Message From the Universe: Just Take That Step Forward and See What Happens

It's time you step forward to claim whatever it is that you want from life.

Just remember, the gate keeper who will give it to you is the same gate keeper who has kept it from you, gorgeous.

Good thing, 

The Universe"

You really have nothing to lose, do you? If you don't try, the answer or result will always be null. If you don't ask for it, you are sure to always get a NO. If you ask, you have a 50% chance of getting a yes, which are better odds than 0%. People are afraid to ask thinking that they will bother the person, or seem demanding, or needy. It is important to also make sure that the way you ask for something doesn't appear to be either needy, or desperate or demanding. You need to figure out a way to make them want to give you with whatever you need. You need to show appreciation for whatever they may do for you, even before it even happened. This way, they will feel the need to want to help, as you already thanked them for it. Avoid feeling entitled when asking for something, as the millennium generation are living their life with this feeling of entitlement. You need to give it up once and for all. No one owes you ANYTHING, so start living life with being grateful and appreciative.

So go out there and start asking for things, in the right way of course. Always make sure to give back as well, as nothing comes for free. If someone helps you, it is important to give back. Also, the way you deliver your request is a must when asking for something. You will deal with many who just take and take and never are willing to give back. Watch out for these people. They seem like they are the type of being there for you when you need it but they are mostly vampires which will drain your blood until nothing is left and will let you rot in hell until they find their next victim. Listen to your inner voice when dealing with people like that, as they are like a virus. Thank God, there are not too many out there like that but watch out for yourself. Be vigilant and always pay attention when encountering these kind of people. Protect yourself at all cost and surround yourself with people who will always want you to be the best you can be.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-Just-Take-That-Step-Forward-and-See-What-Happens&id=9813534

Message From the Universe: Trying Is the FIRST Step to Succeeding

"Haven't I always said, knock and it will be opened? Prepare and the way shall be revealed? Speak and all the elements will obey. Act and I will, too? Laugh and be healed? Give and the floodgates will open? Wink and you'll be winked at? Dream and thy Kingdom will come?

Oh... Well, that's what I meant to say.

Wink,

The Universe"

If you don't ask, you will never get! If you don't try, you will never experience success! If you don't love, you will never understand what love is! If you don't risk, you will never feel FREE and exhilarated! If you don't access failure, you will never enjoy wealth! Should I continue? Fear is the SOLE element that will stop you from moving forward. Look at fear in the eyes and say you will beat it, say you will prevail, say you will move forward no matter what.

We are all guided by fear, because of uncertainty and how we are afraid of not knowing what will happen today, tomorrow, next week or next month. We try to anticipate too much, too quickly. We do not take into consideration external elements that can change your predictions and leave you disappointed. No one can predict accurately anything. It is based on a hunch, a feeling, intuition some might say. The key is to prepare yourself but not leave yourself depressed because things didn't happen the way you wanted.

Live for today, not tomorrow. No one has a clue as to what can happen the next day. It is imperative to enjoy what you are doing today, and never live life with regrets. If you want to do something, go do it. Don't say the next day: "Oh damm, I should have done that yesterday". Just follow your dreams, no matter what it takes to make them happen. It can be hard to know if you are on the right direction while working your butt off on a project or venture. No one will tell you if this is the right path to take. However, you will hear many say: "Don't bother wasting your time, forget about it. It won't work, or it's a stupid idea, or grow up and be responsible and just be complacent to what is happening in your life". I heard that crap before and I just ignored it. I couldn't care less to what others are saying and you should too. Move towards your goals, towards your dreams, towards your ambitions. Do not let ANYONE tell you otherwise. In the meantime, enjoy life and stay happy.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-Trying-Is-the-FIRST-Step-to-Succeeding&id=9645432

Message From the Universe: Doing What You Want, ALWAYS

"Always when you just don't know what you want, want happiness; and when you just don't know what to do, do anything.

