Keep Asking and Exploring

I've spent my entire career in Houston and have had the good fortune to experience so many diverse treasures in our fabulous region.  And, unlike many of my other non-UH alum friends and colleagues, I've spent quite a bit of time on the UH campus, engaging in various collaborative opportunities.  What I thought I knew and appreciated about Texas' newest Tier One University, was expanded tenfold in the past two days.  A well planned and orchestrated executive women's retreat exposed our largely non-UH alum group, to exciting research, amazing collaborations and world-class facilities.

This experience reminded me that our relationships and knowledge are only growing when we keep asking and exploring.

If You Don't Ask...

I recently took my car in for prescribed service.  The very next day, I received an email promotion from the dealership offering $X off of various amounts of total service performed.  My gracious response was that I'd love to have $X credited for the service I'd had performed the day before.  Because I asked, and I assume they evaluated the length of time I'd been a loyal customer, my request was granted.  The carefully worded exclusions for previously rendered service did not thwart me, nor did they prevent my request from being honored.

Often, our reasonable requests will be honored.  But if we merely fume about missing a deadline by a few hours, we won't have the chance to be pleasantly rewarded for our patronage.

Asking is the easiest way to potentially get what we seek.

Perfect Timing - Planned or Uniquely Presented

Today, while running an errand, I fortuitously or divinely, ran into a dear friend whom I generally see only a few times a year.  As soon as I saw her, it was obvious that something was quite wrong.  Another few seconds at check-out or any other diversion would have caused us to miss the chance to visit.  And neither of us had ever visited this store during our lunch hour. Though neither of us expected this opportunity, it was perfectly timed and definitely meant to be.

When work trauma presents, it's often helpful to have an interested third party available as a biased, but helpful adviser.  In just a few minutes, we were able to construct a productive action plan.

Though it worked for us, we don't have to rely on fate or divine intervention, when we are overwhelmed.  Those who care about us are willing to find time to help us sort through life's issues.

Perfect timing can be planned or uniquely presented.

Great Advice

We are all bombarded by unsolicited advice.  Some of it may be good to excellent, but if we're not receptive, it might as well be worthless, because we won't act upon it.  And some of the unsolicited advice is terrible to dangerous.  So, wise caution is prudent in evaluating and acting upon unsolicited advice.  The more we trust the source and her or his expertise, the more likely we are to accept it.  That is, unless we feel competitive with the adviser, be it parent, friend or colleague.

However, when we solicit the advice of a trusted source and are eager to embrace it, we often not only receive a tremendous gift, but give one as well.

Today was a banner day for solicited advice from me.  And in each of the five instances, the appreciation of the recipient was so gratifying.

Great advice is that which is knowledgeably given and enthusiastically acted upon.   Great advice appropriately shared and acknowledged makes the giver and receiver both realize that a gifted exchange has occurred.

Ask and You May Receive

Recently I entered a large department store and read the sign detailing additional savings on sale items.  As I was paying for my items I asked the sales clerk about the additional discount on my purchases, and was told that the sale ended the previous day.  She was surprised when I showed her that the sale sign was still displayed at the entrance I'd used.  She agreed to my request to ask her manager to honor the previous day's sale price.  Before completing my special purchase, she followed her manager's order and removed the outdated sign from this little used entrance.  I smiled and thanked her for granting me the additional discount.  As she handed me my bag, she let me know that no one else would be receiving the additional discounts. 

This incident reminded me that by reasonably asking for what we want, we may receive what others don't.

Stranger in our House

Okay, we don't really have a stranger in the house, because she quickly became a friend!  A friend and neighbor asked if their niece could stay with us for her spring break job shadowing trip.  We were delighted to accommodate this young woman we'd never met because she was part of a friend's family.  Of course if this same individual had approached us on her own, without the connection, we would have declined.  She's a delightful young woman and we're pleased that she's become a new friend.

I love this beautiful illustration of asking for what you want and need from those with whom you have a great relationship.  When we're open to possibilities, strangers become friends and relationships are strengthened by shared experiences.

Building - Learn from Others

Our dear neighbors are planning to build a new home where their existing home stands.  Kudos to them for seeking answers, experiences and opinions from others who have done this.  Their experience will be better from meeting with those of us who have already done what they are contemplating.  Many of us love passing along tips and tricks to others so that they don't have to experience the trial and error that we faced.

When we are contemplating a new venture, we must remember that many others want to pay it forward by sharing their "must do's and don't do's".

Direct Impact

Whether it's a floor furnace, ceiling fan, radiator, window unit air conditioner, or fireplace, we immediately recognize the impact of these purveyors of hot and cold.  When we have central air and heating, we aren't as conscious of our mechanism of achieving the desired result.

When we are attempting to address the needs of others, we must be aware that they each have different preferred methods of achieving their priorities.  Asking is our only way of ascertaining their ideal method of communication, allowing for the best direct impact.