Most People Never ASK

This week, I have been triggered and reminded by many chats with my teammates about the importance of being comfortable with ASK- for help, opportunities, references, and even a chance to get into a relationship. A few days back, I wrote about being comfortable asking for help specifically. Instead of writing more about this idea today, I want to share this lovely little clip featuring Steve Jobs.

The Santa Clara Valley Historical Association interviewed Steve Jobs in 1994. In this film clip, a segment from that full unscripted interview, Steve Jobs discusses his thoughts on failure and how people refrain from asking because of an unconscious fear of rejection.

Take a moment to watch this one-minute clip. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of being comfortable with rejection.

Here’s a transcript of the final point Steve Jobs makes in the interview.

“Most people never ask. And that’s what separates people who do things from people who just dream about them. You’ve got to act, and you’ve got to be willing to fail. You’ve got to be willing to crash and burn, you know, with people on the phone, with starting a company, with whatever. If you’re afraid of failing, you won’t get very far.”