You can start today,

The Universe"

If you want something in life, just ask for it! If you want to do anything, just go for it! If you want to succeed with everything, take the first step towards reaching your dreams. Is that SO difficult to ask? We live in a world where most people are too afraid to ask anything, because of their fear to be perceived as demanding, or selfish in some way. Remember that if you don't ask for what you want, the answer will always be NO. The same goes with everything else in life. If you have dreams but do not take a step towards accomplishing the demands of making your dreams a reality, don't go and complain that nothing in happening in your life. You reap what you sow, always remember that. Everything will require hard work, but expecting to do everything by yourself can take more time and be more difficult than just asking help from others. There is nothing wrong to ask when you know it will save you time and possibly money. Asking doesn't make you a weak person, you just have to be tactful and make others WANT to help you. The way to ask for help is what will make the other person be there and provide the help you need. Being demanding while asking for it will definitely give you the cold shoulder, so always ask politely.

So when you want something, always go for wanting everything. However, do not be disappointed if not EVERYTHING comes your way. Always aim for the top but be grateful to have anything coming from your expectations. Learn to always work towards your goal and never feel bad about asking for things throughout your journey to wealth, health and happiness. If you know what you want, then go out there and take what you want, but don't expect everyone to be willing to give you that help that you need to reach your goals. Everyone have dreams and many will prioritize them over yours. You may get 9 No's before you get 1 person willing to help. As long as you keep asking, you will always end up with someone who is there to give you their helping hand. Most people are good and are happy to help, and you should do the same, despite you reaching your financial success or not. Be grateful for what you have and never allow fear to stop you from taking risks and going for what you want in life. This is the beauty of life, it is to have the privilege to take your share, focus on what you want to do and just DO IT.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-Doing-What-You-Want,-ALWAYS&id=9710694

Ask The Question "Why Not"?

7 Tough Questions You Need to Ask to Challenge Yourself More

These questions aren't exactly fuel for the easiest, most pleasant conversations you'll ever have with yourself, but it's important to your success and development to find the courage to ask them.

Sometimes it's difficult to ask yourself the right questions--the questions that challenge you and make you a better person. It's not easy to have these conversations with yourself. Barriers like sensitive egos and time restrictions prevent some of us from being the best versions of ourselves. But it's time to change that.

I have learned that asking myself these seven tough questions (and answering them honestly) has challenged me to become better and to create more opportunity for my team and myself:

1. Am I investing enough in myself?

One of your biggest investments in life is the one you make in yourself. The knowledge, experiences, and relationships for which you expend your time and energy are the biggest contributors to your livelihood and happiness.

Many of us invest in ourselves through college or other forms of education, but it's just as important, if not more so, to continue that personal investment once you start your professional career. Whether you launch a new company or become part of someone else's venture, your brand follows you wherever you go, and a good one will make your life easier by lowering trust barriers.

Contributing content can play a critical role in fueling high-trust relationships and bolstering your personal branding efforts. A great source for creating exceptional content is this four-step guide my team put together. Map out the most important attributes that contribute to your brand, such as content, speaking events, industry awards, and other accolades, and put a plan in place to consistently invest in these--and in yourself.

2. Am I mentally strong?

I first became fascinated with mental strength after I read Amy Morin's article "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do." Habits like trying to please everyone or feeling sorry for yourself can really hamstring your productivity.

I've learned to take a step back and read through the article whenever I ask myself whether I'm really being mentally strong. I sometimes realize that I'm not--that instead I'm getting caught up in thoughts that don't fortify my mind--and then I can get myself back on track.

3. Am I likable?

During the most recent Fortune Growth Summit, Mark Cuban spoke about the importance of being likable and how easy it is now for people who don't like you to become negative brand advocates--and to amplify those unfavorable opinions on social platforms.

It's very simple: We tend to deal with people we like over people we don't like. If someone likes you, it not only increases the likelihood that he'll do business with you, but it also increases your chances of recruiting a positive brand advocate. But how do you know whether you're likable?

