Last month my coach; Therese Sparby, challenged me to make outrageous requests. It reminded me of Jia Jiang and his rejection therapy. You may remember him from the video a few months ago of a guy requesting Olympic Donuts. (See the video below)
He wanted to overcome his fear of rejection. “Luckily for me” I’m not afraid of rejection; the problem is rejection has become such a common thing that it surprises me more when someone says yes.
Then there are times when people deliver almost the exact opposite of what I ask. A few months ago, I asked for a quiet weekend to enjoy being in New Orleans, instead a friend picked a fight. Asked a friend to order pizza without onions because they make me sick, and 30 minutes later I’m picking onions off the pizza.
Hiding
During the call we talked about how I spend many PE sessions hiding behind a meter during PE at my elementary school. The meter hid me from the kids on the playground, and in some ways I’m still hiding so I can “be safe.”
Perhaps this is why some of my requests are not seen as important.
Already I’ve made several requests, which really are only outrageous in that they are coming from me, and they have resulted in several no’s.
One was an extremely simple request, “Come visit me here.” The friend sent a text “I thought you were coming here.” Unfortunately I explained why I wasn’t, and asked about seeing a Netflix movie. She said, “I didn’t get a Netflix this week.” More texts, and when I say forget it, she asks why I’m mad.
Until asking why I was mad, I was just disappointed. She finally did visit, but now I realize that this is why Therese assigned this homework of me.
Outrageous Request Challenge
Now she just wanted me to do it for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately or fortunately I sometimes get a crazy hair. “If Jia can do 100 days, I can do a month!” After the call I checked his website and realized there were a couple of “outrageous requests” I wanted in the next two months (ie a book autographed by Wil Wheaton)… so I can do 60 days and do a website!
But I was changing web hosts, and it took over 2 weeks for the whole process, so I couldn’t build the website, plus more than one friend pointed out… uh… you live in a small town, and some other issues with everyday…
So compromise is 100 Outrageous Requests and blog post abut them. I attached that blog to this website. I have decided to do a 1 every other day, so sometimes I may miss a post on this side, to have a post on the other side. I’ll include a brief post and a link to that side when I miss.
My Request from You
Like I said, I’m not used to asking for things, so I am asking for help from you! Basic guidelines, Ethical,Legal, Possible. Secondary guideline, I want to ask outrageous requests with the possibility of hearing yes, as such it also should be something that would be what I would want.
No, I’m not expecting you to read my mind, but the only example I can think of is: I don’t wear dresses, so an outrageous request to get a brand new dress that I wouldn’t wear… well that’s not a win for anyone…
Please help me make some outrageous requests, you can just comment here 🙂 and then please visit the new Outrageous Request Blog!
Rock on!
MJ Schrader
I’m not sure I follow this post. 😀 If I am correct, you don’t want the requests here but on your other blog, yes?
Arwen Lynch, Professional Joy Seeker recently posted…Have You Heard About That Camel?
Arwen (lovely name)! Put the requests here 🙂 that’s peachy! The other site makes you fill out a contact form for the request ideas.
MJ Schrader recently posted…Time for Outrageous Requests Challenge
Do you have a link to this Jia Jiang video about Olympic Donuts?
Michael, I forgot to add the video. Thank you for reminding me. It’s there now. or http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7Ax2CsVbrX0
MJ Schrader recently posted…Time for Outrageous Requests Challenge
I could be reading myself here- I have enetered a challenge that i need to ask fir help with and here i am avoiding the asking by visiting blogs from the challenge-
Thank you now I will go and fix the video so I can put up a video on Facebook and make an event
Suzie Cheel recently posted…Please Vote For Me And My Book
I’m not very good at making requests either – although I think what we discussed over the last two weeks might fall into that “outrageous” category for me, I don’t know that it is for you. Being as talented as you are. If I should come up with another… I”ll be sure to let you know!
I think you are outrageously requesting that we help you figure out some outrageous requests. If that is correct, and I’ll assume it is, here is my offering:
Why not ask for twenty people to like and comment on this post? Ask right on FB…on your wall… “I am wondering if 20 people would please visit this blog and leave me what might be considered an outrageous request.”
Idea #2: Request that for an entire business week everybody only write on your wall “I love you MJ”.
Idea #3: Why don’t you request people to offer a $1 donation to someplace in their local vicinity, put a sticky note on the dollar that says “With love, from http://www.MJSchrader.com )
((HUGS))
Tam I Am
Great ideas Tam I Am ~ I’ll begin by saying I LOVE YOU MJ !!! while I give some thought to an outrageous request for you. Outrageous guidelines is what you’re asking for ? Suggestions that you can ask of others is what I think I’m understanding. For me, (as I think I’m reading you are too) asking anyone to do anything is challenging. So I think any of Tam I Am’s 3 idease are a great start.
btw … how ya doing on wearing a dress thingy? Since you mentioned it as something you avoided out loud I thought it may be something to consider doing symbolically as well .. if not the dress, then something physical that you don’t normally do to mix things up. ( like the meter at PE ) 🙂
I’ve found lasting changes come when I use as many senses as I can .. I love you MJ and when we order pizza together…definitely NO onions . 🙂 Heading to your other post to check things out.
Jeri <3
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