Achieving Your Goals: The Power of Asking Boldly
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Chapter 1: The Importance of Asking
In the early stages of my career, I was convinced that working hard, extending my efforts, and exceeding expectations would naturally lead to promotions and growth. However, over time, I realized that while dedication and hard work are crucial, they must be paired with the three Cs: courage, clarity, and confidence to effectively communicate your desires.
Courage is essential when making requests, as it places you in a vulnerable position where rejection is a possibility. Rejection can be disheartening; it affects your energy and undermines confidence. Yet, embracing courage enables you to develop resilience and turn each rejection into a valuable lesson that can refine your future requests. Many may believe that courage is an innate trait, but in truth, it is a skill we all possess and can strengthen by stepping out of our comfort zones and accepting the risk of failure.
Clarity is equally important. You must have a clear understanding of what you want and be able to express it succinctly. This can be challenging, especially during pivotal moments in life that demand difficult choices. A strategy that has worked for me is creating a personal mission statement along with five guiding principles. These tools help bolster my confidence and direct my efforts toward what I truly seek.
When combined, courage and clarity foster confidence. Confidence is pivotal in transforming requests into reality, even prior to making the request itself. Let me elaborate: “Think like a champion, behave like a champion, perform like a champion.” Winning starts in the mind; you must believe in your ability to succeed before you can take action towards winning. Similarly, you need to hold a firm belief that your request will be positively received, even before you voice it. This mindset is the toughest aspect but is fundamental in distinguishing high achievers from others.
To summarize: Courage + Clarity = Enhanced Confidence, which empowers you to ASK for what you want!
As Steve Jobs famously stated, “I’ve never encountered anyone who declined my request or hung up during a call—I simply asked. When others reach out to me, I strive to respond because I feel a debt of gratitude. Most individuals avoid making calls and seldom ask. This is what differentiates those who achieve their goals from those who merely dream about them. You must take action and be prepared to face failure; whether in phone calls, launching a business, or any other endeavor. Fear of failure will hold you back.”
No one can read your thoughts, and relying solely on hard work will not propel you towards your aspirations. Be clear about what you desire, make the request, put in the effort, and realize your goals! Cultivate the courage to confront rejection and learn from every setback. Ultimately, amidst countless ‘No’s, all it takes is one ‘Yes’ to illuminate your journey and fulfill your objectives!