So here is the thing… my seven year old sis Sophia is given a lot of liberty in terms of freedom to act and speak freely as to stimulate presence of self-awareness. She knows what she wants and what she doesn’t and has initiative to get what she wants. Well, there is a good part and there are also other bad results of this. For example, last time when she was in class and has to go to the toilet, she doesn’t ask till it’s too late and had an accident. The same thing happens when she went for tuition. So we taught her the power to ask others for what you need; audacity.

Now the good thing is that she doesn’t let go in classes but she took the tool to another level. Do you remember in school cafeterias there are limited choices of meals to eat and they all look icky and yucky? So my mom decided to pack her food to bring every day as well as some change for emergency use; emergency such as booklets, phone calls, more water, or any necessary miscellaneous expenses (that are emergency use only) to teach her to spend wisely.

Unfortunately she used that money to purchase sweets, ice-cream, noodles and other junk food ignoring the more healthy food that my mom packed. So my mom wasn’t please about her eating all these unhealthy stuff and took away her changes thinking that she would actually eat what she had brought to school. So the story continues in school last Wednesday, she and her friends went out for recess. My mom packet breakfast (chocolate bread) for her in the morning before but she didn’t eat it. Instead, she asked her friend (I forgot what name) to share her food with her! My mom was angry, scolded her about taking food from other people when you already have. It shows greediness. So made it clear that she is not to take food from friends (mom will pack food for her everyday) during recess.

The very next day, I went to fetch her with my mom. When she came in the car, we asked her if she ate what she packed for her and she said “no” and “I didn’t take from <friend’s name>” continues proudly. 

So we said “you didn’t eat anything at all?”

She replied with a very soft “yes...”

“What did you eat?”

“Hot dog bread.”

“What? From <friend>?”

“No, no! I didn’t take from <friend>. I buy form the cafeteria.”

“Where you get the money to buy? I didn’t give you any.”

There was a moment of silence... then she muttered “from teacher.”

Then my mom went berserk “WHAT?!? I TOLD YOU TO EAT WHAT I PACKED FOR YOU, WHY DO YOU STILL BUY FOOD FROM OTHER PLACE? *$@%*#*!# &#^#!^ I  DIDN’T TEACH YOU THIS! I DON’T WANT MY DAUGHTER TO LOOK LIKE A BEGGER ASKING FOR FOOD!! &^%#&&@” . This went on for half an hour in the car on the way back to the house.

At one point we came to realize that she has a lot of audacity but in this case, she use it for the wrong reason. Another example of this helpful tool is for a laborer in the US if I’m not mistaken. The person has a lot of bravery, he ask to have an appointment one day with the CEO of the company that he is working for and can you guess what he wanted to talk? He ask the CEO of the company to help his son by giving him a scholarship to study in Harvard University! OMFG! How many people in the world, who is a lowest rank staff, would have that courage to ask for such a big favor from the CEO of a big company? Not to say that they knew each other for a long time or they were high school buddies. It was amazing and the best part is that after he met with the CEO, the CEO was intrigue by his bravery to ask for an appointment for his son’s scholarship. Would you do that? Anyway, the story continues as the laborer later got promoted and he is invited to those international CEO meetings. Just imagine if he didn’t take action as he did, he wouldn’t be as successful as he is now and also his son (who wrote a book about this).

Your chance of success is actually 50% which is either “yes” or “no”. If you don’t, it would be 100% “no”. So for you don’t be afraid to ask, the most people will reply with a ‘no”. If they answer with a ‘yes” wouldn’t it worth wile?

So, we see this in many business people, those especially working in sales like insurance sellers and broker. They have to call up potential clients and buyers and face the possibility of rejection of 90%. In other words their possibility of success is only 10% and out of the 10 people that he asked only one you will be able to sell. These people are thick skin and super consistent after time and time of persuading potential client. At times they are really annoying but hey they are making a living so cut them some slack.

PS: here is a tip (I know there is a saying that persistence pays off but ask once, more than once people will get annoyed)