The incredible POWER of ASKING
27 Apr 2008
If there is any help or advice you need and you think there is someone in the world who could help you, ASK them for help. It does not matter if you do not know them and have not met them; neither does it matter if they do not know you. Ask just the same. This point was vividly demonstrated to me a little while ago and the power of the result is just amazing.
I had recently finished writing my new book titled ‘How To Double Your Sales in 6 Weeks’. I knew it would help sales if I had some really good testimonials to publish on the front and back covers and within the opening pages of the book. I therefore sent copies to a number of high profile business people, authors and speakers in the UK with whom I had some connection and asked them if they would kindly read it and provide a testimonial if they felt able to do so. But I also wanted a testimonial from someone who was well known in many countries and whose testimonial would have an international influence on sales.
The name Ivan Misner popped into my head. Ivan Misner, as you may well know, is the founder of BNI (Business Networking International). BNI currently has membership chapters in forty-one countries and has hundreds of thousands of members. I figured a testimonial from Ivan might help sell a lot of books.
I have never met Ivan and I doubt Ivan has ever heard of me. Never the less, I contacted his office and asked if I could speak with him. I explained to his personal assistant the reason for my call but Ivan was away. I was however able to obtain his personal e-mail address and sent him a message asking if he could kindly take some time out to review my new book and write me a testimonial if he felt it was warranted. I got a short e-mail back asking me to send a copy and telling me he would see if he could make the time to read it.
I didn’t hear anything for a few weeks and then I got an e-mail from Ivan which now appears on the front cover of the book. It said:
That’s the POWER of ASKING!
If there is any help or advice you need from me – just ask! I’d be so very happy to help.