Ask! A Book of Discovery
Empower yourself ...
Ask! A Book of Discovery

A Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 5 Looking Back


Describe a time when you were completely unprepared.


Page 219


Consider following this question with: Why were you unprepared?  What you could have done differently?  Did this one event change how you prepared yourself for similar situations later in life? 


www.littlebookofquestons.com


Ask! A Book of Discovery  Coming Soon!

<< MORE >>

Are Your Mouth and Body Arguing?

When we talk about communication, we generally refer to the spoken word.

"Hi! How are you?" is a pretty straight forward example of communication, right?

Now supposed you are told that the person asking you the above question was slouched over, didn't make eye contact and had her arms crossed?

Big difference.

The point is, while the above description might be an extreme example, it proves the point that while we don't see ourselves most of the time, others do when we communicate with them.

For example, if I were to ask you to name people you know who talk fast, are distracted by others during a conversation, or interrupt often, you probably have many names that come to mind.  How about this ... can you think of those who tend to lean in and become engaged while talking to you or others who are specifically guarded when they speak to strangers?

The bottom line is, while you clearly notice visual differences among people you know, what makes you think others are assessing the same about you?!

Remember, communication is more than what leaves the mouth ... now sit up straight!

Empower yourself ... Ask! << MORE >>

A Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 5:  Looking Back

Explain a time in your life you found especially difficult or challenging?

What could you have done to improve it?

(Page 217)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions from Ask! sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!<< MORE >>

Is The Television Your Best Friend?

Statistics show that the average American watches just over six hours of television a day.  No doubt, most of you just gasped, shook your heads and proudly stated, "Not me!"  (But what about the amount of time you spend on the internet?)

Whoops!  

Given the amount of time people spend watching television and the internet really make you wonder what people did before the invention of either?  Were life spans shorter a hundred years ago because people routinely died of boredom?

Of course not.

Take television.  The unfortunate reality is how easy it is for so many of us to waste so much time in front of it.  Sure, we may watch programs with others, but what interaction do we actually have with those others during television programs?  Virtually none.

Why is television so enticing a detraction?  For one, television is easy.

We don't need to clean the house before our sitcom "guests" arrive.  We don't need to dress up, make food, or clean up after they "leave."  In thirty minutes time, sitcom characters come into our lives, and thirty minutes later, they go quietly away.  It involves not more effort than breathing and keeping semi-alert.

Worse still, the next day when many reminisce with friends about the same episode from the day before, it creates an extended conversation, but is it meaningful?

Next time you have the urge, do yourself a favor and turn off your television, put down the tabloid, or turn off the internet just for 30 minutes.

You will never look back in 30 years and regret missing an episode of The Office.  However, you just might regret spending moments with those who matter most.

Empower yourself ... Ask!<< MORE >>

A Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 7:  Best & Worst of Things

Name a favorite poem, a short story and book.

Explain your choices.


(Page 57)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions from Ask! sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!<< MORE >>

Responding to Your Inner Voice

Many of us at one time or another have crooned a tune or two in the shower (some slightly better than others).  Most of us have also talked to ourselves, either out loud or in the quite confines of our own mind.  Usually, however, when we do talk to ourselves, we do so to assist in problem solving, for motivation, or to reinforce an idea.

But what happens when we are at odds with what this so-called "inner voice" is telling us?  In other words, what happens when we do one thing, but our "iv" is tell us something different?

Sometimes that inner voice is a bad thing, but more often than not, is a good thing, often called a conscience.  It tells us when enough is enough, it tell us when we should move on, or take a chance, or it warns us, or consoles us.

When there is a difference between you want to do and what your mind may be telling you, consider a technique I tell most people while they are working out conflicts ... what would you tell an eight year old child!

More often than not, common sense kicks in and the advice you would give a child is the advice you should probably take yourself.

Empower yourself ... Ask!<< MORE >>

A Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 3:  Childhoon and Family Life

Are you closer to you mother or father?

Explain.


(Page 90)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions from Ask! sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!<< MORE >>

The Power of Asking

The untimely death of television political news anchor Tim Russert reminds us of our own mortality and how fleeting life really is.  A mere two days before Father's Day, it also reminds us of what is important in our lives - our family and close friends ... not the NBA playoffs or the U.S. Open.

