THE KEY TO BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND GROWING YOUR BUSINESS IS SIMPLE - JUST ASK

You won't believe it. It's crazy. People go into a sale but do not ask for it. They present all the options to the customer, but for some reason, they just don't close the deal. They might have experience and they might have brains, but they just can't seem to overcome this one thing.

Taking the risk to ask

I heard this from a sales coach for one of the largest franchises in the United States. And I've seen it again and again in my top technicians too. The best guys just seem to be able to go for the kill. They ask even when their palms are shaky... even when they feel they will be rejected.

It's not just sales, of course. Whether you want a promotion or a partnership, you need to learn how to ask. Everything important in business is achieved by asking someone else. And if you don't ask, you don't receive.

The connection between asking and emotional intelligence

Asking is not just a sign of emotional intelligence. It is how you become emotionally intelligent. Each time you ask, you're training your confidence.

Asking can be scary. And that's a good thing: Push yourself to do something hard and that's how you will get strong.

In fact, you win either way! If they say yes, you get what you want. If they say no, you get better at taking rejections. As Jeb Blount, the founder of Sales Gravy, wrote in his book:

Nothing requires a higher level of emotional control than asking for something and subsequently dealing with objections.... Getting past no, in all its various forms, begins and ends with emotional control.

Asking helps you expand your thinking

By asking someone for help or guidance, you see what's possible. Whatever problems you're facing, someone has solved them before. The answers are out there! Which means you don't need to reinvent the wheel. You just have to ask. And if you need to pay for their time, you pay.

Now, if you're a leader or business owner, here are the best people to ask:

The five people you should ask as a leader

1. Your customers: Ask them for reviews and referrals. Ask them for feedback on what you can do better.
2. Your employees: Ask them about their dreams and goals.
3. A-players in other companies: Ask them to join your company. If they end up working for you, ask them to refer other A-players.
4. Your mentor: Ask them about what you need to do -- or stop doing -- to scale. You can also ask a consultant or coach.
5. Other successful entrepreneurs: Ask them about their best strategies and their worst mistakes.

Now that you know who to ask, here's how to do it in a simple three-step process that anyone can follow:

What you should do before and after asking

1. Listen, so that you understand what they want.
2. Ask, so that they know what you want.
3. Shut up, so that they have time to think and give you an answer.

And now that you get this...

Start asking today

If you aren't asking, you aren't winning.

I've made many mistakes in business, but I always ask for help and guidance. That's how I have grown my business for 12 years straight.

BY TOMMY MELLO, FOUNDER, A1 GARAGE DOOR@REALTOMMYMELLO