It's easy to feel that you're likable, but it's important to seriously ask yourself whether you truly are. I came across an article by Jeff Haden that details 11 things the most charming, likable people always do, and when I took an honest look at myself, I realized I practiced fewer than half of these charismatic behaviors. Since then, I've kept this list with me and used it as a reminder to work on developing each characteristic.

4. What am I doing well that might distract me from doing even better?

When you're succeeding, it's easy to slip into a comfort zone. You're already doing something well, so you don't think of what you could be doing differently to become better at it.

I've talked with countless business leaders who boast that their companies' growth is primarily due to client or partner referrals. (And actually, I used to do the same because referrals clearly communicate that a product or service is worthwhile.) When someone thinks your service is valuable enough to refer it to someone else, it's easy to stop there with the belief that you're already doing great.

But if so much of your growth comes from referrals, you should do everything you can to stay top of mind with the clients and partners referring you. My team and I use content to nurture those clients and partners and to keep ourselves in the forefront of their minds. Content strengthens our relationships, and our referrals have increased substantially as a result. Don't let your successes blind you to the ways you could change to become even better.

5. How can I add purpose to my life?

Sometimes we confuse purpose and fulfillment with charity, but a sense of purpose doesn't have to come only from volunteering or donating to charitable causes. Purpose is more about feeling valuable and providing value to others.

A slight change or tweak in your life can add purpose, but in some cases, it takes a more significant change. Looking back on my work before starting Influence & Co.,I didn't feel that sense of purpose. But since starting the company, I've been seen it help hundreds of leaders build their brands, influence their industries, assist others, and create more opportunity for themselves and their teams. It's not a charitable cause, but it has turned into a sense of purpose that is extremely motivating, and I feel fulfilled.

6. Am I helping the people around me become better?

In my 20s, I was fairly self-centered and thought a lot about how I could make myself look better and seem like the rock star within a given group. As I've grown a little older, I've realized that the best people are those who empower others and lift them up. What are you doing to help the people around you be better versions of themselves, and how can you recognize them for the good they do, even when that spotlight could be on you?

7. What do I avoid but know I need to address?

Are there tasks or projects you consistently put off because you're scared or don't understand them well? You're not alone. A common area I see business leaders avoid is social media and social profiles.

While I completely understand why people don't want to announce on Twitter what they ate for breakfast, I do not understand how leaders can bypass social platforms entirely. Social media let you humanize your brand and connect with your audience, and lacking that presence doesn't look good for your credibility. So ask yourself whether you're procrastinating about something important, and if the answer is yes, put a plan in place to overcome it.

These questions aren't exactly fuel for the easiest, most pleasant conversations you'll ever have with yourself, but it's important to your success and development to find the courage to ask them. Take the time to think about your answers, and you'll find yourself growing as a person and as a business leader.

http://www.inc.com/john-hall/7-tough-questions-you-need-to-ask-to-challenge-yourself-more.html?cid=sf01002&sr_share=facebook

How to Ask for What You Want (Without Seeming Pushy)

It isn't always easy to express our desires. We worry that others will see us as pushy or demanding, or that we'll be turned down. But asking for what you want is a necessary part of life, and I've found that the more you practice it, the easier it becomes. Here are the five things I want you to remember: 

Ask with commitment. 

The first ask is for yourself: Question whether this is really what you want. Only when you're certain of your true desires will you have the courage to pursue them. 

Ask with awareness. 

Every request comes with a price—there is no free lunch. For instance, asking for a raise may mean a tense conversation with your boss—and if you're successful, nine times out of ten the raise will come with additional responsibilities. That's the cost: You have to be willing to do what's required. We cannot enjoy the benefit if we can't accept the price. 

Ask without fear. 

Fear is an obstacle that blocks your capacity to receive. I'm not just talking about the fear of making your voice heard. I'm also talking about the fear of getting what you want and realizing it's not all you'd hoped it would be, the fear of the responsibility that will come with it, the fear of losing it, and the fear of what will happen if you don't get it. These are all common, and they can get in the way of going after the things you yearn for most. 

Ask with trust. 

