The Ask: For Business, For Philanthropy, For Everyday Living

Get What You Ask For

The Ask is your hands–on guide to getting the life you always wanted. Whether you need stronger relationships, a better job, or simply more personal confidence to get whatever you deserve, the highly proven strategy inside enables you to develop the courage, find the inspiration, and use straightforward know–how to simply ask for it.

Does it sound too easy to be true? Get used to it. This approach to moving into a higher quality of life requires daily practice—it′s a lifestyle. When you choose to live the life you want, you will ask for everything you need with two sentences and a question. That′s it. Laura′s universal formula has driven performance at the most recognized nonprofits and businesses in the world, as well as given countless people a fresh, empowered life, and now you can overcome the challenges holding you back from your goals by following the steps in this book.

Laura Fredricks, JD, is an influencer in fundraising, business, and personal development, and this valuable resource allows you to keep her wisdom and experience at your fingertips, including:

The ten reasons why you should ask and the ten reasons why you don′t ask—along with tools and practical exercises to develop the mindset you need to be an exceptional asker The five–step, foolproof method for any ask—done properly, in the precise order, these strategic actions return exceptional results from your asks More than 175 sample asks—throughout every chapter, word–for–word asks provide inspiring models to use when asking for what you want in every aspect of your life

You are one ask away from the life you want—know exactly what to say with The Ask.

Preface xiii

Introduction xxi

PART I What Will THE ASK Do for You? 1

1 What Is THE ASK? 3

What Does Money Mean to You? 8

Money Is Opportunity 12

What Does Money Mean to the Person You Are

Asking? 12

Do You Have Money Wellness? 16

Money Blockers 18

2 Why Should People Ask? 23

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Ask 26

When Not to Ask 34

The Person You Want to Ask Is Going Through a

Rough Time 34

You Are Not Ready or You Are Unsure of Your Ask 35

Your Ask Will Be Confusing 35

Asking Mantras That Will Serve You Well 36

The Quality of Your Life is Determined by the Quality

Questions You Ask Yourself and Others 37

When You Ask for Money You Are Not Taking

Something Away, You Are Giving an

Opportunity 39

THE ASK Is a Conversation, Not a Confrontation 41

3 Why People Do Not Ask 43

The Top 15 Reasons Why People Do Not Ask 46

PART II How Should You Ask? 61

4 How to Be an Exceptional Asker 63

The 10 Essential Characteristics of an Exceptional

Asker 65

Actions to Take before You Ask 73

Three Questions that Come before Any Ask 79

5 The 5–Step Foolproof Method for Any Ask 85

Know Exactly What You Want 88

Prepare the Conversation 90

Deliver with Confidence 92

Clarify What You Think You Heard 94

Plan Your Next Move at the Ask 98

THE ASK—It’s Two Sentences and a Question 99

6 How to Keep Your Ask on Track 103

Was Your Ask Really an ASK? 105

Asking U–Turns 112

Asking Mistakes 120

Five Ways to Turn a Bad Ask into a Win 122

PART III What Can You Ask For? 133

7 THE ASK for Business—The Stories and the

Lessons 135

Too Big to Learn 137

Pay Me What I’m Worth 143

8 THE ASK for Philanthropy—The Stories and the

Lessons 151

So Close, Yet So Far 153

I Really Don’t Know Anyone Who Could Support Us 159

9 THE ASK for Everyday Living—The Stories and

The Lessons 165

Is This a Room, or Is This a Closet? 168

The Spender versus the Saver 171

10 The Hardest Asks You Will Ever Make 179

The Asks You Need to Make for Yourself 182

Laura’s Story—The Hardest Asks I Have Ever Made 189

Conclusion 201

About the Author 205

Index 209

LAURA FREDRICKS, JD, is the founder and CEO of The ASK©. An attorney–turned– philanthropic advisor, she created her own class of personal empowerment with The ASK© approach to philanthropy, business, and life. A world–renowned fundraiser, consultant, educator, and speaker, she is the bestselling author of five books, including Money Wellness: Is Money Making You $ick?, and Winning Words for Raising Money.