RSS 2.0The Power of Asking for What You Want
Posted in General on 10/09/2009 11:06 pm by DJ Fuji
Colombia - Click for full size
At the risk of getting all Tony Robbins on my dear readers, I want to share a quick story about the power of asking for what you want. This actually just happened today while flying back home.. I’m literally writing this blog post on the plane back to California.
The day starts like any other, except that I’m in Colombia, everything is mad cheap, and the coffee is, well, Colombian. I check out of the hostel I’m staying at (I think I’m addicted to travelling after meeting all these European backpackers) and I head to the airport. Like any 3rd world country, the line is insanely long. No worries, I’m 3 hours early. I check in (after waiting in line for 2 hours) and then grab a bite to eat. With 45 minutes until takeoff, I head to security. Apparently Colombians don’t care much about security. I probably could have smuggled 50 lbs of coke and I don’t think they’d have noticed. All is good until I hit the secondary baggage screening area. So I guess they DO care about coke exports. The line looks like the one at Disneyland on Memorial Day weekend. In case you were wondering what that looks like…
Fuck.
My options now are a) wait in this line and probably miss my flight, or b) take a chance and ask for what I want. I decide to take the chance. I walk past the hundreds of people standing in line and go up to the military security guy. I contemplate showing him my military ID, but doubt that would have any pull in another country. So I tell him in broken, god-awful Spanish that my flight leaves very, very soon and ask him if I can cut the line.
He waves me through.
If I had waited in that line, I wouldn’t be writing this on my flight. I’d be like the other Americans who declined to ask for what they wanted and missed their flight and are still sitting in the Colombian airport until the next flight… Tomorrow.
Oh but it gets better.
I arrived in Orlando on a risky connecting flight that gave me less than an hour window to go through customs, collect baggage, re-check baggage, take shuttle to main terminal, go through security, and then get to my gate.
And my flight in was late. And my luggage (predictably) was the last one loaded on the baggage carousel. Freakin’ awesome.
20 minutes ‘til departure and I hadn’t even arrived at the main terminal where security is located.
I wasn’t going to make it, and that would mean having to buy another cross country ticket ($500ish) since today was the last day of JetBlue’s $600 All-You-Can-Fly Program. This was gonna suck.
A cute black girl working for TSA was standing by the stairs. I walked over and asked her if there was anything I could do.
Ok, so admittedly I shamelessly flirted with her, but I’m pretty sure the most important part was just asking.
“Hi,” I said as I walked over.
“I have a question…and you’re really cute, by the way, but that’s not what my question is about.”
She laughs.
“I have a flight leaving in 20 minutes and I don’t think I’m going to make it. Is there anything I can do at this point?”
She looks at my boarding pass. “Yeah you’re cutting it close. Security line will take you 20 minutes alone. Here, take this”
She hands me a card with directions on it and says, “When you get to the main terminal with security, go to the employee line and give this to them. You won’t have to wait in line.”
Wow. Wasn’t expecting that at all. I thanked her and caught the shuttle to the main terminal. The security line was HUGE. Easily a half hour just by itself. I walked over to the employee line and they waved me though. Security for airline personnel is stupid easy. I was in and out of there in about 60 seconds.
Got back on the shuttle to my terminal and sprinted over to my gate. They were just about to close the doors.
Why am I telling you this story? Because I would not be on a flight to California had I not asked for what I wanted. I was always raised to be timid and shy and not push the envelope. “Don’t stand out,” my parents always said, “follow the rules and directions and go along with things.” I grew up thinking that if you just followed the crowd, that everything would be ok.
But just like pick up, where the guy who gets the girl is the guy who has the balls to take a chance and approach her…success often goes to the people who ask for –and go after – what they want in life. And that’s the same whether you’re approaching a girl, advancing your career, or getting a job done.
Next time you get a chance, ask for what you want. You’ll be surprised at the result.
10/10/2009 at 06:53
Sometimes it takes a good story to really drive a point home. Enjoyed this post Fuji, thanks!
-Nicky
10/10/2009 at 18:56
This might be my favorite article from you yet. Really well written, and gives great real world examples.
I had a similar thing when I had a date over last week. I ordered a pizza for us, and messed up the toppings, putting meat on her side of the pizza that she couldn’t eat. I called up and tried to fix it, and they said “It’s already in the oven.”
I told her I’d get her something, else, but she said “Call them up and ask if they’ll remake it.”
I figured nothing to lose on that one, so I called and asked if they’d mind remaking it. They had no problem with redoing it. I realized that most good companies, whether they are airports or pizzerias, tend to lean towards long term customer satisfaction over saving a measly two dollars in wasted supplies.
I decided from then on, I’d always ask if I wanted something more. The corporate policy on these issues are often a lot more flexible than we realize. Some companies even are surprised when I tell them their “fix-it-free” policy isn’t visible on their website. They were hoping more people would make requests like this so they could stand out.
If your request gets denied, you don’t get kicked out of the store, or get your seat moved from coach to the luggage bin. They just politely decline you. No big deal.
Thanks for putting this up, DJ.
–Dan
10/11/2009 at 10:09
Nice post. So true!
10/11/2009 at 21:33
Dude I havent even read the post yet, but that is a sick picture!
10/12/2009 at 19:33
This is really good. U never get what u don’t ask for. Sales 101.
10/13/2009 at 04:15
Dude,
I seriously think that every PUA needs to travel.
I think that it is one of the most enlightening things one can do, especially traveling in the 3erd world.
I backpacked through Europe last year, but I still think traveling through the Caribbean and Central/South America kicks its ass!
Talk soon man!
Steve
http://www.theredmole.com/
http://www.youtube.com/theredmolecom
10/14/2009 at 10:40
Nice post,I have also cut the line in Bogota in the same situation. Its funny the americans are all scared, whereas the colombians have no problem jumping in front. They are also alot more up front with the women
10/14/2009 at 16:44
Finally got around to reading this…inspiring man. Definitely vibe with it- and glad everything worked out well for you.
Speaking of backpacking, I’m planning to backpack all through next fall and spring.
Also, I just got an invite to speak at the NY lair. Im thinking of doing a lair talk tour like you just did, in May of 2010 (and hitting NY then)- do you know if the Jet Blue pass will be around then?
And of course, let’s talk about tag teaming it in May. I think that would be kick ass for everyone.
-Dream
10/17/2009 at 20:53
Great post!
Don’t worry about going Robbins man, just keep them coming as they’re very inspirational!
10/20/2009 at 15:45
Great post, I’ve been experiencing the same thing.
I had a company mess up an order for a product I bought online and they wanted me to pay UPS to have it re-shipped. I said FUCK THAT! I told them how I felt about their service and they ended up paying for it to be re-shipped.
I also was able to get a $90 product for one of my projects free from a company by calling up one of the engineers, telling them my case and how I wanted it free. After a while of talking, I got them to give one free to me…they even paid for the overnight shipping.
10/23/2009 at 12:45
Great post, I’m going to follow your advice and ask for what I want… More updates on this blog.
10/24/2009 at 03:30
As you wish. http://www.taoofdjfuji.com/?p=262
11/09/2009 at 09:42
Wow, it takes DJ Fuji’s blog to realize that my Cambridge neighbor, Doc Holliday, is still alive and well!
02/16/2010 at 16:18
Being colombian I felt it was personalized lmao, but it is true.
02/17/2010 at 01:03
Simple yet powerful.