When you do not believe you deserve whatever you're asking for—if you don't believe you're worthy—you are not open to receiving it and, more often than not, you will not get it. That's how the universe works: If you don't put your trust in it, it won't deliver. 

Ask without expectations. 

When you want something, you may be required to ask more than once—and you can't get too attached to the manner through which you receive it. If you want love, ask for it—but know that it might take a while and may not come from the partner you expect. If you want a fulfilling career, understand that you may get it, but perhaps not in the field, position, or time frame you anticipate. Asking for and receiving what you want means keeping the faith that you will get it, even if the outcome doesn't look the way you thought it would. 

http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Iyanla-Vanzant-How-to-Ask-for-What-You-Want

John Addison: The 5 A’s of Leading Through Adversity

There’s no doubt that it’s easier to lead during good times, when it seems like no matter what you do, your team is succeeding and the company is growing. But you’ll never grow more as a leader than when you lead during the bad times.

But every leader will, at some point, have to guide their team through crisis. When faced with a tough situation, it’s normal to react in frustration. And while it’s fine to vent to a peer outside of the group you’re leading, don’t let anger characterize how you interact with your team. Instead, walk through the five A’s of leading under pressure and through adversity:

1. Assess.

Assess the situation quickly and honestly. Seek to truly understand the root of the situation.

2. Ask.

To understand what the root is, you’re going to have to determine what questions need to be asked. Here are some good ones to get started:

• What are the facts?

• Are we doing something wrong?

• Or are we doing everything right, and this is just how things turn out when we do it this way?

• Do we have a cultural problem? Are we systematically doing things the wrong way?

• What is the truth?

3. Associate.

When examining the situation, associate with people in every level of the organization. It’s tempting in a crisis to ask for feedback from just those who report to you. But to be frank, those are the people most likely to tell you what you want to hear, so talk to a broader group of people. Meet with people in the organization and talk with them. You’ll discover more about the root of the problem and create a level of trust.

4. Articulate.

While you’re connecting with the group to get feedback, it’s important to clearly articulate the values the company holds, the environment you’re trying to create and the culture you want to have.

5. Act.

Articulating those intentions isn’t enough, though. You have to also take appropriate action. Fix the things that need to be fixed. If there are parts of the culture to modify or improve, things that you should change or do better, then deal with them.

http://www.success.com/blog/john-addison-the-5-as-of-leading-through-adversity

USING THE LAW OF RECIPROCITY AND OTHER PERSUASION TECHNIQUES CORRECTLY

    

Have you ever felt the need to help someone who has helped you in the past? This is known as the law of reciprocity. It is one of the many different persuasion techniques that you can use to influence others.

Keep reading to take a look at how it works and how to use it correctly.

LAW OF RECIPROCITY

Persuasion by reciprocation is based on the law of reciprocity. It’s considered by many to be the most powerful law of human nature. Basically, it states that,

“If you do something nice for me I’ll do something nice for you. I feel obligated to reciprocate.”

For example, if we go out to lunch and I pick up the bill, you almost always offer to pay for it next time. Next time we go out to lunch, you insist on paying for the bill.

There are different types of reciprocation which I will explain below.

EMOTIONAL RECIPROCATION

Emotional reciprocation is where you make people feel good. Saying things like,

“Thank you, it’s a pleasure to meet you, I know how busy you are.”

“Thank you for your time.”

“This is a beautiful company or a great opportunity to speak to you.”

Whenever you say anything that causes people to feel better about themselves, they have a deep unconscious need to reciprocate.

MATERIAL OR FINANCIAL RECIPROCATION

Another type of reciprocation is called material or financial reciprocation. An example of this is when you do something physical for someone such as, helping them move or lending them your lawnmower, they want to pay you back by reciprocating in some way.

We have a deep psychological need to be even with others. If a person does something for you, we feel a need to get even by doing something nice in return.

The reverse is also true in that, if you do something that hurts others, they will feel the need to hurt you back as well, so be careful with that.

LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THINGS FOR OTHERS

The starting point of the law of reciprocity is to do things for others. Something as simple as opening in the door for someone, or getting someone a cup of coffee is a very powerful technique that you can use to cause people to like you and to feel obligated to you.

