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!