A snooty millionaire took some of his upper class friends yachting. They passed a deserted island where a man with a long beard and tattered clothes stood, waving his arms and screaming in their direction. "Who is that?" asked the friend.

"I don't know," said the millionaire, "but every time we sail by he goes crazy."

Thank goodness most people are more helpful than that! In fact, help is one of the easiest things to get from people -- but for some, one of the hardest to ask for. Are you able to ask for the help you need?

Cynthia Kersey, in her book UNSTOPPABLE (Sourcebooks, Inc., 1998) tells of one man who asked for help from an unlikely source, and got it! Pole vaulter and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Bob Richards was working to break the pole vaulting record held by Dutch Warmerdam. No matter how he tried, he was still a foot below his goal. Finally, in a bold move, he picked up the phone and called Dutch himself and asked for help. Dutch invited him for a visit, promising to help if he could. And he did. He spent three days coaching Bob and correcting his mistakes. As a result, Bob's performance went up by eight inches.

Most people will readily help. But they must be asked. Entrepreneur Brian Tracy instructs, "Ask for what you want. Ask for help, ask for input, for advice and ideas -- but never be afraid to ask." Or like one man is fond of saying, "You don't always get what you ask for, but you never get what you don't ask for (unless it's contagious!)."

Do you need help? It may be easier to get than you think. Just ask for it!

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