Asking Immediately Is One Of The Most Powerful Techniques Around
Why asking immediately can get you far in life and business.
Whenever you feel stuck in life, all you have to do is ask.
It’s a simple technique that has evolved into a business practice today and it has a lot of discussion to it. From Gary Vaynerchuk’s book Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook, Vaynerchuk outlines in his book that we have to give (i.e. work a lot for very little) before we start asking people for stuff and growing.
This practice is big to many people who follow Vaynerchuk, but for me personally, I see a few flaws in it.
Why not ask outright?
Because I honestly feel that even with Vaynerchuk’s approach, there is a mental barrier. That we have to pump ourselves up by giving things away before we feel we deserve to ask people for stuff.
That’s not to say we should never be giving value to other people. But what’s the issue with over-delivering while we are asking for what we want?
In the end, I feel that while asking is a solid technique, asking or making a statement right away about what you can offer can hold a lot of merits. After all, I’m in the midst of pitching to people and not trying to figure out peoples needs or qualify them. I’m merely asking those who are in clear need of a writer.
Hell, I even sent a message to Quora asking them if I could be part of their Partner Program. They turned me down, but they are planning on making it available for the public soon enough.
Nevertheless asking right out the door can be a powerful tool when done properly and here is why.
It Packs Commitment
One of the most important things about asking is that you wouldn’t be asking in the first place if you were unsure or uncertain about what you want. It’s natural for us to hesitate or to think about what we want before we even ask someone.
As such, when we ask it’s a sign that we’ve made our decision. But following Vaynerchuk’s approach where we are purposely delaying asking it seems more like we’re buttering people up. That we’re doing things with a sense of purpose.
It’s a good technique, but what’s stopping us from just asking right out the door?
Especially when you’re in a situation where the person needs that help?
Instead of just giving them a bunch of stuff beforehand, why not ask them right now how you can help them? Why not mention what you’re all about and explain how your services and abilities can help them?
I feel that by doing these things it’s a sign that you are committed to them. That you’ve noticed their problem and you’re lending a helping hand immediately.
All that you’re asking for at that moment is for them to take that leap themselves.
It Allows You To Better Handle Rejection
Jab, jab, jab, right hook method is a powerful strategy primarily because it squashes having to deal with rejection so much. After all, it’s hard to say no if someone at every turn is delivering someone so much value.
But I honestly feel that rejection is necessary for not only our growth but our overall wellbeing.
That’s not to say that everything should be a rocky road filled with challenges and obstacles that mentally drain us. But at the same time, it shouldn’t be a straight path to everything we ever wanted in life.
The bitterness of rejection is something that we instinctively avoid because the feelings are terrible, but I think having a little bit of it is a good reminder that we will fail at times and that there will be problems.
I recall a few months ago I felt particularly relieved when a client turned down my offer. I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders because everything was going too smoothly.
In that moment it made me feel like everything up to that point made me practically invincible. That I can get everything that I wanted and then some.
That feeling was utter hubris and I think that in of itself can do more damage to us and our business than taking a few hits of rejection.
That’s not to say we need to experience rejection at every single turn, but rejection or failure I feel is a way of bringing us back down to ground level and reality a little bit. That some times we can slip up and that’s okay.
Where asking immediately comes in is that there is often more room for that rejection. You haven’t buttered up the person. To them, you’re just some random person that might be able to deliver what you’re telling them. And maybe you’re fully honest with them and tell them what incredible things you’re capable of doing and have proof. But there is still that hesitation. There are still those what if’s that can be swirling around in that person's head.
And maybe that’ll be enough for them to say no or never bother responding to you.
But that’s okay. Because asking immediately can do wonders.
It Allows You To Spread Out More
While Vaynerchuk’s method is focusing on quality over quantity, I feel that in some situations it’s better to focus on the quantity. With his method, you’re spending a lot of time and energy in building a rapport with other people and sometimes it takes a while before you land that client and start getting paid. Of course, there is always that possibility they’ll turn you down, but chances are you’ll have a good grasp of the person and their needs.
But I feel you can do that faster.
And asking immediately has a way of doing that. Because as soon as you ask what you can do for other people, the spotlight is on them and you can figure out a lot about a person in that moment.
Even if their explication is brief, their choice of word and how they are going about the conversation is all key to you being able to paint a picture of the person. Even if it’s all online and you have nothing but their words, you can still read a good chunk about them.
Maybe not in terms of whether they’ll pay you well, but you can get an idea of what they’re like and whether they’re a good client to have or not — barring how much they’ll pay you.
After all, asking immediately shows that you are committed to helping and serving that person and how they react to that initial offer speaks volumes.
Not only that but when you’re asking immediately, it’s also a sign that you’re overcoming many mental barriers. Because not every person is willing to just ask a person for help. Especially if it’s a stranger. So by being bold and asking immediately, you’re hitting a deeper personal point in that person as opposed to warming them up and then asking.
So start asking away. There is no harm in presenting offers or posing inquiries. There is always a helping hand out there when someone asks.
