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Abstract

ow would things sound if I stopped thinking?</li></ul><h2 id="9fa8">Somatic Field</h2><ul><li>Which part of my body is the least comfortable?</li><li>Which parts of my body are hardest to detect?</li><li>What happens when I concentrate on two body parts at once?</li><li>Do any bad emotions arise during the body scan?</li><li>How would my body change if I stopped thinking about it?</li></ul><h2 id="778a">Taste Field</h2><ul><li>Does the taste change as I roll it around my tongue?</li><li>How does the intensity compare with other things I have tasted?</li><li>How would it taste if I had never smelled it?</li><li>Does my feeling about the taste change between first contact and swallow?</li><li>How would it taste if I were asleep right now?</li></ul><h2 id="a87c">Olfactory Field</h2><ul><li>Would I recognize the smell if I had not seen it?</li><li>What adjectives are suitable? (Smooth? Bold? Sweet? Floral?)</li><li>How close must it come to me before my nose can detect it?</li><li>Does it improve my mood or worsen it?</li><li>What memories does it bring to mind?</li></ul><h2 id="5631">Cognitive Field</h2><ul><li>If my thoughts were rabbits in a yard, how crowded would the yard be?</li><li>If my attention was a dog, which rabbits would it chase?</li><li>How much of my focus three seconds ago was on the past?</li><li>How does a little circle make me feel?</li><li>What would I be dreaming now if I were not awake?</

Options

li></ul><h2 id="9690">Emotional Field</h2><ul><li>How easy or hard is it to turn each feeling on and off?</li><li>What changes will happen when I start to pray?</li><li>If I were the prow of a ship would my sea be bright under the sun?</li><li>Who have I shared this suffering with?</li><li>How deeply do I love you?</li></ul><figure id="ef74"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*31vXTbzWPAdDxN72iuu31w.jpeg"><figcaption>Photo by Author | Dancing with the Goddess</figcaption></figure><h2 id="1f17">Questions After the Scans are All Finished</h2><ul><li>Did I close my eyes for most of the scans?</li><li>In what ways are mental fields like maps?</li><li>If I were only allowed to keep one field, which one would I choose?</li></ul><h1 id="010c">Note</h1><p id="4022">To the best of my recollection, all the questions are in my own words. If I copied anybody from unconscious memory it was probably my first remote meditation teacher, <a href="https://www.thegreatcourses.com/professors/mark-w-muesse/">Mark Muesse</a>, a Therevada practitioner from Texas.</p><h1 id="d3c3">About the Author</h1><p id="f104">Tom spends his workdays asking people in a big store if they would like any information about heating and cooling. He often wears an Indiana Jones hat. A grapevine in his front yard convinced him to let her live and to even provide her with a little support. That’s all. :)</p></article></body>

COMMUNICATION

How to Make Requests That Don’t Frustrate People

Get to the point quickly

I was talking with a client the other day about how to send emails to potential advisors, investors, etc. I think the natural tendency is to lead up to the “ask” because you are nervous about asking someone for their money, time, or connections. You feel like you have to tell the story and make your persuasive points before you ask them for something.

It’s normal to feel that way. Many people also behave like that in person. They make a lot of small talk before getting around to the real point of the conversation. But, written communication is a bit different.

Inverted pyramid - Wikipedia

The inverted pyramid is a metaphor used by journalists and other writers to illustrate how information should be…

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The people you will be emailing are very busy. Aren’t we all? The average businessperson receives over 130 emails per day. If they can’t quickly figure out what someone wants, they move on and they will probably never make it back to your email.

Every business-related email has an ask of some type (i.e., the request). Even if you are first requesting a call or meeting, they will want to know why you want the call or meeting. Real-time meetings consume precious time, and we are all protective of that.

What Is Your Ask?

I like to think of emails as asking for one or more of four things:

Money (will you invest, donate, buy, loan)
Time (can you meet with me, give me feedback or advice, attend an event)
Networking (can you introduce me to someone)
Reputation (can I use you as a reference)

They already know you want something, so it is best to be clear and up front with how you think they can help you.

Put the request in the first sentence or two.

Also, be very specific with how you think they can help (e.g., an introduction, a donation, an investment, etc.). This isn’t the time to be coy.

Rough Outline for Your Message

Who you are and your one-line pitch. Make it intriguing enough to keep them reading.
What your specific request is (e.g., money, time, network, reputation)
One to three short bullet points to support your request (e.g., why it matters, why they should care, what’s in it for them)
What you are specifically doing or creating that requires this request (e.g., your startup, your cause, your job search)
Briefly repeat the request with how you think THEY specifically can help (why did you choose them?)
Thank them, and close with easy ways to contact you

That’s it.

Keep it short, simple, and to the point.

It’s frustrating to receive an email and you can’t figure out what the person really wants. It’s also frustrating to receive a vague request (“Hey, let’s get coffee”) where it is clear that the person is saving the request for that later meeting.

Just tell me what you want now. I’ll decide if it’s worth my time to take a call or meet with you.

Being clear and direct shows respect for me and my time, and it saves you time and energy as well.

Are there any other tips or techniques that have worked well for you?

Read more of the free career advice that I share with over 2,000 smart job seekers every week. Check out my leadership and career coaching at Brilliant Forge.

Larry Cornett is a Leadership Coach and Career Advisor. He lives in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with his wife and children, a Great Dane, a chicken, and a stubborn old cat. He shares advice that helps you become an opportunity magnet, so the best things in life come to you! You can also find him on Twitter and Instagram @cornett.