Story Prompter

When did you “ask big” and succeed?

WHAT ARE THE MOST MEMORABLE ASKS from your personal or professional life? As you scroll further down, click on the category boxes to reveal more questions.

You asked for something that to you or others seemed like a long shot, if not seemingly impossible.
You found the courage to ask for an opportunity that changed your life.
Despite the tradition or rules, you asked for an exception, and got it.
You didn’t believe you could get it but asked anyway.
You believed you could get it but didn’t know how it could happen.
Though you initially resisted it, you asked for help or support – and are grateful that you did.
You got something you wanted only after asking persistently, perhaps long after others might have given up.
You were told ‘No,’ but, instead of walking away you asked the reasons for the ‘No,’ which enabled you to successfully redirect your ask.
Someone gave you something you asked for, asked you to “pay it forward,” and you did.
Though it seemed a long shot, you asked for a second chance.
Your intuition led you to spontaneously ask a question that surprised even you.
Though it may have been difficult, you asked for the truth.
You asked for advice that changed everything.

Meetings / Brainstorming

You asked a question that challenged the group’s way of thinking or creatively reframed the issue, which led to changes if not innovation.
You asked a question that nobody wanted to hear (and they may have resented you for asking) – but it got results.

Strategy

Getting a “NO’ gave you insights that you then used to your advantage.
You framed your ask in a way that you knew would appeal to the particular interests of your listener(s).
The time and place of the ask factored significantly in its success.

Information

You asked a question of a doctor that, had you not thought to ask it, your or another’s health outcomes would’ve been drastically different.
You discovered that a person (or business, organization, institution, etc.) withheld important information from you, and when you asked “why,” they defensively replied, “You didn’t ask.”
You asked someone to clarify something (maybe even as an afterthought) and their clarification completely changed your understanding of what they wanted or intended.
Your place of business, or the person you reported to, created a culture that discouraged asking questions.
You initially held back from asking for fear of sounding stupid, but are glad you asked.

Relationships

You asked for listening or support from someone (co-worker, spouse, child, parent, etc.) of whom it was hard for you to ask.
You asked for a change in behavior from someone and, because of the way you asked for it, they made the change without resentment.
You had assumed something about somebody’s thoughts, feelings, or motives, but decided to ask them instead — and realized you had been wrong or misjudged them.
After a long time, you asked for forgiveness.
You asked someone “unattainable” for a date. Or you were asked out by someone in a particularly effective or original way.

Consumer

As a consumer, you asked for a major discount and got it.
Despite the policy, you asked (not demanded) and got a full refund.
You asked for perks or compensation – free tickets, reduced fees, an upgrade, priority treatment.

Charm

You watched someone completely charm his or her way into getting something that probably nobody else would’ve gotten away with.

The Flipside

Somebody asked YOU, and their ask surprised you, touched you, impressed you, changed you, or had some meaningful impact on you.
You resisted somebody’s ask, either because of what they asked or how they asked it.
You neglected to ask and now regret it.
You once asked for something ineffectively – but learned from it.

Which of these areas trigger memories of asks from your own life? Here’s your opportunity to inspire others. Send me a short summary of your story for possible inclusion in the book, and I’ll reply within 3 business days.