Power of "The Ask"

Just when he was ready to pack it in... quit the group.
Just when he felt he had nothing to offer...
questioned why he'd joined in the first place, he asked us,
"Should I even be in this group, what do I have to offer?"

His humbleness told me we had the right guy leading the group.
I rallied to his side. You have something I want...
the ability to be vulnerable... the ability to risk...
the ability to ask. I was impressed with his bravery.

There is huge power in "The Ask", and I am learning
to ask in every aspect of my life. At work I ask a collegue
"what skills do I have that can benefit this project?",
I ask another "Can you help me with this powerpoint presentation?"
In my personal life I ask a friend "can you help me organize
my basement?"

In his book The Success Principles: How to Get from Where
You Are to Where You Want to Be, Jack Canfield talks about
"The Ask". In his chapter Ask! Ask! Ask! Jack says, "You have nothing
to lose and everything to gain by asking. To be successful you have
to take risks, and one of the risks is the willingness to risk rejection."

The old saying goes "Don't ask if you're afraid of the answer"
I guess I was always afraid of the answer.

There is a feeling of exhileration and hopefulness when I do
"The Ask". And I'm learning that people like to be asked.
People like to contribute, teach and support others. Like the thrill
of finding a Purie on the ground while collecting marbels as a kid,
I am now revelling in the joy of collecting yes-es to my asks.

Since I have been doing "The Ask" (five months now), I have not been
turned down once. Am I taking advantage of asking? Definetly not.
I treat it like special underwear that I only take out for special occassions.

Start asking today. Tell me how you make out with "The Ask."

I Wanna Be Evil

I've posed for pictures with Iv'ry Soap,
I've petted stray dogs, and shied clear of dope
My smile is brilliant, my glance is tender
But I'm noted most for my unspoiled gender

I've been named Miss Perseverance year after year,
And I'm the person to whom they say, "Your sweet, My Dear."
The only etchings I've seen have been behind glass,
And the closest I've been to a bar, is at ballet class.

Prim and proper, the girl who's never been cased,
I'm tired of being pure and not chased.
Like something that seeks it's level
I wanna go to the devil.

I wanna be evil, I wanna spit tacks
I wanna be evil, and cheat at jacks
I wanna be wicked, I wanna tell lies
I wanna be mean, and throw mud pies

I want to wake up in the morning
with that dark brown taste
I want to see some dissipation in my face
I wanna be evil, I wanna be mad
But more that that I wanna be bad

I wanna be evil, and trump an ace,
Just to see my partner's face.
I wanna be nasty, I wanna be cruel
I wanna be daring, I wanna shoot pool

And in the theatre
I want to change my seat
Just so I can step on
Everybody's feet

I wanna be evil, I wanna spit tacks
I wanna be evil, and cheat at jacks
I wanna be wicked, I wanna tell lies
I wanna be mean, and throw mud pies

I wanna be evil, little evil me
Just as mean and evil as I can be

When do you wanna be evil?


www.earthakittfanclub.com

Chocolate Helps

First week of the new job under my belt. Happy it was a short week. A complete roller coaster ride inside my head trying to sort out the personalities, the changes and my emotions. Been carrying my
Enhancing Emotional Intelligence book with me and reading it faithfully at lunch and breaks.

Have come to the realization that I don't handle change very well, at least change I haven't any control over. I've been journalling and talking with Frank and friends. Talking has helped tremendously... Talk is a new thing for me.

After weeks of stress about the move to the new position and an intense desire to take flight instead of fight, I feel exhausted.

Usually I crawl into a hole and keep digging down and down and down... Attempting to do things differently this time. It's a hell of a lot of work. I am equal to this challenge.

...and chocolate helps.

Monday Never Goes Away

Monday never goes away. It just keeps coming
with the excitement of a visiting out-of-town relative.
Bringing with it a bounty of things you don't want.

Lingering hangover from the pinot of Saturday night,
stupid drivers, wrong coffee order from Tim Horton's
(later spilled on your shirt), Monday morning meetings,
coverage for a "sick" co-worker, something forgotten
to be done from Friday.

On vacation, I laugh in the face of Monday.
Telling it that it can't get me down.
I stay up late Sunday, I sleep in, drink chai,
eat scones.

On vacation, Monday is a beautiful thing.

What do you take in your Timmys?

The Perfect Job

Will this new job bring all things I’ve set my intentions on?

Renewed career excitement... a new direction.
Realistic responsibility. Respect.
Independence coupled with sensitive support...
and strong mentoring.
Learning... constant learning.
It’s okay when you don’t have all the answers.

Will there be a click-click-click of personalities?
Understanding, acceptance,
and usage of the creative process... intuition.
Resourcefulness, networking, professional community...
connections encouraged.

Will there be a non-accusatory measurement stick
for successes... and failures?
Collaborative problem solving... creative solutions.
Abundance... remuneration. Perks that run rampant.

Will there be a mint green metal desk with a faux wood
top that lifts and locks into place when pushed up
at a right angle?