Inaugural Thought: Just Ask For It!

Why don’t women ask for what we want?

I’ve always thought that when it comes to my personal relationships, I need to ask for what I want. That’s the only way someone can know what I want. People can’t read minds after all. If I don’t get what I want, and I don’t say what I want, then I have no one to blame but myself. However, if I ask and don’t receive, then I think I’m entitled to pull out the ‘big guns’

But, I’ve not really felt I could ask at work. But, all that changed when I read ‘Women Don’t Ask.’ I learned women lose out on promotions, raises, and perks simply because we don’t ask. We assume that if we do well, we’ll be rewarded. But, I’ve learned that’s not how the men do it. They have no shame in asking for more. Sometimes, they get shot down. But, more often they get the extra money or the exiting project while we toil away hoping that someone will recognize our good work.

Now, I finally asked for something I wanted at work. I wasn’t sure I could have it.  But, I didn’t see any reason why I couldn’t. I was excited to ask. I didn’t know which way it would go, so my excitement went a bit into nervousness. However, I gave myself a little pep talk and asked. AND RECEIVED!

Women need to ask for what we want every chance we can. It’s not self centered. It’s not feeling entitled. It’s simply asking. And if we don’t get our way every time, that’s ok too. Maybe next time.