Success in 12 Months: Are You a Pawn or a Knight?
Welcome to the second week in Month 7 of your Success in 12 Months blog series!
I thought I’d start this post off by asking you a question:
Why do we find it so hard to ask for things?
In his book, “Winning,” Dr. David Viscott differentiates winners and losers by their ability to be assertive.
He sees losers as being much too influenced by what other people think and expect of them.
Losers often allow themselves to be pawns without knowing it. They give their power away and then resent the people they gave it to.
Losers are afraid of failing so they risk as little as possible. And when their meager efforts don’t succeed, they feel cheated and miserable.
Successful people, or winners, on the other hand, know that they have to demand their rightful share of the pie sometimes. That’s the healthy way. It’s okay to give up the last piece of pie sometimes, because you choose to do so, but it’s not authentic to do it all the time.
Just as losing is a self-fulfilling prophecy, so is winning.
Asking for things–when it’s appropriate–is winning.
Your Weekly Exercise: Who Will You Ask–and for What?
Now it’s time to start asking for things!
The only way to get used to that…is to do it! Let’s start close to home, though.
This week, your job will be to ask 3 people close to you for something. Ideally this would be related to your goals from Month 1. Since this exercise is about getting used to asking for things though, any reason will do.
It’s important for you to do this week’s exercise! It prepares you for next week–so be sure to complete it.
We’ll take this further next week.
As I always say, if you want to share your thoughts and your progress, leave a comment below or e-mail me and let me know what’s been happening for you. I’m investing in you and want to support you in your success! (Did you notice what I did there? I asked you for something I wanted!)
Your partner in the art of asking,
James