The Big Ask Experiment
“I wonder what would happen if I made a big ask every day for a month?”
This thought nestled in my brain last night and hasn’t left since. I talked to my wife about it. I wrote a list of what I consider to be “big asks”. I thought about what life might look like on the other side of this little thought experiment. The possibilities excited me enough to actually give this a shot. It’s time to start asking.
A “big ask” is something you normally wouldn’t ask of other people. Perhaps fear or inhibition has kept you from picking up the phone, typing up the email or having the meeting. Whatever the ask may be, it’s something that will usually help get us from where we are to where we want to be.
Some examples of a “big ask” might be:
- Asking for a raise at work.
- Asking that girl in your Humanities class out on a date.
- Asking people to come to an event you’re hosting/promoting.
These are simple ones. Good ones. Easy ones. More complex asks might be:
- Asking your girlfriend to become your bride.
- Asking your neighbors to join together and fight the crime and vandalism that’s crept into your neighborhood.
- Asking local schools to reconsider their school lunch menu in order to proactively fight childhood obesity.
Will you take this challenge with me? I need some other people to hold me accountable. The big asks that I wrote down are a combination of simple and complex; however, all stir up discomfort on some level. These are “big asks” I’ve been wanting to make for some time. My guess is you have some “big asks”, too.
The goal here isn’t to focus on what you might gain through these asks. The goal, at least my goal, is to focus on losing the fear. The fear that keeps so many people in cages of their own design. As a friend of mine puts it, “It’s our job to ask. It’s other people’s job to say ‘no’.” Don’t say no for other people. Make the big ask.
With that, I ask you to join me. Join me for the next month in making a “big ask” each and every day. I’ll report on various asks throughout the next 30 days. I’ll also wrap-up with a list of all the asks that I made over the course of the experiment.
Join me. Make the ask you’ve been wanting to make. You’re ready.
Interesting idea. I think I might make a list myself.
I think it would be an interesting follow up to this post in how to deal with the success and failure of making the “big ask”
I asked a friend of mine yesterday to think for me and he returned with a question of his own. Sometimes I want to know the time and not how the process of a clock works. Maybe I asked the wrong question or my friend did his job of saying “NO!” Either way, I grew and laughed from it so the experience was beneficial.
I created a list a couple of years ago. Now I ask myself “HOW” I can complete that list. I have to ask myself those questions all the time. I think about how our relationship formed. I made the big ask with you as you didn't know me from Adam. I think it is working out well.
I've always thought you were a big as…oh…”ask.” Sorry I misread.
I agree. Love your heart here. Life is too short and “it never hurts to ask.” You just have to have courage to do it. In the few times I've asked, they've been life changers. Praise God for my wife.
Noted. I'll make sure to track that as well.
You're getting the idea. . . . . . .
Wouldn't be the first time that's happened
Game-changers. Every time. Isn't that funny how that works?
Justin –
Interesting idea. I'm tempted to join you in the experiment… but how do I know my motives are pure? Im wondering if my motivations and desires to ask wouldn't be anything more than a veiled desire to want to be self-promoty or accomplish a bunch of things for my own credit.
How have you kept your motives in check?
J.R. Briggs
@jr_briggs
http://www.jrbriggs.com
I'm in, many of the big asks have been floating around in my heart for years or months, time to jump out of the pond w/splashing. THX for the challenge.
oh man, Justin, this is so perfect. The “big ask” in my life is actually coming your way in the next week or so…you'll see….
Can't wait!
oh man, Justin, this is so perfect. The “big ask” in my life is actually coming your way in the next week or so…you'll see….
Can't wait!