With nonstop coverage on MSNBC, the reporting of Russert's passing was also a point of contention for a critic of the Orlando Sentinal, stating that the coverage was so pervasive, his friend said he now knew more about Russert than many in his own family.

Justified or not, make sure you take time this week to tell those closest to you, whether it be your father or someone else, what they mean to you, learn something new about them, and take nothing in this life for granted. 

A question mark not used is a question mark wasted.

Empower yourself ... Ask!<< MORE >>

A Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 4:  Have You Ever ... ?

Have you ever been forced to do something against your will?

Explain.

(Page 176)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions from Ask! sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!<< MORE >>

A Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 1:  All About You

On a scale of 1 - 10, 10 being best, what would you give yourself for overall intellegence?

Explain.


(Page 38)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions from Ask! sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!<< MORE >>

A Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 7:  Relationships

Do you tend to fall in love easily?  If so, why do you believe this is so?

If you do not, explain why.

(Page 302)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions from Ask! sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!<< MORE >>

A Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 10:  Miscellaneous You

What age do you consider "old"?  Has your perception of age changed as you have grown older?

Explain.

(Page 410)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions from Ask! sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!<< MORE >>

A Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 3:  Childhood and Family Life

Are there things to this day that your parents still do not know you did when you were growing up? 

(Page 156)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!

<< MORE >>

How to Talk to Yourself (without Arguing!)

Communicating With Your Inner Voice

Have you ever been guilty of holding on to negative feelings for someone or something unworthy a tad too long ... say years or even decades?

In a word:  Don't

Someone wise once said, "Hanging on to resentment is letting someone you despise live rent free in your head" and as rent prices go these days, even Donald Trump would tell you to knock it off.

Realize that every action you take you (and only you)
are responsible for.  Everything change begins with a simple thought to do something different.  Empower yourself and bring closure to events in your life that are hampering your progress and happiness and move to become the landlord of the life you have always wanted!

Now get off that couch and pick up a copy of Ask! today!
<< MORE >>

A Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 2:  Best & Worst of Things

Is there a food or product that is no longer produced that was once a favorite of yours?

(Page 103)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!
<< MORE >>

Man vs. Woman ... Who Is The Communication Champ?

How Mars and Venus Communicate on Earth



No matter how hard men and women try, there are often a gaps the size of The Grand Canyon when it comes to communicating with one another.  Maybe that is why the other sex is often referred to as the "opposite sex."



So what is the big difference?



Well, just as men and women have physical differences, there are specific differences in the ways we communicate.



Men want to be admired, appreciated and accepted.  Women have the need to be respected, validated, understood and cared for.  Understanding these motivations are important.  Couple this knowledge with active listening and you will be well on your way toward keeping conversations here on planet Earth, as opposed to jettisoning them to another world.



Bottom Line:  Follow the advice above and everyone's a winner.


 


Ask! makes a great addition to parties, get togethers, vacations and retreats.  Reserve your copy TODAY!

<< MORE >>

A Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 6:  Professional Life

Have you ever taken office supplies of any kind (pens, pencils, paper clips, etc.) from work? 

(Page 266)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!

<< MORE >>

You Spent HOW MUCH on WHAT???

Understanding the Sense of Dollars and Cents in Relationships

Realize that there are communication gaps in most relationships.  One area where communication is vital is when it involves finances. 

A recent article by Humberto Cruz entitled "Communication is Key for Finances in Marriage" (Tribune Media Services) underscores how the words of Alison Krauss' hit country single "When You Say Nothing at All" is better suited for a love ballad than for real life.

It is not uncommon for couples to act as individuals when it comes to spending.  He buys a golf bag and tickets to the game.  She buys 10 pairs of shoes and gets a manicure.  No one knows what the other is doing until the credit card bill hits the mail box.  If that isn't bad enough, many couples do not have a plan for their retirement nor have they discussed when either will actually retire (of course, when you want to retire and when you can retire usually are sometimes at two separate ends of the spectrum.)

Make a point to pick a time each week or each month where the two of you will sit down and discuss (without distraction) your financial plan now and for the future.  Your wallet and relationship will benefit from it.

