70% Said Yes—Your Shot of Fearless Culture #407
Where change agents find their weekly dose of culture insights and exercises, one topic at a time.
This week, I had to practice what I preach.
I reached out to people for endorsements for my new book, Forward Talk. That meant contacting busy CEOs, fellow writers, and some big names in the field.
I worried: Will they even reply? Am I bothering them? What if they say no?
But I did it anyway.
Here’s what surprised me: 70% of people I contacted said yes. Some have already sent their blurbs.
We overthink asking for help. We imagine the worst.
But most people want to help—they just need you to ask.
I never ask my clients or readers to do something I haven’t done first. So when I wrote this week’s article about asking for help, I was living it. Just one day after publishing, I started asking for blurbs.
In my article, I show you how to ask for help effectively—and how to respond when others ask you.
Quick tip: It’s okay to say no without explaining why.
Explore this week’s newsletter:
My latest article → Asking for Help Isn’t Weakness. It’s a Collaboration Skill
Practical exercises to practice asking and giving help
Stay fearless, my friend.
Gustavo
In Case You Missed It
→ Why Great Leaders Ask “How Can I Help You?”
Ask Your Team This
How easy is it to ask for help here?
⚠️ Try This
The Imperfect Ask
Most people wait until they’ve exhausted all options before asking for help. By then, the ask feels desperate and heavy.
Try this instead: Ask for help early this week.
Choose something you’re working on and gather input to make it better. Ask a simple question:
“I’m thinking through X, what’s your take on Y?”
“I’m considering two options, which makes more sense to you?”
“Can I get your quick opinion on this idea?”
The point isn’t to offload all your work. It’s to make asking for help normal before you hit a wall.
🍦 Feed Your Curiosity
How to ask for help without making yourself look bad
How to overcome your reluctance to ask for help at work
Study shows humans around the world like to help
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Gustavo Razzetti
CEO, Fearless Culture