I had a striking and sudden realisation last year when I was in Australia talking to my good friend Kim. The people who receive what they want in their lives don’t have a secret hidden talent or good luck. They ask for what they want. 

How simple!

Now, asking is not the only thing you have to do (you certainly have to be a giver first and a do-er and follow through-er) but asking for what you want can and will make a huge difference in your life.  It became so clear to me as I replayed in my mind all times that I had seen people voice what they want and then get it – from romantic relationships to career opportunities to advice, even access to cool events or help from strangers.  Think about it – how many people do you know who have gotten what they wanted from some straight-to-the point asking?

Asking makes us vulnerable, I understand.  But one of the things I always repeat is, if we don’t ask the answer is always no.  People who get what they want are afraid to ask just like the rest of us but the difference is, they ask anyway. And they contribute a lot too.  This is the awesome law of reciprocity at work.  The challenge is, so often we are happy to give but feel uncomfortable or guilty about getting.  The good news, is we can change this.  And shift never happens faster than when we get busy taking action.

In the hope of giving you some ideas I am sharing 31 real life examples of questions I have successfully asked throughout my life so far:

1. My now husband to take my phone number during the concert we met at
2. Considerable salary increases when my work performance has been strong
3. A hug from Jake Gyllenhal in a downtown New York City restaurant
4. Discounts – from bananas at a street vendor (when I am 50c short) to international flights to cable packages
5. A little kindness from a woman who I saw being rude to a yoga studio assistant
6. Forgiveness – many times.  This has been perhaps the most important request of my life
7. The table I want in a restaurant. Everyone pays the same so I like typically request a window table or cosy corner spot
8. Publication of my work from some of the most prestigious online publishers like Marie Claire and MMG
9. Patience from others when I am struggling with something
10. Coffee with someone I want to meet (taking initiative in new friendships is an important skill when you move around the world as much as I have)
11. More reliability from a guy I used to date (he never was and it was short-lived – better to know sooner, darlings)
12. Media interviews with celebrities – most recently with the awesome and quick witted Bethenney Frankel
13. To purchase something that is not for sale (a friend’s jacket, a mirror in an outdoor market)
14. A job in New York City with no network, no local experience, a pending work visa and an incomplete college degree (I received 2 awesome offers and accepted the highest paying)
15. What I need from my husband on a regular basis (I love quality down-time together)
16. A seat on the subway when someone is taking up unnecessary space which happens a lot
17. Positive feedback when I need it – I sometimes preface my feedback with that request
18. Free samples from retail stores when I buy something
19. Referrals for the vision board events I lead
20. Favours from friends (from dog-sitting to their help in setting up a party to a ride to the airport)
21. Clarity on expectations from managers (ambiguity in the workplace is rampant)
22. Permission to dig deeper on an emotional issue if I can sense a friend needs to talk about something
23. Asking people to lighten up in a “crisis” – such as an internet power-outage at the office. Where did the fun go?
24. Free late checkouts at any hotel – 90% of the time this works
25. Honesty from others about my work – even when it hurts!
26. Punctuality (since when is it ok to be so late)?
27. If I may go first in a group presentation setting – to get my nerves out of the way
28. Reduced prices in exchange for loyalty and/or sincere online reviews (dry cleaners, movers, spas)
29. Asking myself, “What the hell am I doing?  This needs to change!”  This question has arisen when my life needs a course-correct.  Wrong relationship, wrong job, too much partying.  You have to get real with yourself every so often
30. Asking how I can help – from a friend going through a break-up to a mum with a stroller who can’t fit into a bathroom stall in Bloomingdales
31. A divorce from my first husband.  But that could be a whole other vlog!

It’s important to note that as long as this list is – I could write an equally long list of rejection (longer, even).  But that is the thing.  Without asking for what you want you have no list – apart from a mental list of regrets.  Pay attention to anyone you really admire – they will have had plenty of failures behind them.  But they still did something.  They took risks.  They identified what they wanted and asked for it. No business success, no engagement story, no change in this world took place without someone asking for something first.  And it all begins with you.  So ask yourself, what do you really, really want?

 What is a really important question that you asked in your life, and were just so happy that you did?  Please leave me a comment in the box below!