"If you don't ask, you don't get!"

-Mahatma Gandhi

For the past nine months I have been preparing to deliver a baby. No, not the kind that cries and eats and poops. This baby is my first book, and my delivery date is September 20th! It has taken me about nine months to write it, have it reviewed, make necessary edits, and have the graphic experts create the layout and cover for it.

I’m learning a lot in the process of publishing my first book. There’s much more to it than just writing it. I have the feeling that the greatest amount of work comes from promoting it. After all, it does no good to write a book if nobody knows about it. More about my book at the end of this article!

Because this is uncharted territory for me, I have learned how to ask for advice, support, feedback, and much more. I’ve learned that one of the most powerful and simple strategies you can employ in life can be distilled down to a three-letter word: ask!

My mentor, Jack Canfield, has this to say on the subject of asking:

Whether it's asking for advice, asking for help, asking for money, support, time or whatever else you need ... asking is the most direct route to get what you want.

Unfortunately, most people are afraid to ask. They're afraid of looking weak, helpless, and vulnerable. They're afraid of hearing "no" ... so they simply don't bother to ask at all.

But the fact is, that by not asking for what you want, you are choosing to reject yourself. You're denying yourself the chance to access the support and resources you need to achieve success.

If you want to achieve your goals, you must be able (and comfortable) to ask for what you want.

If you don’t ask, you don’t get. I was pleasantly surprised when I asked Jack Canfield if he would provide the Foreword for my book…and he said yes! I’ve also asked people I knew if they would open some doors for me so I could ask people I did not know to review and endorse my book. They said yes, and I started receiving endorsements from some people whom I did not previously know. Many doors were opened for me because I simply asked for assistance. Now some of those people who endorsed my book are asking me for something…an interview that they can share with their audiences.

I’ve learned that most successful people want to help others. That’s how they became successful! They are flattered to be asked for help, and often they will say yes if the request is reasonable and is something they can do.

If you are not asking for what you want, what’s stopping you? Here are three questions to ask yourself to identify what will help you get what you want:

• What information do I need? Who or what could provide this information for me? This could be a person, publication, something on the Internet, etc.
  
  
• What assistance do I need? Who or what could provide this assistance?
  
  
• What resources do I need? This could be time, money, a referral or endorsement, or support.

As you identified what will help you get what you want, did you experience fear…fear of rejection?…fear of failure?… fear of success?

For thirteen years, I chose to stay in a stressful career that I did not find fulfilling. The more time I invested in that career path, the less at choice I felt. At one point, I took an exam to receive a special certification in my field. When I passed the exam and was certified, I felt like there was no turning back! I told myself, “I can’t leave this field now! Look how much I’ve invested in it!” And besides, I had no idea what else I could possibly do.

Fear held me back until one day, the pain of not making a change outweighed the fear of the unknown.

Do you have dreams, ideas, inventions and solutions buried in your mind, on a shelf, or in storage somewhere? Have you imprisoned yourself in a room built by your own mind, constructed with four walls made of fear, doubt, procrastination and scarcity?

When we are afraid, we set negative goals. We imagine what we don’t want, and then we put all sorts of energy into tapping into the emotions that accompany that fear. What you focus on, you get more of. In other words, you manifest exactly what you don’t want.

To overcome fear, tap into the emotions that accompany what you do want instead of focusing on the emotions that accompany what you are afraid of. 

One of the most powerful ways to overcome fear is to reframe. Here’s a simple way to do that.

If you fear failure, search for the emotion that accompanies your perception of success. By focusing on your intention and visualizing a successful outcome, you’ll establish a stronger connection to the feelings and emotions that will attract the results you desire. Although this sounds simple, it will have a profound effect on your outcome.

The word “crisis” is written in Chinese with two famous characters: danger and opportunity - the yin and yang. When you are afraid to do something, ask yourself, “Is my fear based on protecting myself from danger, or am I experiencing fear of failure, which prevents me from seizing opportunity?”

When your mind is filled with fear, you will shut down. When your mind focuses on “what if…” with a focus on your desired outcome, you will be open to receiving the most valuable ideas, insights, and intuitive messages. You will also attract others who will eagerly help you achieve your dreams. All you need to do is ASK!

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ABOUT MY BOOK

www.TheMusicOfYourHeart.com

Although my book was written especially for network marketing professionals, several of the people who reviewed it plan to purchase a copy for their family and friends who are not in the network marketing profession. It is full of valuable tips and tools that can be used in any walk of life.

In addition to writing my book, I also wrote lyrics to a song and recorded that song earlier this month.  The CD accompanies the book. You can hear the song right now, Listen to Your Heart, by going to my website above.

If you’d like to access the Foreword by Jack Canfield, as well as my Introduction and the first chapter of my book, please visit the website and look for the "Read Excerpts" link. 

Although my book launch is September 20th, you can pre-order copies now.  Those who purchase the book on or before the launch date of 9/20/11 will receive some great free bonus gifts described in the flyer.  My book is also immediately available in eBook format and will soon be ready on Kindle.

All profits from the sale of this book will be
donated to World Vision.

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