Big Ask Blog


All about the importance, power, and skill of asking

I Hate to Trouble You

I Hate to Trouble You

This is a post about asking that begins, for the sake of analogy, with a seemingly unrelated topic: Crosswalks (bear with me!). Imagine you’re walking in a crosswalk. At the halfway point, you see a driver waiting for you to cross so they can turn. Even though you...

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Want It? Imagine It!

Want It? Imagine It!

In a famous 1996 study at the University of Chicago, three randomly selected groups were tested on how many basketball free throws they could make. The researcher, Dr. Biasiotto, recorded the results and then instructed the first group to practice shooting free throws...

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Want It? Affirm It!

Want It? Affirm It!

What if you could direct your imagination to “put on” a new perspective aligned with the reality you wish to create? This is the first of two posts about using affirmations and visualizations, respectively, in effective ways. In this one, we'll focus on affirmations...

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Ask for a Raise with Confidence

Ask for a Raise with Confidence

In an episode of the classic sitcom I Love Lucy, Lucy wants her husband, Ricky, to ask his boss. Mr. Littlefield, for a raise. Ricky dreads the idea. Lucy invites him to rehearse his "ask" with her, as if she were his boss. In the role play, the reluctant Ricky works...

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When Is It Smart to Play Dumb?

When Is It Smart to Play Dumb?

From 1971-2003 TV audiences tuned in to Columbo, a show named for its fictional homicide investigator, played by Peter Falk. Lieutenant Frank Columbo masked his sleuthing brilliance behind a rumpled, befuddled veneer. Suspects were disarmed by his brand of...

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Asking Big on Broadway: Joshua Ellis Remembers

Asking Big on Broadway: Joshua Ellis Remembers

What was it like to be the press agent for major Broadway shows and work closely with Yul Brynner, David Bowie, Lena Horne, and countless other stars? Joshua Ellis was the publicist for some of Broadway's biggest hits, including more than a dozen Tony Award winners....

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Is it Hard to Ask the One You Love?

Is it Hard to Ask the One You Love?

From dating to mating and beyond, many people find it difficult to ask their partners for what they want. I asked Rachel Sussman, LCSW, to shed some light on this topic. She is a licensed psychotherapist, relationship expert, writer and lecturer. Rachel is the founder...

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Becoming Siri: Susan Bennett’s Story

Becoming Siri: Susan Bennett’s Story

In this interview, Susan Bennett tells us what it was like to be the original voice of the iPhone assistant, “Siri” … her fear-busting “ask” that changed everything … her experience as a backup singer for Burt Bacharach … and her thoughts on the "happy accident" of...

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Asking for Shoes: Intel’s Brian Little

Asking for Shoes: Intel’s Brian Little

Brian Little is vice president and global head of corporate human resources for Intel. He previously served in senior human resources roles at companies including Ameritech, Amoco, and Zurich Insurance, and was recognized in 2017 by the industry magazine HRO...

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