Just Ask (Steve Jobs Video)
One of my favorite Steve Jobs clips on the internet is a two-minute clip on failure, where he talks about how valuable it is to ask people for help.
I particularly like this passage:
“Most people never pick up the phone and call. Most people never ask. And that's what separates the people that do things from the people that just dream about them. You got to act. And you've got to be willing to fail. You've got to be willing to crash and burn, you know, with people on the phone, with starting a company, with whatever. If you're afraid of failing, you won't get very far.”
It sounds simple, but it’s powerful advice. Asking people for help is a relatively small action, but it has an outsized impact. Most of the time, it leads to that person helping you out in a big way or pointing you in the right direction for you to take your next step.
I also think Jobs is being metaphorical. Picking up the phone and asking people for help, while beneficial, probably won’t cause you to accomplish your goals outright. But putting yourself out there, being uncomfortable occasionally, and showing passion, curiosity, and interest in whatever you’re doing will help you immensely. Picking up the phone and asking is a prerequisite to any success because it shows that you care and are willing to get rejected. It shows that you’re taking initiative, which is exceedingly rare.
I personally tend to hold back certain kinds of asks out of either fear of rejection, fear of looking stupid, or fear of being vulnerable. It’s hard to admit that I don’t have it all figured out and need some help. I watch this clip periodically to remind myself that everyone needs to ask for help if they want to get better or accomplish something important. Embracing vulnerability is a crucial skill, and its development requires constant effort. The act of mustering the courage to dial a number and seek help is a great way to start.