Many years ago, I was sitting with a number of top
executives in a business meeting. We were discussing
the possibilities of getting more customers. The
thought came to me that we should call Jim, a certain
competitor, and ask him if he would send us some of his
extra business. The thought seemed so ridiculous that I
didn't even voice it. What? Ask a competitor for
business? It was too far-fetched to consider.

A week later at a trade meeting, I bumped into Jim. We
talked for a little while about our various businesses
and then I did a strange thing. I asked him if he had
any extra business that he couldn't handle at the
present time. I told him that we had some excess
capacity at the plant and would be willing to help him
out.

Jim looked at me and smiled. "I wish you had asked me
that last week," he said. "You see, John, we recently
acquired two new, large accounts but we didn't want to
lose some of our smaller accounts. We are working over
capacity right now. We wanted to give some of the
excess work to another company that had the capability
of handling them."

Jim shook his head and continued. "I thought of calling
you folks to ask whether you wanted some extra
business. Before I could make the call, I got
sidetracked with other things and forgot about it for a
day or two. Then, a few days ago, Marty from XYZ
Corporation called and asked if we had any contracts
that they could help us out with. I was only too happy
to agree. I wish you had asked me sooner."

Yes, I, too, wished I had just ASKED. For many reasons
we are reluctant to ask for what we want. The feelings
are complex as to why we hesitate to ask for help when
we need it most. I, too, have faced situations where
I'd rather walk a thousand miles than ask for help.
Perhaps, it is human nature, but I really don't know.

I do know, however, that many times the difference
between success and failure is the simple act of
asking. And who do we ask? And how? This is where the
secret lies. An old man once said to me, "Go to God
first, and then to man as God directs." The first place
to turn to is the Invisible Force that pervades the
universe. Some call this Force God. Others call it "All
That Is" or Jehovah or many other different names.

We ask in the quiet of our hearts. If we listen
carefully, we are led to ask the right person. And if
we do this with a confident heart, believing that we
deserve the support of the universe, we'd be amazed at
the results. With strange turns and with mysterious
means we're led to the answer we seek.

Learn to ask for help. Ask in the silence of your soul
first, and then ask the person you feel led to. That
person could be a friend, a family member, a minister,
a counselor or a business associate. Sometimes help
comes from strange places. In addition to writing
articles, newsletters and books, lecturing and
conducting seminars, I am also an intuitive consultant.
It never ceases to amaze me how many people call me for
a consultation, guidance and insigt and say that they
were led to call me through something they saw on my
websites, the suggestion of a friend, a book they read
or even a dream.

Our world seems to be moving at a faster pace than ever
before. Changes seem to come upon us with lightning
speed. But that is one of the laws of the universe.
Change will always come into our lives. It's how we
deal with it that's important. If we meet change with
confidence and trust, we'll find the strength, courage
and support to adapt, adjust and welcome change. Hope
does shine all around.

There are times when events seem to catch up with us
and we find ourselves at the end of our rope. Worse,
there appears to be nowhere to turn, no help available,
no rest for the weary. Do not be deceived by what
appears to be. There is an ancient saying, "Ask and ye
shall receive."

Whatever the times seem to be, whatever problems we
face, whatever difficulties we imagine in our minds,
let us remember that there is always a way out. Let us
remember that we are children of the universe with all
the gifts of the universe at our disposal. Let us ask
the universe for what we need and we'll be guided to
someone who will be the answer to our problem. Just
don't sit there -- ASK!

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