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I can't believe that two years ago today, around this very hour, sitting on my grandmother's couch, I decided to start this project.
A lot has changed since then.
Finished grad school.
Started to build a life with someone.
Launched a business.
Changed this blog's look and format.
Shifted from asking daily to asking... almost daily. ;)
But my goals here are still the same: to become a better asker negotiator, and to help others do the same. To make sure I'm compensated just like a man with my skills would be, and to do this both by not undervaluing myself and by not letting others do that.
And to do what I love for a living, no matter how hard that pathway proves to be.
I've been slow to update because I'm two weeks behind and somehow never catch up. Also, I'm discovering that starting a business -- and having to earn a living from it -- leaves little time for extracurriculars. Sad, but that's the reality. One day I'll do a marathon post catch-up. Or maybe just fast forward and write those older askings off. TBD.
My goals for Year Three are as follows.
1. To help more people become better askers by connecting with outlets with a wider audience. Some things are in the works, but I won't say anything until something certain materializes.
2. To turn this blog from a place about my asking experiment into something broader. I'll keep reporting my attempts and failures for their instructive (and/or entertainment) value, but I've collected a bunch of successful stories from other awesome askers -- i.e. all you readers! -- so we can learn from your strategies. I'm working on uploading your stories to a soon-to-be-launched page. If you have more reports, send them in. I hope it will be a swiftly growing collection. I also want to include a resources page, and talk about relevant news stories and issues as they come up. If you see interesting articles or blog posts about women & careers, gender issues, asking, haggling, negotiation and the like, please email me a link!
3. To add negotiation to my arsenal. I'm a seasoned asker, I know I'd get better results sometimes if I shifted gears to negotiation mode rather than walking away at a no. I had a conversation today with Vickie Pynchon, who's teaching the negotiation seminar I'll be taking starting on July 17. She told me:
"Asking is relying on the kindness of strangers. Negotiation is power. Asking is hoping, negotiation is claiming."
Bring. It. On.
And thanks, dear readers, for sticking with me through these adventures! For encouraging me and commenting. And for telling me about your askings -- that brings me indescribable joy.
xo,
Roxy
