Listen to a Sample
Available on Audible.
Do you have what it takes to ask—and get—what you want at work, home, and beyond?
Narrated by the author, Paul Quinn, and executive-produced by Jane Lynch and Mari Weiss, The Big Ask audiobook gives you the skills to successfully ask for what you want while inspiring you with over 75 stories—read by 23 voice actors—of people who stepped up and asked for what they wanted and got it, at work, home, and beyond.
Hear the creative, courageous, and sometimes moving requests made by entrepreneurs, celebrities, job seekers, business leaders, spouses, healthcare workers, world travelers, and more. And discover the research-backed skills and hope-filled stories that will prepare YOU to ask effectively for what you want, in any area of your life.
Read the Blog: Making The Big Ask Audiobook
Audiobook Extras:
Meet the Cast
Debo Balogun (Ali al-Jifri, Dr. Dylan Fogel, Kevin Golden)
Susan Bennett (herself)
Sandy Borglum (Katherine Hutchinson, Jennifer Loftus, Muriel Patay, Anonymous Homeowner)
Raymond Donasco (David Tupaz)
Zach Fueling (D.C. Anderson, Chad, Matt Walsh Egan, Thomas Hilgardner, Mac Smith, Manny Veiga)
Greg King (himself)
Elayne LeTraunik (Ida Paluch Kersz)
Jim Lew (himself)
Jane Lynch (herself)
Errol McLendon (himself)
Dana Powers (Dr. Janyce Agruss, Jennifer Gladston Butler, Elizabeth Even, Eileen K., Dr. Sonja Kelly, Bridget Piekarz, Dr. Rachel Sussman)
Paul Quinn (Narration, Allan Biggar)
Richard Reardon (Scott Martin, Jeffrey Saver)
Jeanine Alana Robinson (Cynthia Barnes, Catherine Brownstone-Stillwell, Rocki Howard, Diana Mudenda, Patricia Peters)
Audrey S. Romero (Rose Comadurán, Maria Hinojosa, Sonya Perez-Lauterbach, Daughter of Schizophrenic)
Maddie Sachs (Lilly Harris, Andrea Gotskind-Hamad, Darci Nalepa Elam, Karen Parker, Elena Scott)
Nick Sandys (John Cummins, Michel Elings, Kieran Meeke)
Kevin Theis (Announcer, Dave Dahl, Sean Grennan, Brian Vandenbroucke, Anonymous Customer Service Rep)
Karen Vaccaro (herself, Kathy Bond, Charity Cox-Hayden, Patricia Hock, Kathe Mull)
Mari Weiss (herself, Dr. Michelle L. Buck, Sonia Choquette, Meribeth Kisner-Griffin, Valerie Jones, Trass Lyons, Virginia Muzquiz)
Ben Werling (Joshua Ellis, G. Dan Lumpkin, Barry Offitzer, Wayne Paprocki, Jeff Perry)
Karl T. Wright (Robert Eschbach, Russell Leander, Brian Little, David Sutor, Corey Washington, Jon Ziomek)
Joseph Wycoff (Jeffrey Breslow, Benjamin Dahlbeck, Marty Gilbert, Don Lessem, John Livesay, John Qualls)
From Chapter 2: What Do You Want?
(applies to Desire portion of diagram)
Many of us are clear, with ourselves and others, about what we DON’T want. But unless we identify what we DO want and take action to get it (which may require an ASK), we’ll stay stuck. In the left column, list the conditions you don’t want in your life. Then, in the right column write what you want instead. What actions are you willing to take to get it? A few examples:
| I Don’t Want | I Want |
| A boring desk job | Employment that keeps me outdoors, at home, or on my feet |
| To continue feeling undervalued at work | To document my accomplishments and ask for a raise |
| To struggle through the next semester of this class | To ask the teacher or school for help |
| To badger the kids to pick up after themselves | To explore effective ways to negotiate family responsibilities |
| To rescue Sam from yet another personal crisis | To set boundaries and ask questions that help him find his own solutions |
| To continue shrinking in fear from the world | To explore ways to comfortably engage with people and the community |
| To always go along with whatever everybody else wants | To speak up for what I want |
From Chapter 6: The Big Ask Plan
(applies to Skill portion of diagram)
Ask the Right Person
Project the Right Attitude
State Your Need Clearly
Give Reasons*
Provide Facts*
Express the Importance to You*
Sell the Vision*
Take Their Perspective
Tell How They’ll Benefit*
Appeal to Their Values*
Make the Ask Conditional*
Make “Thanks” Matter
*Related but optional tools