Why "Self-Sufficiency" Is Costing You

You're saying that if you break the rules, you get more power. When you break the rules, you stand out, you become memorable. The rules were made mostly by the people who are favored by the rules in place. So if we were talking about business strategy, we would talk about being a disruptor, that you would disrupt an industry. And how do you disrupt an industry? By doing something that is different from the other industry incumbents. One of the conventional wisdoms that people I think adhere to way too much is don't ask, don't ask for help. You need to show self-sufficiency. What is the worst that could happen if you ask and they say no? You are no worse off than had you not asked in the first place. Because if you don't ask, you're not going to get it. If you ask and they say no, you're not going to get it. Get over your ego. Ask.