THE SOCRATIC METHOD

The Socratic Method means to simply, ask a lot of questions. The more questions you ask of another person and listen closely to the answers, the more the person will like you and be more open to being influenced by you.

The more questions you ask during a negotiation and the more open you appear to see things from another person’s point of view. You’ll find that they will be more reasonable as well. They will follow the law of reciprocity.

HOW TO DEAL WITH NEGOTIATION DISAGREEMENTS

Whenever there is a disagreement in a negotiation, where there is some pushback or disagreement, come back to it. Put off any part of the negotiation aside, keep going through the rest of the agreement and then later, when all things have settled, come back to the other issues.

AGREE SLOWLY

It’s very easy to agree quickly. Even if you have no problems with the particular issue in the negotiation, go slowly through it. The slower you go, the more strength you will have later on when you come to issues that are of greater importance to you.

USING THE WORD “FAIR”

Pushing the fairness button in a negotiation can also give you leverage. Use the word “fair” over and over again. They have found that in television debates, especially in politics, that the politician who uses the word fair when they say things like,

“That’s not a fair interpretation.”

“That’s not a fair way to describe the situation.”

“People aren’t paying their fair share.”

The word fair triggers an emotional feeling to be even, that you should back off rather than be unfair to someone.

Remember how children are always saying, “That’s not fair! That’s not fair!” It’s because of how strong the word is.

ASK FOR SOMETHING IN RETURN

In negotiating, always ask for something in return. If you don’t ask for something in return, soon those people will ask things from you and not reciprocate at all.

“PRICE” AND “TERMS” ARE DIFFERENT

As a final point to remember, in negotiating you can pay almost any price for something if you can name the terms.

A great negotiator once said, “I’ll pay you $1,000 for that gold pen in your pocket, even though you only paid $250 for it, as long as I can name the terms.”

The terms were, every time I pass you on the street, in New York, on a Wednesday, I will give you $1 until the thousand dollars in paid off, with no interest.

Therefore, you can agree to a higher price as long as you can negotiate and agree to terms that are much more favorable to you.

http://www.briantracy.com/blog/sales-success/using-the-law-of-reciprocity-and-other-persuasion-techniques-correctly/

8 Cold Calling Tips That Will Yield Greater Returns

Cold calling potential prospects can be frustrating and hard.

Whether you are doing it in person or on the phone, it is your job to warm up a potential customer.

This process can be exceedingly difficult, especially if you’re not used to it. I’ve called many prospects and I’m going to show you how to make this process much easier.

Cold Calling Tips to Help Improve Your Closing Rate

If you’re not sure how to cold call, follow my cold calling tips to help you secure more leads and customers!

1) Focus all of Your Questions on Your Client, Not Yourself

In your initial contact with the prospect, focus all your attention and your questions on the prospect. Don’t talk about who you are and your questions on the prospect. Don’t talk about who you are and what you do, or about your company. Remember, it is about them, not about you.

Client-centered selling is professional selling. You are only selling professionally when you are talking to your client about his or her wants and needs.

2) Plan Your Questions in Advance: More Information = More Sales

In cold calling, the more information that you can elicit, the easier it will be for you to qualify the prospect and then go on to make a sale. This is where questioning is so important. You questions should be thought out carefully in advance, and organized in a logical sequence, from the most general to the most specific.

3) Cold Calling Scripts: To Follow or Not to Follow? 

Once you have a positive response from a prospect to your opening question, you then ask him questions about his business, his market, his budget, and so on. Very often, people will give you all of this information in exchange for the benefit that you promised in your opening question.

To get the answers to these problems from your prospect, ask questions such as the ones in these cold calling scripts below:

1. If you could magically eliminate three of your biggest problems in your business or market, what would they be?
2. If you could create the ideal situation for your business, what would you change?
3. I’d like to schedule a meeting with you in person to discuss your business needs and how my product will benefit you. How does Wednesday at 2PM sound?

