Tuesday, 8 November 2011

An Inspirational Book


Book title: Just Ask the Right Questions to Get What You Want
Author: Ian Cooper

Ian Cooper is a leading consultant, skills trainer and presenter in business and personal development for professional practices and service organizations. He has written ten books and appeared many times on radio and TV.

Do you know what holds you back more  than anything else? Ian Cooper believes that it is our failure to JUST ASK for what we want. After reading this book, I kind of agree with him. He has helped many of his clients to win business bids by just calling and asking for the specifications that the company wants. Sometimes, he even gets information like the price of other bidders! But of course, there are certain techniques when asking, which are written in the book. I've tried out some techniques like asking for a lower price when buying clothes. And after reading this book, I am more sensitive to the way people ask questions, I tend to analyse their way of asking!

Below is an excerpt from Questions to "Just Ask" Yourself section:
*Specially dedicated to Jaff*

Am I guilty of 'paralysis by analysis'?
Do you ever spend time agonizing so much over things that they never get done at all? Do you ever miss out on good opportunities because you are striving for the perfect answer?
I had a client many years ago who decided that, for the first time ever, they needed a glossy brochure to promote their various services. I had been asked to guide and help them with this process. Guess how long it took from the day the first word was drafted to them holding the brochure in their hands? Six weeks? Three months? Try again! It took them over four years!
This was because they over-analyzed every word and choice as if their lives depended on it. It culminated with a three-hour meeting in a beautiful boardroom, where 20 senior members of the organization argued over what percentage shade of grey would go on the front cover!
In their efforts to get it right, their 'paralysis by analysis' had cost them four years of missed opportunities, during which time they didn't have the promotional material they had decided they needed.
Sometimes, you just need to stop over-thinking and simply act on your best instinct. Ask yourself whether the extra time, stress and mental exercise justifies what you lose or miss out on whilst you are doing your thinking.

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DeeJay sincerely recommend this book to everyone! It really is worth reading! 
Buy it or borrow it from a library!

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