I just learned a big lesson when it comes to the power of "asking". Here’s the story:

WRITING RESEARCH

I’m working on a writing project for an upcoming book about a teenager who loves Track and Field. I’ve begun doing some research and took a trip (on Friday) to the NikeTown store on 57th street in Manhattan to help me visualize certain aspects of the story. I went to the store looking specifically for a adjustable Running Vest, which I saw online at Nike.com. The store itself is pretty amazing and the atmosphere is rather addictive.

Running Vest

So I inquired about the vest and they have them, but supplies are running low. The guy gave me the package and I noticed that it’s a Large/X-Large. I’m not a hulking guy so I asked for a smaller size. The guy assured me that it should be fine - after all it’s adjustable. So I took his advice (he is the one that works there) and made the purchase. When I got all the way home I discovered that even with the vest fully adjusted to its smallest size… it’s still way too big.

Talk about annoyed! Now I had to wait until Monday to go and make the exchange.

THE RUNNING VEST: RELOADED

So today I went back during my lunch break and the Running Vests are no where to be found on the selling floor. I talked to a manager and he said that they were getting extremely low on them and may be out of the smaller size. He pulls out his inventory tracking device and checks. Sure enough the number is -12 for the size I want.

"I’m sorry we’re completely out. As you can see we’re in negative numbers. But I can check the other stores to see if we can order it."

"How long will that take?"

"About a week… maybe four days."

I don’t want to wait a week, but what can I do? That seems to be my only option. I’m about to concede to what the manager has told me and bite the bullet. I’ll just have to wait… but then I remembered a fact from when I used to be a Customer Service Manager at Macys.

"How accurate is your inventory tracker?" I asked.

"It’s pretty accurate." The manager replied.

"I used to work at Macys and I know that sometimes these systems aren’t immediately updated. There may be a possibility that you have the vest in the size I need in your stock room. Would you be willing to take a look for me?"

The manager looked at me for a moment and then said "Sure. I’ll be right back." A few minutes went by and the manager came back with the vest in hand.

"You were right. There was one back there. Sorry about that."

"Not a problem. Have a good day."

I walked away thinking, "Wow, it’s a good thing I asked."

THE REALIZATION

And there was the lesson. There is power in asking. I thought about a quote from a book I’m reading by professor and author, Randy Pausch who says in his book, The Last Lecture, "Brick walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something."

So don’t be afraid to ask about what you want to know or about where you want to go. Don’t be afraid of asking someone to go the extra mile, even if they’re sure something won’t work. The worst thing that can happen is that they will say "no" or that what you want is not available. But the best thing that could happen is that what you desire to do is available.

This lesson also reminded me of a segment from my book, Transition: Breaking Through the Barriers .

"I’ll always wonder, if I don’t ask
About what could have been
I’ll always wonder, if I don’t walk
Which way I should have gone.
I’ll always wonder, if I don’t try
If success would have been the reward…
I’ll always wonder."

Don’t live your life wondering. In the end, if you didn’t get something, let it not be because you were afraid to ask. Jesus says, "Ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door shall be open."

Now all I need to do is remember my own advice and act on it in future circumstances! :-)

-Allen Paul Weaver III-

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