Quick Tip
Feel like your career or business has hit a plateau? Having difficulty finding clients, customers, or lucrative opportunities? Things feel "stuck," "blocked," or just "off"?
Make this your new morning routine: Give. Ask. Receive.
Give. Ask. Receive.
Years ago, I came up with this 3-step routine and tested it out with myself and a group of clients. We all noticed that it created an immediate shift.
The concept is simple.
Every morning, as you begin your workday:
Give
Before you do anything else, do something generous with no expectations and no strings
attached.
Start your day by doing an act of generosity for a friend, colleague, client, customer, or a group of people.
Ideas:
- Post a five-star review about a friend’s podcast.
- Introduce a client to someone they ought to meet.
- Refer business to a freelancer who does stellar work.
- Share a
music playlist with your colleagues to brighten their day.
- Recommend a colleague for a speaking gig and put in a good word.
- Text a friend and give them a heads up: "Did you see this grant opportunity? You should go for it!"
It can be something quick that doesn’t take much time. Big generosity in a tiny package. Once you’ve done that, then...
Ask
Reach out to someone in your network (though not necessarily the same person you just gave to—it can be someone else) and make a request, proposition, or invitation. Ask for something you want.
Ideas:
- Ask someone
to hire you.
- Ask someone to feature your product in their shop.
- Ask a previous client if they want to work with you again.
- Ask your community to sign up for a class you're leading.
- Ask someone you admire if you can interview them for a project you're working on.
- Ask a literary agent to take a look at your book proposal and consider representing you.
- Ask a friend to join you for a celebratory meal: "I just launched a
new offer into the world. Let's go celebrate!"
If you’re courageous enough to ask, there’s always a chance they will say, “Yes.” Once you ask, open yourself up to...
Receive
As good things come your
way, allow yourself to receive them. Receive help. Receive treats. Receive surprises. Receive funding.
Say, "Thank you, that's wonderful!" rather than, "Oh no no no, really, you don't have to do that, I couldn't possibly..."
For many, giving is relatively easy, asking is harder, and receiving is the hardest of all. Practice flexing your
receiving muscles in tiny ways, at first, building up to bigger ways over time.
Repeat
Give. Ask. Receive. Do it every morning.
Try doing this for 3, 10, 20, or 100 days in a row.
Watch what happens.
You'll feel uplifted as you begin your day. You'll be proud of yourself for being brave and asking. You'll build resilience with every "no" and feel victorious with every "yes." And, you'll be amazed by the momentum that builds and the opportunities that come your way.
