Ask For What You Want

Larry and Hannah

There I was, minding my own business with my “What’s Your Challenge” sign up, when someone showed up with their challenge. I mean, who does that anyway?!?

Hannah Quimby does. Her challenge: raise $25,000 by Thursday. Let me do some math. Today’s Sunday, <counting on my fingers> so that’s in four days.

Here’s why. Hannah and her team, the Harbor Boston Project, have committed themselves to support Project Hope Boston and their mission to create a safe and joyful space for women and families impacted by homelessness.

Do I know how to raise $25,000 in four days? No. Is it impossible to raise $25,000 in four days? Absolutely not! And if you know how Project Hope Boston can get that money, reach out to them here.

Someone knows how to raise that kind of money, especially in the neighborhood where we were having our conversation. You could walk up to probably anyone and ask, “Could you give me $10 for a really important reason?” And as I type this, I’m thinking one could just as easily ask for $100 and you’d get it.

The thing is the universe really, really wants to give you things. Important things. Things that could change your life. This isn’t woo-woo talk. The universe is the people around you. Nobody wants to be rejected, and science has figured out that people also don’t want to reject. You ask for someone for something and that person will either 1) give it to you, or 2) won’t have the power to give it to you but really wish they could. Crazy, I know.

So here’s your homework. Do an experiment. For the next week, ask a stranger to give you something or to do something for you. “Would you take my photo?'“ is a good place to start. Then each day, make the request a little more outrageous. Push the boundaries a little each day. Find out what it takes to get rejected. And since this is an experiment, take notes of your findings.

Oh, and have fun.