Ask for the Moon and Get it: The Secret of Getting What You Want by Knowing How to Ask

211 Pages·1989·52.444 MB·English

by  Percy Ross, Dick Samson

AsK
FOR TH E
MOON-
and Get ltJ
The Secret to Getting
What You Want
by Knowing How to Ask
Percy Ross
with Dick Samson
G. P. Putnam's Sons/New York
G. P. Putnam's Sons
Publishers Since 1838
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Copyright © 1987 by Percy Ross
All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof,
may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Published simultaneously in Canada by
General Publishing Co. Limited, Toronto
To protect the privacy of a few individuals whose letters have
been published in this book, different names or initials and geo
graphical locations may have been substituted.
Designed by: Helen Granger/Levavi & Levavi
Typeset by Fisher Composition, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ross, Percy (Percy N.)
Ask for the moon-and get it!
1. Interpersonal communication. 2. Verbal ability.
3. Success. I. Samson, Dick. II. Title.
BF637 .C45R655 1986 158' .5 86-16925
ISBN 0-399-13178-7
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
To those with impossible dreams, real needs, or sim
ple desires ... and to all who have hesitated to reach
out:
I dedicate this book.
Contents
I GETTING READY 9
1 How to Ask for the Moon 11
2 How Would You Answer These Requests? 25
II THE TEN RULES OF ASKING 33
3 Decide What You Need 35
48
4 Find the Right Ear
63
5 Your Best Foot Forward
79
6 Prime the Pump
94
7 Break Through the Barriers
106
8 Use Your Imagination
118
9 What Not to Do
135
10 The Best People Do It
ASK FOR THE MOON-AN,D GET fT!
11 An Obvious Yet Neglected Thing to Do 153
12 Don't Be an Island 168
Ill GO AHEAD-ASK FOR THE MOON 1·a3
13 Set Up an "Asking Program" 185
14 More Than the Moon 213
Part I a
GETTING
READY
Chapter 1
How to Ask
for the Moon
My life has seen the fulfillment of two dreams. The
first dream, which I pursued from early childhood,
was to become a millionaire. I made that dream come
true by working hard and by learning how to ask
people for help. I was able to convince friends, family,
employers, bankers, customers, and others to assist
with a thousand small things that contributed, bit by
bit, to my success in business-and in life.
The second dream was to share my wealth with
those who are less fortunate. I wanted to give encour
agement, hope, spirit, and money-to show people
that somebody cared about them and their future.
I began living that dream, full-time, in the early
1970s. Through my column, "Thanks a Million,"
which is syndicated in over 140 newspapers, I've been
able to give help and support to thousands of others
throughout the United States. Many people write ask
ing me for assistance every week, and I have a full
time staff to help answer their requests.
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AND GET IT! -
ASK FOR THE MOON-
-
. valves giving, it has
Though my philanthrohY ~~t of asking. Over the
taug ht me much ab· oeudt tm ea ny, many requests for
w"tyMmhne iioooannnsr"ngtse i yoinst,f gIh t t gahhohptae oant i v .udsnt .e smh c, n ei·eep o rp,ee 1r ecedt h e asre1s esdov Os.r£.ni es Hataaases sno k kcns ~1e rn1I · ng osa .hf nt heTsoe whn hreaeai gtrs t h y"kt dyp nwieeoss acw o"y·o l r1v.ef n o eadsrrng te eoesdoa t hr dctne aheorne- .f
help you t oo get whatever Yo u want in every area of
your life-at work or sc h oo l ' at home or in your corn-
munity.
THE SECRET TO GETTING WHAT YOU WANT
I believe that if you ask, and ask in the right way, Y?U
can have whatever you want in life: wealth, matenal
goods, happiness, rich life experiences, fulfilling rela
tionships, and more.
Knowing how to ask can bring you a raise, invest-
ment capital to start a business of your own, the job
you've always wanted, more responsibility, a willing
audience for your ideas, a better price for things you
want to buy, the cooperation of family members or
fellow employees, moral support when you face diffi
csi~olntise sy,o rui cthh onuegwh tf ryioenud csohuiplds, neevveenr eaxffpoernds. ive posses
British novelist and philosopher Aldous Huxley
once said,_ "People always get what they ask for."
g~iuvcenh yeoarul.i"e r, Jesus proclaimed," Ask, and it shall be
Asking can help make your dearest dreams come
~rouoe k i~s utto ttheearceh's y oaun tahrat t taor ta. sking. The goal of this
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How TO ASK FOR THE MOON
FROM RAGS TO RICHES THROUGH ASKING
1W. n hthene cI owpapse jru mst1• sn i1•xn gy eraergsi oonld o ' fg Mroiwch·i in'gg up, i.U n Laurium
an s pper Pen-
i· nsula, I ask ed my father for a bicycl e. He 1o o ke d at
me sadly, and shook his head. My pare n t s, 1. mm1.-
.
grants f rom La tv1a and Russia, had nothing. They
could not afford any extras. Other kids had bicycles
but it was all my parents could do to keep us war~
and fed. My parents cared about us kids, and they did
the very best they could. Still, I wanted a bike, and I
wanted one badly. As I walked along the dusty road
side, I envied the wealthy mining company officials
who drove by in their plush automobiles.
It was then that I first decided that wealth would
bring me some of the things I dreamed of. I set my
sights on becoming a millionaire.
It may sound absurd or outlandish, but never un
derestimate the power of setting goals-and pursuing
them. It can work miracles, even for a poor, bikeless,
but hopeful kid. My dreams came true, and then
some. I asked life to make me a millionaire. Life made
me a multimillionaire.
I asked for the moon and got it. You can too. I at
tribute my success to sacrifice, dedication, hard work,
a little luck-and a whole lot of asking. I would not be
where I am if I had not convinced many' many people
to help me along the way.
MY FIRST LESSONS
h I my family earn
At a very early age, I had to e P My
things from me.
money by asking people to b uy
13
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