A few days ago I shared an article learn how to ask for help and feel great about it and explained why you feel vulnerable and sometimes stupid when you ask for help and how valuable it is to learn how to effectively ask for help. Knowing these reasons wasn't enough to start changing my habits I went searching for a mentor. Someone who was unafraid to be vulnerable and can ask help without a shred of self doubt.
Watch this Ted Talk called the Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer. Amanda Palmer is an artist in every sense of the word and she has mastered the art of asking. I was blown away and I therefore want to share this with you STEEMERS.
How Amanda asks for help
Vulnerable + Fearless = Authentic
I noticed a strong woman giving a spectacular presentation. She is unabashed, unafraid, excruciatingly vulnerable and this makes her so unbelievably authentic. Under the bravado of her appearance there is a warm woman filled with love and trust.
Trust People
In the ted talk Amanda shares how she made a living as a street artist, sleeps on couches, twitters for help and in the end successfully funds her own record by asking her fans to support her. Over the years she has refined her skills. All those asks, mostly leading into a positive experience, has made her extremely trusting. These experiences has led her to turn the volume of that loud voice in her head down to a soft & gentle whisper. When Amanda asks for help from her fans she realises that they are on her team. With each reciprocal interaction she thrives and they thrive. All is fair!
Case Study: The crowdfunding video
Amanda says that her music is not for everyone and I know that I wouldn’t have given it a fair chance if I had not seen her ted talk. Her openness is reflected in her music when she sings. IF you're curious to listen to more songs I invite you to walk through Amanda Landa.
1.000 true fans
Kevin Kelly once wrote that an artist only needs 1.000 true fans to make a living. He defines a true fan as as someone who will purchase anything and everything you produce.
Amanda's goal was to generate 100.000 USD to be able to fund her own record and give it to her audience. But during the campaign sh noticed that she doesn't have 1.000 true fans but over 25.000 fans. She ended the campaign with 1.19
The Art of Asking
I invite you to read her bestseller The Art of Asking