Have you ever shied away from an opportunity because you were simply too embarrassed or scared to ask for what you wanted? According to musician Amanda Palmer, to get what you want, you need to go out and ask for it.

In a 2013 Ted Talk that later turned into the book The Art Of Asking, Palmer explained that after graduating from college, she worked as a living statue. Part of her job was wordlessly asking people on the street to interact with her and pay her. It taught her that asking for help isn’t shameful, but rather a beautiful way to find “random closeness” with strangers. Throughout her career as a musician, she perfected the art of asking for help and used social media to get what she needed to succeed.

Regardless of your industry, Palmer’s book will inspire you to rethink your own attitude to asking for help, transforming it from an awkward moment of weakness into a beautiful art form.

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