Source:  www.ohio.com

Need an idea on how to better communicate with your significant other? 
Pick up Ask! today!<< MORE >>

Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 9:  Self Matters

Describe something you did that was self-destructive.

(Page 381)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!

<< MORE >>

Getting Your F-L-I-R-T On!

So You Think You Can Flirt?

From the streets of New York to the wilds of New Guinea, everybody flirts.  It is one way to communicate our interest of someone else.  It is also a way to "play safely" with others without committing oneself.

Here's a quick guide on the history of flirting and some of the interesting facts behind it all:

1)  Experts have defined at least FIFTY TWO ways we flirt!  (Heck, you just might be flirting right now and not even know it.)  The most common way to flirt?  The hair flip.

2)  In the Victorian Age, the hand fan was used to communicate interest (or disinterest) of the opposite sex.  A fan across the lips meant "You may kiss me." while opening and closing a fan meant, "You are cruel!"

3)  In Little Rock, AR, there is still an old law on the books that fines a man $25 for looking at a woman desirously.  A second offense requires the law breaker to wear blinders while in public.

4)  Flirting is now regularly used while emailing and  text messaging.  More than 40% of user have done it at one time or another.

5)  Unfortunately, men tend to be confused by friendly personalities vs. flirting.

So the next time you have an interest in someone else, remember, there are many ways to communicate your intentions, but to avoid confusion, Empower Yourself ... Ask!.

Source:  www.msn.com

Ask!  A Book of Discovery makes a great gift for parties!  Pick up a copy today!<< MORE >>

Sample from Ask! A Book Of Discovery

Chapter 5:  Looking Back

When was the last time you challenged yourself?  How often do you routinely challenge yourself?

If seldom, explain why.  

(Page 213)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!

<< MORE >>

Take this Job and ... Shove It?

How to Say Goodbye (with an emphasis on the "Good")

Clearly there are good ways ... bad ways ... and down right wrong ways to leave an employer.  The bad and wrong ways are better understood (with only a fair amount of common sense of course).  The good ways ... well, that takes a little delving into.

According to Psychology Today, leaving a job under your own terms can involve a whole host of emotions from telling your boss to "shove it", to leaving with hesitation with fear of the unknown.

Author Pamela Weitraub gives five rules to follow that can provide you with peace of mind now and more importantly, for the future:

1) Give Plenty of Notice
The standard is two weeks but other arrangement can be made.  The purpose?  To ease the transition before departure.  The last thing you need (especially if you ever want a good recommendation) is to say "See Ya!  Wouldn't Wanna Be Ya!" and then needing a much needed favor in the future!

2) Help Your Employer
Assist your employer by making sure everything is in order, possibly help find a replacement, and if time permits, become involved in the training of your replacement.

3) Stay Involved
Leave the Lame Duck status for others.  You are still employed with the company ... so work like it!  Until it's your last day, each day at work should be no different from the first.

4) Leave Complete, Written Records
Make sure your work is aware of your business contacts, your processes, your procedures and any other details that your colleagues need to know.

5) Stay Accessible
Don't fall off the face of the globe!  There may be a time when your former employer may require your assistance for any last questions.  Help where you can.

6) Don't Let Colleagues Disappear From Your Life
You never know when you may need former contacts for future ventures.  The best way to get ahead is networking, so don't lose your network!

A great way to bond closer relationships with work colleagues is through better communication!  Use Ask! at your next company event!<< MORE >>

Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 3:  Childhood and Family Life

Describe one really stupid thing you did as a child.  

(Page 148)


Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!
<< MORE >>

Making Valentine's Day Special

A How-To Guide on Celebrations

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, most men wait until the very last moment to buy gifts for their sweetheart...and then most of those end up ordering the blue plate special:  roses, chocolates and a Hallmark.

While no one ever complained about getting a dozen roses, chocolates and a card ... roses typically die a week or two later, chocolate becomes a concern when your significant other is struggling to keep her weight, and a Hallmark is, well, paying 4 bucks to use someone else's words as your own.

To make this Valentine's Day extra special, make it a celebration to remember by acknowledging your commitment to one another and communicate those thoughts and feelings to your partner.

What exactly does this mean?  For starters, no television, no cell phone interruptions and no checking email!

Thank your partner for adding value to your life and discuss how the two of you can improve your relationship going forward.

