Ask.
That’s it. Just ask. Ask for it. Ask for more. Ask for it all. You never know what you will receive. If you don't keep reading beyond this line and you go and ask someone to help you with something you would not have asked before this little reminder, I will have succeeded. Go ask for something.
Why? Because some doors don’t open until you ask. Some people are waiting on you to ask and by not asking you’re saying ‘no’ to yourself for no reason.
Ask. Ask today. Ask always. Ask for more. Ask for something big. Ask more often.
Need more encouragements about and around asking? Here are a few things I want you to keep in mind:
1. Asking releases favor. To get the good fruit, sometimes you have to shake the tree. Waiting for the apple to fall ensures it will be either just past ripe or rotten. Waiting for fruit to hop off the tree, walk down to your house and jump into your mouth is tragically foolish! I've noticed one common factor in those who get what they want out of life: They were never afraid to look like a fool in pursuit of it. I've got recent testimonies and so several of my readers just from ASKING, SEEKING and KNOCKING.
The closed mouth still doesn't get fed! You don't ask and stop. You keep asking, keep seeking and keep knocking!
2. If you don't ask, you don't get. If you work in a sales role or are an entrepreneur, always, always, always ask for the money. The sooner this lesson is learned, the better. Train yourself. It is a face that most sales professionals do a lot of presenting and talking but never get around to asking "may I have your business?" If your compensation is in any way based on revenue performance, you have to become accustomed to ASKING for what you want. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
Be importune. Read Luke 11 if you're not sure what that means.
What is the #1 thing you want in your life that you don't have? It might be something you're scared to tell people about or even admit to yourself. Thinking about NOT having it yet sometimes brings you to tears.
Well, I'm here to tell you that it's 100% possible once you believe, get on the right path, get with the right people and REFUSE to give up! Your best and blessed life can be yours! It's not hype; it's hope! Relent. Less. Don't give up so easily! How can you be persistent today?
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened." ~Luke 11:5-10 (NASB)
That’s the model. You’ll be surprised at how many good things will come into your life just because you opened your mouth to ask for them.
3. Negotiate as much as you can. In fact, negotiate everything. The price isn't always the price. Ask for a discount. If you don’t get a discount, ask for more at the same price. Here’s the thing...you won’t always get the answer that you want.
Ask. Never beg. Want it. But don’t need it. It’s important to you. But life will go on without it. “I care. But not that much.” ~ Herb Cohen
Those are your keys to negotiating effectively in two short thoughts. My experience is that about half of the time, you’ll get what you’re asking for and sometimes you’ll get more. Sometimes you'll get nothing. As you build up your asking muscles and thicken your skin, you'll get to the point where rejection doesn't matter like it once did. Most of the time you’ve got nothing to lose.
If you don't ask, the answer is always 'no.'
4. Stop suffering in silence. Your mental and emotional health are crucial. I am not a mental health professional of any kind. If you need counseling, therapy or just someone to talk to, please reach out. Ask for help. Ask someone to listen.
Further, please don't feel like you have to wait until you're in crisis to reach out to someone. Think about your mental and emotional health similarly to how you maintain your car. If you perform regular maintenance and upkeep, the chances of a major problem developing are much less. Again, I am not a counselor. If you need help finding one, I can point you to a couple of licensed counselors and therapists or directories of such.
Please don't feel like you have to wait until you're in crisis to reach out to someone.
Unfortunately, mental health is the only area where people avoid going to see a professional.
The bottom line is that I can testify to the power of asking. Several doors opened for me this week even. Some large and some small. Just from asking. I'm challenging myself to make twenty big "asks" per week for the rest of this year. This was something the Lord spoke to me as a reminder and I thought I’d share. It fits somebody.
I’ve posted an “Ask” challenge to the top of Live BIG Die Empty. Check it out above and take it with me! Please share your testimonies!!
Mark Anthony McCray helps people live on PURPOSE, achieve higher PERFORMANCE and experience true PROSPERITY. Forward this to a friend if you found it helpful. All material © Copyright, Mark Anthony McCray unless otherwise noted!
He can be reached in the following ways: Email: mark@markanthonymccray.com Twitter: @LiveBIGDieEmpty LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/markanthonymccray/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/markanthonymccray