See it. Want it. Ask for it
Image via Canva.com
Over the Memorial Day weekend, I was helping a friend around her house, and as always, we got to swapping stories. One took me back to a summer job I hadn’t thought about in years, but the lesson still sticks with me.
Before I landed internships through the INROADS program, I took the best summer job I could find working at Six Flags amusement park. I needed to save up for school in the fall, and with two other jobs during the academic year, every bit helped. At Six Flags, I spent long hours in the heat, operating rides. It was honest work, and I was grateful for it. But after a while, I started to notice something.
Some employees worked indoors, in the A/C, helping clock people in and out. They weren’t standing all day, they were learning new skills, supporting their teammates and they earned a bit more money too. That sounded a lot better to me.
So, I asked.
I talked to the girls who worked inside, found out how they got the job, and kept that in mind for the next hiring event. When it came around the following year, I showed up, asked for that specific role, interviewed, and got it.
And honestly? It was exactly what I hoped it would be. That moment stuck with me because it taught me something simple but powerful:
Opportunities don’t always come to you. But if you stay curious, ask questions, and make the ask, you can create your own.
That mindset has shaped so many of my career decisions since. It’s not always about waiting for permission. Sometimes, it’s about noticing what you want and being bold enough to ask for it.
And yes, sometimes we hear “no.” But don’t let that discourage you. Let it be a prompt to pause and reflect:
Do you need to upskill?
Should you take on a project to prove what you can do or to learn something new?
Are you asking the right person? The one with the power to say yes?
Are you drawing the right connections between your current role and the opportunity you want?
A “no” isn’t always the end. Sometimes it’s feedback in disguise. Use it. Learn from it. Adjust and ask again.
When the timing is right, the right door will open – especially if you keep knocking with intention.
So, here’s my question for you: What’s one opportunity you’ve been thinking about but haven’t spoken up about yet?
Drop it in the comments or shoot me a message. I’d love to cheer you on.
#leadershiplessons #InsightfulSteps
