“Tell me what you want now.” If someone asked you that question right now, would you be able to answer it? What would you say? If your boss asked you that question, would you be able to tell him that you want to be assigned to the new important project? If your friend asked you that question, would you be able to tell her that you wanted her to design a logo for you or to help you find a boyfriend who likes to golf? Tell me, “What do you want now?”
I ask this question to a lot of people all the time. Their first response is never the same as what they tell me later. At first, they say something very general like “I want to be rich” or “I want to be happy.” Later on, after a long conversation with them, I learn that they want to change careers and become a fashion editor or that they are looking for new office space to rent or that they want to simply learn how to swing dance. Later on, the things they want are much more specific. But, it takes them more than an hour to tell me so.
Be a big mouth: Tell people specifically what you want. Tell lots of people. The more people you tell, the higher the chance that you will get what you want and achieve personal success.
Most people spend a majority of their time thinking about themselves. It’s just a fact of life. People have lots to do and lots to worry about and they don’t always remember what you want. If you want people to remember, you need to tell them and remind them. Your friends, family, co-workers and boss, will help you in some way. But, if you don’t speak up and if you aren’t specific, then they won’t know what you want.
So, talk about yourself. Tell people what you want, what you’re interested in, and what type of help you need. Don’t be shy about telling and asking for what you want, but be specific so they know how to help. Don’t just talk about really general things that nobody can do anything about. Instead of “I want money” say “I am looking for an investor for a new business idea.” Instead of “I want success” say “I am trying to sell my new line of makeup products.” Instead of “I want to be pretty” say “I am looking for a good gym with great classes.”
Finally, remember to have a big mouth and tell as many people as you can. Even if you’ve already told them, tell them again and again and again. Make your needs and wishes top of mind. The more people you tell, the higher your chances of finding someone to help you and the higher your chances of making sure they remember and tell you the next time they see an opportunity for you. A big mouth may just be your personal key to success.