From the time I was quite young, one of my favorite Scripture verses was one that suggested that we should,
ASK, and we’ll receive
SEEK, and we’ll find
KNOCK, and the door will be opened
As a kid, I remember thinking it was pretty cool the day I figured out that the first letter of each word… Ask… Seek… Knock… spelled A.S.K.
Hmm… I thought, maybe this “asking” stuff is really important after all.
Yes, maybe our ability or inability to ask the right questions… of the right people… in the proper manner… with the right intention… and at the perfect time, can be THE critical factor in either moving our Vision ahead… or… spending another month or another year or more stuck for what seems an eternity.
Yes, ask and you will receive… I like that 🙂
Now, of course, what that particular verse doesn’t say is exactly what we’ll receive… but alas, I digress. Besides, I think I’ve got this one figured out.
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Fast forward.
Many years after this first little revelation about the importance of asking, another point of view on the same subject burst onto the scene… in the form of a boss… an influencer… though this one was not all that positive.
Determined, yes.
Positive, no.
A mentor, never.
No, this was one of several real control freaks that entered my world as I set off early on a career in selling and then ultimately as I transitioned to the Executive Suite and all the negotiating and posturing and game-playing that came with it.
“YOU MUST ASK QUESTIONS,” I was told, “WHOEVER ASKS THE QUESTIONS IS IN CONTROL!!! AND IN BUSINESS AND IN LIFE… IT’S ALL ABOUT CONTROL!!!”
Hmm…
Looking back, I suppose it was to him… but I’ve found that many situations in life are outside of our control. I’ve also observed that most people don’t much like to be under our control… and most conversations and relationships tend to work better when we give up control.
“Now hey, wait…” you shout, “I thought you just said learning to ask questions was critical to our success. Are you now saying it’s not that important?”
Good question, glad you asked 🙂
The answer, next time.
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