The Simple, Effective Way to Get What You Want

Excerpt taken from "The Ten Year Career: The Fast Track Guide to Retiring Young, Wealthy, and Fulfilled" 

Most people don't get what they want because they do not know what they want.  They don't have goals or a plan.  I want to take that a step further and say that even those who have concrete goals and a plan many times still do not get what they want unless the ask for what they want.  Everyone has heard the phrase, "Ask and you shall receive." But very few actually do it.

It is amazing, because many times we want to; it is right on the tip of our tongue, but we shy away or are scared to ask.  This is one reason I advocate learning to sell - because it will force you to step out of your comfort zone and ask for what you want, the sale.

It get's easier and easier as you do it too.  Many of my greats deals and successes have come from just asking for them.  I once saw a way to greatly help a company I was working for, and thought, "If I tell them about this and take on the responsibility, I should get a raise - a significant one."  About that time, the little voice inside my head said, "You can't do that.  There is no way you will get that much and you may make the Vice President think you are ungrateful for what you currently make and give them a bad impression of you."  Sound familiar?  Well, I didn't listen to that little voice.  I put a proposal together and stood firm in asking for a 25% a year raise.

I bet you can guess what happened next.  I didn't get the 25% a year raise, but I did get a 20% a year raise, and in doing what I proposed and making it work, I opened up doors for advancement I never knew were possible.  How would making 20% more impact your life?

You have to ask for what you want.  It works with anything.  If it is on the tip of your tongue and is appropriate, ask for it.  What I mean  is that if you are going shopping for a new car and walk in and ask for it for free, chances are you probably won't get it.  But if you are thinking to yourself, "I would buy it if I could get it for $4000 less," then tell them.

You will be able to do more, give more, and be more just by using this simple mantra in your life.  Many people feel like they need permission to ask for things.  I am giving it to you.  Remember that phrase that you have heard since you were a little kid, "Ask and you shall receive!"