Valuable Questions
With beautiful Thanksgiving celebrations now passed – as well as Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday – what if you got in touch with the feeling you get when you ask for something? What if you got committed, creative, and courageous asking for what you want in business and life? That’s what we are up to in this newsletter, cool?
Origins
Long-time readers know that this newsletter is a creative outlet discussing business and life through the lens of water. In addition to keeping Agile Rainmakers, the company, and Rob, the person, connected to hundreds of close friends and associates, the intention of this newsletter is to assist the reader in reexamining life’s assumptions in such a fun and dynamic way that one is left uplifted and altered in a positive manner. In short, it is intended to get you unstuck, flourishing, energized, taking action, out there in life, smiling and living with gusto, as if you are surfing a kahuna.
I’m told that what works in digital marketing is to create and share value in a ratio of 3:1 relative to making requests. By that reckoning, Agile Rainmakers has built up about 12 “ask-credits” at this point. So, we will be making one ask of you at the end of this newsletter.
Requests
The biggest request of my life was asking Mary to marry me. That was courage personified. Though it took her 10 long minutes, thankfully, the answer was "yes" and it has stayed "yes" for over 20 years. This culminated in a 20th anniversary Hawaii trip at the end of September. As a result, our clients are today enjoying holiday treats from the Big Island as part of our annual acknowledgement for their business. Nothing beats chocolate covered macadamia nuts and a bar of Hawaiian coconut oil soap – nothing except being happily married for 20 years. All made possible through one courageous ask.
As I consider courageous requests for Agile Rainmakers, I struggle. I just have not needed to make any requests that make me tingle or give me a knot in my stomach during these four years. It has been a miraculous ask-free journey to date. Clients have been eager to be advised by Agile Rainmakers, I have bootstrapped the business so I haven’t had to ask for money, interns have been eager to join the Summer Riptide Program, the media has reached out to inquire about the Intern book, and my family has been totally supportive of this business from the get-go. In short, there’s been no need for courage, creativity, or commitment in the realm of requests.
And, what’s clear to me now is how much is being left in the surf. Without “needing” to make requests, Agile Rainmakers is not nearly making the impact it can for clients, interns, and readers like it could. It seems that the request muscle has atrophied for lack of need due to disuse. It is time to change that out of a commitment to growth and development. By the way, what have you left on the table where you are and how does that make you feel?
If what I’m saying resonates with you, then begin today by making a request that makes you a little nervous. It could be you’re asking for a higher fee, a bigger discount, a huge sale, a long-term commitment, or something else that is huge for you. Keep in mind, every request can be answered with “no.” People have freedom and choice.
The Specific Asks
Here is a creative list of specific Agile Rainmakers’ asks. Just this time, please take action on one. Then email me at Robert@agilerainmakers.com and let me know how it was for you. The first 10 to do so receive an advanced draft copy of Intern Management, the second book in the Intern book series.
If you love this newsletter, will you invite two close friends to be on it? They can do so here: https://www.agilerainmakers.com/blog
As of today, we have 57 Amazon reviews for How To Intern Successfully. Our goal is to get to 100 reviews by December 31st. If you are someone who has already purchased and read at least some of the book, could you please write a review on Amazon?
Our goal is to have How To Intern Successfully be the preferred employer gift for students the moment a student accepts an internship offer. If you host interns, will you please purchase the book (www.amazon.com/dp/1956503005) for your interns – past, present and future? It is the perfect holiday gift.
If you are a current client, could you please fill out and return the year-end client survey that you will be receiving next week?
We like to know about the lasting impact we make. If you are a former client, could you please reply and communicate how business has been going for you?
Applications for interning at Agile Rainmakers this summer start today. If you have interned at Agile Rainmakers, who are two highly capable friends you can invite to apply? They can email me directly.
If you have a specific request for a business and water themed newsletter you would like me to write, will you please let me know?
All newsletters can all be found here: https://www.agilerainmakers.com/blog. Which is your favorite? Will you please reply and let me know?
If you are a friend and we haven’t talked in over three months, please email me and let me know how you are doing, will you?
Aren't Questions The Best?
To be successful in business and life requires making requests, doesn’t it? How else could you possibly expect to produce results? Don’t you have to ask for a discount, a sale, a job, or a partner? When is the last time any of those just landed on your surfboard? Can’t remember? They have happened but it is probably so rare that it is difficult to recall, right? The bottom line is you have to ask questions in business and life, otherwise you won’t get what you want, will you?
In closing, thank you for being an interested reader today. Thank you for whatever requests you make of others this month that are an expression of your commitments, that take courage, and that are a creative outlet for you. Thank you for whatever request you take action on from our list above. Why not?
Here's to you and your awesome future.
Until then, keep your feet on the board and keep riding your wave!
Robert J. Khoury
CEO Agile Rainmakers