I recently achieved two major professional successes by putting myself out there and asking for them. I know it sounds a bit, well, basic, but I felt really good about going out on a limb and seizing the right moment to make a big ask in each of these situations.

So often, we are afraid of the word “no” and of rejection that we don’t put ourselves out there to even ask for what we want or to pursue a great idea in the first place, and that is a huge mistake and missed opportunity. Stop being afraid. Do what makes you uncomfortable. Say yes to taking chances.

Not everything in life is going to easily come to you and sometimes you are going to have to get out of your comfort zone and ask for what you want. While you won’t always get it, often these are the times in which we grow and learn the most about ourselves.

Here are a few tips on how to ask and get what you want:

  • Be sincere – there is nothing, I repeat, nothing, more compelling than a passionate request on why someone should help someone or do something. Pour your professional heart into this.
  • Don’t over ask – be realistic in what you are asking for and practical.
  • Explain what’s in it for them – so by this, I mean clearly outline how the person who is on the receiving end of your ask will benefit from what you want.
  • If at first you don’t succeed, try again! There could be a million reasons why someone declines a particular opportunity or says no to you at that moment in time. No is not forever and it is not personal.

While you’ll hear more about these two successes soon (they’re still under wraps!), I wanted to post something about the the fact that life is short, and we all need to seize the moments and opportunities before us more frequently to get what we want and to help steer us along the right paths.

No is not necessarily a bad word to hear – it just means that it wasn’t the right choice for you and that situation at that particular moment in time.

The reason why I wrote this was because sometimes I feel like so many of us just never bother to ask for what we want or try for things because we think they are out of our grasp. If you believe that you can do it and that anything is possible, it will be. So shift your mindset and watch how things change right before you. And get stay tuned for two big announcements!