I’m learning an important business lesson in 2010: The power of The Ask.

The Ask is simply this: when you have a problem or question about your business, the best course of action is to find someone who knows more than you on the topic and ASK QUESTIONS.

I’ve asked questions of some well-known, busy, successful business people and I have found that, for the most part, they are not too busy, cynical or snooty to give me an answer. And in some cases the answers are powerful.

The Ask allows me to learn new things, think in new ways, take risks, give up ideas that aren’t profitable.  But the best part is it allows me to make new connections and relationships that can expand and support my business efforts.

And I’m not the only one who benefits from The Ask.  I recently heard that a journalist was granted interveiw with Bill Watterson (cartoonist of Calvin and Hobbs fame) who typically does not talk to the media.  You know how he got to talk to Bill? He sent him an email and asked…..

What questions do you have? Who can you ask?

[photo by: 姒儿喵喵, on Flickr]