The Asking Formula

10/22/2019

Putting Time Into Your Ask (The Asking Lab - Vol. 4, Issue 11) -

Asking is a skill in short supply. In fact, many people sabotage their professionalism by practicing bad asking behaviors. The Asking Formula is America's #1 program designed to teach people how to more effectively ask for what they want: regardless of the topic both in their professional and person...

12/01/2018

The Advantage Gained... by Gaining Attention (The Asking Lab - Vol. 4, Issue 10) -

Asking is a skill in short supply. In fact, many people sabotage their professionalism by practicing bad asking behaviors. The Asking Formula is America's #1 program designed to teach people how to more effectively ask for what they want: regardless of the topic both in their professional and person...

10/08/2018

What do Vince Lombardi, my high school basketball coach, and The Asking Formula have in common? Watch my latest post to learn "The Importance of Simulated Practice". (The Asking Lab - Vol. 4, Issue 9) -

Asking is a skill in short supply. In fact, many people sabotage their professionalism by practicing bad asking behaviors. The Asking Formula is America's #1 program designed to teach people how to more effectively ask for what they want: regardless of the topic both in their professional and person...

08/28/2018

It's nearly time for BACK TO SCHOOL. When it comes to asking, do your kids know what they want? Do they know how to influence positive outcomes?

Set them up for success with a few practical exercises to start the year with certain goals ahead. l

A special “Back to School” edition of The Asking Lab. This is an exciting time of year as we prepare our children to go back to school. They have new backpacks full of school supplies, are dressed in their new clothes, and are waiting to meet their new teachers with fellow classmates. So… what...

07/27/2018

You've done your homework and research. Your ego is primed and ready. But do you really know what your prospect wants?

Here's a guess: you think you do... but you may have leapt too quickly.

Take a few moments out of your day to:
~ Hear 4 of the most common misconceptions my readers have made during their business processes and communication, and
~ Learn to hone in on these key trappings so you don't fall into the same situation.

WATCH.

You've done your homework and research. Your ego is primed and ready. But do you really know what your prospect wants?

06/11/2018

Watch “What’s Wrong About Questions (Part 2)”, to learn about 3 strategies that avoid the trap of questions, engage in meaningful conversations, and stand-out in front of your audience.

These 3 strategies will help differentiate yourself to an audience, become an agile communicator, and be a better asker.

In “What’s Wrong About Questions (Part 2)”, learn about 3 strategies to avoid the trap of questions, engage in meaningful conversations, and stand-out in front of your audience. These 3 strategies will help differentiate yourself to an audience, become an agile communicator, and be a better as...

05/21/2018

When you're in a business or personal situation, with an end-goal in mind to ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT, you may find yourself with a well-prepared and best possible list of questions... that you never get to ask.

In this first of two segments, I've got some reminders to share that will help you get past "leading questions" or "confirmation bias" and get to something meaningful.

THE ASKING FORMULA is about how to ask for what you WANT and not about what question you ASK.

Questions play a role in getting to our audience’s motivations… but equally as often… they get in our way. Face it: how many times does a sales call go the w...

04/01/2017

The military is a top-down, command-and-control environment. It is essential that orders are communicated clearly and with alacrity.

As you can imagine, this style of “battlefield” communication doesn't always work back at home, which is how I teach vets how to use influence and persuasion – how to “ask” in other words – to get things done when the command and control style isn’t a good fit.

Despite their training – or maybe because of it – our military members make for some of the best ASKERS you can imagine.

AND: they have skills that translate into leadership and sales practices.

One of the proudest things I have done (and still do) with the ASKING FORMULA is my work with our US military. Since 2008 I have worked with the Department o...

03/01/2017

The power of The Asking Formula lies in its simplicity – as an ongoing practitioner, you're aware of this quality.

However, an equal aspect of its value is this: The Asking Formula forces you to be present and not (what Ben Zimmer calls) in an "absent presence".

What do I mean by this state of mind? WATCH... and keep your awareness skills sharp for your audience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_0_q28rzAw&feature=youtu.be

01/31/2017

Being a hack, today means you’ve demonstrated cleverness and ingenuity; that you solved a meaningful problem in an unusual and unprecedented way. Click below to watch the latest post, from "The Asking Lab."

HACK. a writer or journalist producing dull, unoriginal work. “a hack scriptwriter” a strategy or technique for managing one’s time or activities more efficiently. “there’s one easy hack to avoid the eight dollar popcorn trap: eat before you get to the theater” But, today, the word hack has better c...

01/02/2017

Resolve to improve your communication skills in 2017 – Subscribe to my monthly posts (and see the latest edition) – you'll be on track in no time. Happy New Year!

“You seemed aggressive. You sounded arrogant and condescending. You kind of creeped me out… You really aren’t sure you deserve what you are asking for.” Sounds awkward to hear, if it’s directed toward you, right? How would you react to hearing this feedback, after you’ve role-played your “ask” in a…