things.
Asking for what you want can make you feel like you are burdening someone or make you feel obligated to them.
But I learned from my Rich Habits research that self-made millionaires get comfortable being uncomfortable with a lot of things. Asking for what they want or need, is one of those things they became very comfortable doing.
They learned to get comfortable asking for help, advice or guidance in solving a problem.
They learned to get comfortable asking for others to mentor them.
They learned to get comfortable asking for money from family, friends or prospective investors.
They learned to get comfortable asking some prospect to buy their product or service.
When I became President of The Ashley Lauren Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps families struggling with pediatric cancer, it became apparent that I was going to have to get comfortable asking people for money.
As an adult, I’ve only ever had to ask banks, venture capitalists or private equity investors for money for the various business ventures I’ve been involved with over the years. That was easy for me to do because that was in my wheelhouse – something I was comfortable doing due to my finance background.
But asking individuals to fork over their hard earned money for a charitable cause was something new for me and outside my comfort zone. It took practice, but after seven years in working with the Ashley Lauren Foundation, I’ve gotten pretty good at asking for money.
The discomfort of asking for what you want diminishes every time you ask.
What I did find interesting and unexpected is that asking for help from others actually strengthened my relationship with them. We grew closer. The roots to our relationship tree grew deeper. This is because, asking for what you want forges a special kind of bond between two people; a unique bond that essentially says we have an investment in each other.
So, get comfortable asking for what you want. That’s what self-made millionaires do. The odds are pretty good – there’s a 50% chance you might get a yes.
About Thomas C. Corley
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