Always remember however, that cold calling and sales in general should be very personal. You should focus on your customers needs as an individual on a case by case business.

This is how you build relationships with you customers and have long sales relationships to come. Using cold calling scripts can make the call feel less personal and this is something you want to avoid.

4) “Cold Calling Tips” in Person: Less is More

When you are cold calling, or calling on a prospect for the first time, a strategy is for you to “go in naked.”

What this means is that, at the most, you carry a simple folder rather than a briefcase full of brochures or samples.

If the prospect is interested and wants a presentation and more information, you can always go back to your car to get what you need and bring it in. But when you go in without a briefcase you lower the stress of initial sales resistance and cause the prospect to relax and open up to you sooner.

5) Don’t Attempt to Sell on Your First Cold Call

In your first call, you should never attempt to sell. Focus on information gathering. Unless you are selling something inexpensive that requires little thought, you want to interview the prospecting ask questions.

Take notes and tell them you will come back to them. Focus on building the relationship and coming across as friendly, genial and non-threatening.

6) Keep Your Prospect Relaxed

The longer that your prospect remains relaxed, and the more he opens up to you, the more likely it is you will make the sale in the long run.

7) Find Out Exactly What Benefit Will Cause Your Customer to Buy From You

With each customer, there is a key benefit that will trigger buying desire and cause the customer to purchase your product or service. At the same time, there is a key fear or doubt that will hold the customer back from buying.

Your initial job in your first cold call with your prospect, and the key to qualifying, is to find out exactly what benefit will cause this customer to buy from you, and exactly what fear or doubt might hold this customer back from buying from you.

8) Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For More

Don’t be afraid to ask. “Ask” is the magic word for sales success. You can even say, “Mr. Prospect, what we have found is that there is always a key benefit or major reason that a person would purchase our product or service. What might it be for you?

If you are open, honest, and genuine, and ask out of curiosity, you will be amazed at the answers you’ll hear. Prospects will ofter give you all the information that you need to make a sale. The key for you is to ask.

http://www.briantracy.com/blog/sales-success/7-cold-calling-tips-that-will-yield-greater-returns/

Richard Branson on Finding Your Passion Project

Q: I have been told many times over the years, “You have a great attitude and drive, and an excellent mind. You should be an entrepreneur.” But what the heck should I do? I have limited funds and resources. Everything that looks like promising, someone else is doing or has done. I am unsure how to make an idea new or improved, which is frustrating. So what the heck should I do? -- Daniel Armstrong

“What the heck should I do?” is a question every entrepreneur asks themselves at one point or another. If you tackle the problem with an open mind and a can-do attitude, it is also the question that will launch your career.

Let’s get started. Grab a pen and paper (always have your notebook handy -- you never know when the next great idea will come to you, and if you don’t write it down, it may soon be gone forever), then answer these two questions:

Question No. 1: What Do You Love?

Make a list of all the things you are passionate about or that interest you. It doesn’t matter if these items seem trivial or random -- something on your list could spark a great entrepreneurial idea.

Now look at your list, and think about the industries and markets it touches on. Are any of them ripe for innovation? Think about the companies in those areas whose products and services you like. Most established businesses have some shortcomings -- their customers are just waiting for a better alternative to arrive. Whether the businesses involved are small local operations, online superbrands or global corporate giants, if they’ve stopped innovating, you have an opportunity to seize the initiative. Sectors where companies have gotten too comfortable and have stopped putting customers first are particularly ripe for disruption.

Also look into starting up a related business. In hotspots like Silicon Valley, each successful startup seems to spawn other enterprising ventures that make the initial idea even better. A great creation like Twitter can lead to dozens of other good products, such as the video tool Vine and the scheduling service Hootsuite.

So rather than being discouraged when you find that someone is already acting on an idea similar to yours, welcome the competition. Pick specific examples of what you think their enterprise is doing brilliantly and try to learn why it works so well. Crucially, also look for areas where the business is performing less well, and work out how your startup could improve on things.

