SUCCESS | Life Only Gives You What You Ask For

Remember, life will only give you what you ask for. Nothing more and nothing less. So don't be shy about looking up and asking for a lot. I'm going to go back to the basics here. Because when you miss the basics, you find yourself most off course. I'll swear by this. It's not the complexities or the details that derail us and leave us navigating the wilderness, hopelessly looking for answers. It's the foundational things. It's missing the pillars. So that said, I'm going to share a little anecdote. Not because, and this is important, this anecdote in and of itself is super meaningful or, you know, profound. In fact, you'll probably find it quite trivial. And I hope you do, because it is. But it's what it represents. It's the symbolism behind it. So as I'm walking you through this, all I ask is that you're thinking about your own life and the places where this could apply. So the other day, I got invited to an event up in Vancouver. And I'll share more about that soon. It was a great experience. I'm going to drip it. Can't give it all in one take. But regardless, I got invited to this trip and I booked my flight from Phoenix to Vancouver. Quick notice, quick turnaround. So I went to find a flight online. And of course, everything's a bit overpriced and a little outrageous. And you kind of expect that, right? I'm scrolling, looking at the options. Find one, select it. And I'm like, no, I'm not going to pay over $100 to choose my seat. That's outrageous. I'm going to roll the dice. And as you guessed, that means I landed in a middle seat. Not ideal, but again, first world problems, I'll be fine. And I'm at the gate about 20 minutes before boarding. I remember it perfectly, leaning against this pillar with my backpack, watching something or texting on my phone. And it dawns on me, like I look up at the gate and I think, well, why don't I walk up there and see if there's an aisle or window? It's like, worst they can say is no. You approach it with humility, but at least ask. So I walk up. Guy's at the counter. Hi, how can I help you? And I basically say, hey, this is out of left field. Wondering, you know, I got randomly put in a middle seat. Is there any aisle or window available you can move me to? Guy's kind of expressionless. He asked me for my ID, doesn't say anything. Few seconds go by, hands me my ID back with a printed out ticket. Says, here you go, moved it to 13A. Enjoy. Just like that. I was like, sweet, I didn't even have to do anything. Better outcome. And the only job I did, only work I did was realizing that I could have that. You know, and I told you it was a small thing, but man, if that doesn't make you ask, how many times in my life have I just accepted a current situation or outcome as final when I could have just pushed back against it? It's not even that we get nervous and don't ask. It's that we don't think too. Doesn't even dawn on us. We forget how much control we have. Translate that into everyday life. And it looks a lot like you'll never get that promotion if you don't stop and think, you know what? Like this role has been great, but I can be a leader or a manager or whatever stepping up looks like. I can start working towards more responsibility and the rewards and perks that come with it. You'll never date your dream person if you don't think, hey, who is this ideal person? And why don't I level up to become the type of person who attracts them? You'll never change your physique if you don't look in the mirror and say, you know what, man? I've been accepting this for years as quote unquote, the way I am, but I don't have to. And you know what? I can do something daily to step into that new pair of shoes. Now, all of these are admittedly more nuanced and complex than changing a seat on a plane. Yes. But the funny thing is, it's like the fundamental idea is the same. You realize that what is, is not a permanent state. It's not a condition assigned to you. It's the product of your own actions, right? That's part one, realizing that. And then the second part, of course, is doing something about it. It's walking up to that metaphorical customer service desk and seeking change, doing what is required. And that second part is what I mean when I say the universe will never give you what you don't ask for. As a friend of mine has said, and I've referenced this before, you can't outsource your pushups. You have to do them. It's like same deal. You have to identify your mountaintop and then climb towards it. But you never get the view if you don't, one, identify the mountaintop, and two, climb. I know we're all guilty of this. I know we're all guilty of saying, oh, well, I guess I live at the base of the mountain. That's my reality. When it doesn't have to be. Too often we settle for less than ideal because we don't even imagine something better. And it's so fun. It's invigorating. It's freeing when that light bulb goes off. It's like, oh, my God, I can change this. I can stop X. I can go do Y. I built a little cage around myself here, here, and here, and I can unlock them and simply walk out. And one by one, you free yourself from those self-made walls or cages or bars. Let me remind you all, you control how you spend your day. You might not think you do, but you do. And you control who you share time with, and you might not think you do, but you do. You control how you show up. You might not think you do, but you do. This is, one, finding the courage to ask more of the world, and two, finding the strength to step out your front door and take it. Start conditioning your mind to ask that question. Are things this way because it's ideal and it aligns with what matters to me? Or are things this way simply because I've allowed it? You get in life what you tolerate. And on that drive through life, you can ride shotgun and end up where you end up, or you can take the wheel. You can hold your hands out and accept what is given to you, or you can use them to build a world that is entirely your own. It goes quickly. So why not start recognizing and unlocking all those little cages we've made ourselves comfortable in? Instead of settling for anything, why not ask the world for everything?