Nothing says "I Love You" like openly and honestly communicating gratitude.

Need a gift idea?  Ask! makes a great Valentine's Day's gift for couples!  Click HERE.

<< MORE >>

Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 5:  All About You

What is your biggest insecurity?  What have you done to overcome this insecurity? 

(Page 28)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!
<< MORE >>

Family Communication

When Parents & Kids Unite

Good communication is not just something that happens...it takes effort.  Not only does good communication between family members involve active and thoughtful speaking, but they require active listening skills as well.

Better communication empowers parents to add structure to their children's lives, and allows children to take better control of their own lives.

When a child has mastered effective communication (instead of acting out, for example), he or she is in a better position to be a part of a stronger family unit.


When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses.

Dr. Joyce Brothers


Ask! makes great gifts for family reunions!  Go to www.littlebookofquestions.com today!<< MORE >>

Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 2:  Best & Worst of Things

What is a favorite activity you like to do on your day off from work? 

(Page 104)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!
<< MORE >>

How to Manage Your Boss!

Many people are often frustrated as to how to effectively communicate with their boss and often don't have a solution -- a solution that, of course, won't land them in jail!

Be Clear
It you don't understand directives, ASK!  There is nothing wrong with saying, "I don't know." The average person has between a 25,000 and 150,000 word vocabulary ... so be smart and USE them!  Your job is ultimately to meet your objectives, so if there is any doubt, clarify directives with the head honcho.

Be Smart
The last thing you need in your workplace is to be a expert on mazes.  Leave that to mice.  Use the powers that be to clear roadblocks and implement the K-I-S-S method of management (Keep It Simple Stupid).

Be Focused
Whether your boss is in charge of you alone, or has scores of others, make sure you do what is expected of you, and your boss is aware of it.  Your assignments ultimately pay your way.

No workplace ever thrived with poor communication.  Make sure you excel with yours.

Empower Yourself ... get Ask! today!<< MORE >>

Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 7:  Relationships

What does your ideal man/woman look like? 

(Page 329)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!
<< MORE >>

Change Begins with You!

It has been said that when you change your thoughts, you change your world.  Simple, yet true.

The act of ASKing is one of the most important steps toward action and change in your life.  ASKing is the key to enhanced conversation, more meaningful relationships, and quite possibly a starting point for personal development, discovery of the self, and a clearer understanding of a purpose for being.

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Anonymous

Ask! makes a great gift for birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries.  
Go to www.littlebookofquestions.com today!

<< MORE >>

Sample from Ask! A Book of Discovery

Chapter 10:  Miscellanous You

What phobias do you have (i.e.  fear of mice, spiders, snakes, etc.)

(Page 465)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions sent directly to your email that you can share with friends and family!<< MORE >>

Five Keys To Better Communication

1. Have a Desire to Get Better - Without an initiative to change, nothing will happen. 

2.  Assume Nothing - Assumptions get you nowhere.  Clarity is key to successful communication.

3.  Listen, Listen, Listen - Actively listen instead of actively planning a response.

4.  Become an Interpreter - Learn how the other person uses words to communicate, and take note.

5.  Know How to Respond - Certain words can trigger a fight or flight response.  Think before you speak.

This life is not a dress rehearsal.  Empower yourself ... Ask!<< MORE >>

Sample from Ask! A Book of Discover

Chapter 8:  Sex

Have you ever walked in on someone else during sex?  Has someone ever walked in on you during sex?  

(Page 349)

Subscribe to this blog and get weekly sample questions sent directly to your email!
<< MORE >>

New Year's Resolutions You Keep

OK, so one day has passed and you have already broken THREE resolutions.  What gives?

Experts tend to agree that many times we put too much pressure on ourselves to do TOO much!  Relax!

The best bet for New Year's success is the find OBTAINABLE goals and then once you pass the test on those, then you can gradually take your commitments to the next level.

For example, let's say you want to lose 100 lbs.  Rather than using that as a pass/fail goal, why not cut that amount in half or even a third.  Obtainable goals are the key.

So the next time you need to motivate yourself to greatness, communicate those goals to yourself one reasonable step at a time.

Be reasonable!  See www.littlebookofquestions.com and Empower Yourself today!
<< MORE >>