Get in contact with the business’s founders and ask plenty of questions. You’ll be surprised to find how many successful entrepreneurs are willing to give advice and guidance -- they were all running startups once!

Question No. 2: What Do You Hate?

Next, think about things that annoy, confuse or even anger you. If you ran the world, what changes would you like to make? Again, do not censor your thoughts: Just write!

Especially think about moments when you’ve experienced frustration. Whenever I see something that doesn’t make sense, like shoddy service on an airline, I start to think about how it could be improved upon. Many Virgin Group businesses have been sparked by our exasperation that another company wasn’t doing something well.

As a customer, you have sometimes been disappointed when businesses didn’t deliver on their promises. Now, as an entrepreneur, you are in a position to build a business that fixes some of those problems. The company that results will make people’s lives better, and you are more likely to be passionate about its purpose.

Next Steps

Now look at your lists. If nothing immediately comes to mind, take some time out from your day to lie on your hammock and think about how you can act on those items and make the world a little bit better.

Next it’s time to start testing your ideas. You need to be brave and must accept that there are a lot of risks. Even the most carefully laid out plans don’t always meet with success, so it’s often better to put your product or service out there and let some prospective customers try it out.

While you’re in the testing and planning phase, go back to all those people who suggested that you become an entrepreneur and ask them for specifics about what they see as your strengths. Tell them about your ideas and ask for honest, raw feedback about your next steps. I do this too -- I have always discussed new business ideas with my friends and family before turning them over to lawyers and investment experts.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask your loved ones for support -- you’ll need it, and they’ll gladly give it. With their help, I’m sure you’ll be able to call yourself an entrepreneur very soon. Good luck!

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/233942

How This Entrepreneur Convinced Steve Wozniak to Join His Company

The powers of asking.

No, this story isn't about Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak's relationship. The tale is about a lesser known entrepreneur who had the gumption to get one of the icons of the tech industry to join his fledgling company.

In his book Up Your Game, technology entrepreneur David Bradford describes how he was able to convince Wozniak to join his startup Fusion-io, a computer hardware and software systems company based in Utah.

While Bradford had all the faith in the world about Fusion-io, Wozniak, who had already made millions from Apple, had no reason to take a chance on a small company in the middle of the Rocky Mountains.

So, what stroke of luck allowed Bradford to convince one of the most influential people in technology to take this chance? 

Surprisingly, there was no luck involved. Instead, Bradford used a technique that is critical to every single entrepreneur in the world. Few have been able to master this technique, and many aren’t even aware of how essential it is to success. What is this magical technique?

He asked.

While some people may have been expecting a more complicated answer, we often disregard simple solutions. Yet you’d be shocked at how far you can go and what you can achieve by simply having the ability to ask.

Whether you’re asking for help, for an investment, a partnership or in Bradford’s case, asking a big-name entrepreneur to join your small company, by just taking the step to ask, you’ve already accomplished more than many of your competitors.

I’ve often heard entrepreneurs opine about their inability to get in front of the right people or get the chances they need to succeed. And when I probe deeper and ask those same entrepreneurs what they’ve done to accomplish their goals, very rarely do they tell me they’ve performed the asking technique.

If you need to meet with an influential business leader, it can be difficult to walk right up to them or cold call them for a meeting. But by taking this simple (but challenging) action, doors open. People know other people.

One of the most useful things I’ve done in my entrepreneurial career is network with other entrepreneurs. Then, when I find out that they know someone I want to meet with, I simply ask them for an introduction. This increases my chances of success immensely.

I myself receive requests all the time for introductions to people in my network. And I can’t think of a time that I flat-out refused to make the introduction.

Similarly, Bradford used his connections to find people that were in his network as well as in Wozniak’s circle. Once he found this connection, he asked for an introduction, then gave his pitch to the creator of the Apple computer. The rest is history.

So, don’t be daunted by the idea of having to ask someone for something. The very worst possible outcome is that they say no. And quite frankly, if you cannot handle hearing the word no, then you may need to rethink your choice of careers.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/235707