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WHAT DO YOU WANT … AND WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU TO ASK FOR IT?
We ask every day. But when something really matters—an opportunity, help, support, clarity, forgiveness, feedback, an exception, a connection, or the truth—asking can suddenly feel risky.
So we hesitate. We hint. We wait. Or we decide the answer will probably be no before we’ve even asked the question.
THE BIG ASK explores what happens when we stop holding ourselves back and start asking more courageously and effectively.
Drawing on research, practical tools, and more than 80 true and inspiring stories gathered from his conversations with people from all walks of life—from entrepreneurs to CEOs, artists, job seekers, students, military veterans, and more—author Paul Quinn reveals how a single request can sometimes change the course of a career, a relationship, or a life.
You’ll discover how to:
• Ask more clearly, directly, and confidently
• Ask for opportunities, buy-in, help, support, clarity, feedback, and more
• Recognize the hidden rules and assumptions that may be limiting what you ask for
• Know when not to ask
• Become more curious about other people—and use questions to build stronger connections
• Develop an “asking mindset” that helps you see possibilities you might otherwise miss
THE BIG ASK is about becoming willing to ask for what matters—and discovering what becomes possible when you do.
Because sometimes the only thing standing between you and a possibility you never imagined is the question you were afraid to ask.
Reviews
“I found so much hope and encouragement in these stories of people from all walks of life who summoned up the gumption to just ask for what they want in life. I’m certain it will inspire you to step up in your own life and just ask!” — Jane Lynch, five-time Emmy award-winning actor
“Paul Quinn is gifted at capturing game-changing truth in a single sentence. This book’s masterful dive into the art of asking will help you liberate yourself from self-sabotaging patterns, and into empowered action.” — Marian Baker, founder, Mastery of Leadership Arts, named one of 50 top executive coaches in America
“This book is more than stories of others and their ‘asks.’ It’s a journey inward where the reader can find the courage to sharpen their skills and get more of what they really want.” — G. Dan Lumpkin, Certified Management Consultant (CMC) Emeritus, and CEO, Lumpkin & Associates
“I never gave interviews about this, but for this book I made an exception. So, if there’s just one person who will act upon my story, that would do it for me.” — Michel Elings, co-developer of Apple News, and CEO & co-founder, Vev
“Quinn draws on the experiences of a breathtakingly broad range of people to illustrate how powerful asking can be at shaping our destinies. This book is life-changing and would be particularly useful for young people just starting their careers.” — Mark Elliott, faculty, DePaul University