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What Are You Asking For?

Prosper Otemuyiwa on February 03, 2020

The most wonderful thing about asking people for impossible things is that sometimes they say YES! — Eli Trier Several years ago, Steve Jobs o...
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Faith Odonghanro

Ahh, the fear rejection. I've just recently graduated, and been afraid to apply to certain companies, thinking I'm not enough and don't have the experience. Someone helped me summon the courage to apply anywhere I think I might be a good fit, and I began to. Got AN onsite interview with one last 2 weeks after passing their hackkerank test, when I never expected to. Although they haven't gotten back, I still see it as a win, the experience et al. Thank you for this sir, it has lifted me even higher, not to ask for cookies but to demand MORE.

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codythub

I'm on this table as well. May opportunities come your way soonest man.

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AyoBamiDele1

hello, i saw your post on wordpress support forum on setting up shipping zone for cities within a state in Nigeria. Have you been able to solve the problem? I'm facing the same issue. you can send me a mail at bamideleajiboye@gmail.com, let's chat please

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

I'm glad you found someone to help you through the process. Amazing story you got here! If they haven't gotten back, keep asking in different places. One of them will surely come through!

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Faith Odonghanro

They did come through. I've been reluctant to share my testimony, but it's been really amazing. Been with them for a year and the 3rd month running now. Gained massive experience, the people, the work, the system, all awesome.

Two (2) months after getting in, some staffs were laid off due to covid (in all depts), thought I would go too (being someone that newly joined), but someone (my then team lead) spoke on my behalf and that I was doing a great job so far, that's how I wasn't let go. So when I saw your post early this year "Who is Speaking on Your Behalf", I was wowed.

God has really come through for me. I want to say thank you Prosper for posts, they've been really inspiring, and I've seen them WORK in my life, firsthand experience, no be say dem tell me.

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Adam Crockett 🌀

I asked for my previous job at Dyson, I got my previous job at Dyson, I asked for multiple pay raises, I got multiple pay raises. Ask, just find out.

Prosper this was possibly one of the best post I have read here on Dev. It would be hard, no, impossible to follow on this, but try anyway.

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Wow. This is inspiring! Thank you for sharing your experience, Adam.

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1% of the 1%

Thank you chief for this one. At this point, I think I'll start by asking a whole lot more from myself. I discovered that when I ask for "the impossible" from me, It pushes me to ask from others without flinching

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Exactly. Keep doing that!

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Linda Ikechukwu

My mantra for this year is 'Be afraid, be very afraid, yet do it'.
I remember when I got my first Frontend developer job, my boss was paying me peanuts compared to the work I was doing.
I summoned up courage to ask for a little raise to cover my expenses, this man called me ungrateful and it ended up our marring our relationship.
I felt really bad and insecure at that time but that won't stop me, I'll keep on asking for more 😊.

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Every success story has lots of disappointment stories behind it. Keep on asking, this one will be part of those stories!

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Thabitha Kavyu

Eiyyy Prosper 💯💯🔥🔥🔥
I'm asking to meet you when I come to Nigeria 😃

Your articles are just on point and the truth that we want to read and hear.

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Prosper Otemuyiwa • Edited

Hahahaha, I love the energy, Tabitha! Let me know when you are in Nigeria.

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Thabitha Kavyu

Yes sure,
I'll be there on 19th February. Will attending the OSCA Fest

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Awesome!

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Thabitha Kavyu

💯

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Evance Soumaoro

Great post & great piece of advice. Actually your last two posts have made me think and consider refactoring the way I have been approaching my career. I am a great developer -at least that's what people around me tend to say exceptional developer. But then opportunities take a while to come my way. I am doing my best to change this and your posts here are paving the way so far. Thank you.

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

I'm glad this is giving you a good perspective on what to do. Keep being great, Chief.

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Adiomojeed

WheneverI come across a link to your post, I am always eager to check it out and guess what, I benefit more than whatever I might have thought of from reading the headings. You are indeed an inspiration.

i just learnt to take up challenges and never estimate if my wish will be granted or not. Just keep asking

A new moment, another oppurtunity to request for something great and better

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Thank you so much for your kind words!

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Christiana Olawumi

I remember how I almost failed a course while I was an undergraduate because I couldn't afford the cost of a research work for the course. When I told my friends that I missed it because I couldn't afford the cost, I was blamed for not asking for help from them. Fast forward to the present, whenever I ask for something or I make a request I remind myself that there is a possibility of Yes or No and how can I know if I don't ask.. So it's a season of Asking for me...Thank you sir for resounding it in our mind...

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Thank you for sharing your story!

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Adetayo Akinsanya

Funny enough fear of being rejected has denied me many opportunities, but it has also made me learn that the worst answer I can get is a No and that doesn't mean it is the end or there won't be another way out it's just one of those bad days. Lately have been asking for solutions, ideas from people and have been getting positive reply most times, but I just realised that maybe they are just cookies and its time for me to start asking for things that scare me.

Sir, please I would love to ask for something.

I am new to the programming world, I have been trying to do things on improving on myself but I am yet to really get the right track to follow, please Sir I need a mentor, someone who would help me not make the same mistake that newbies do make and also help me in fast-tracking my learning career. Because there is this saying that "If I have seen farther than others, it is because I have stood on shoulders of giants".

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Hello, Adetayo. It's great to get a mentor but don't spend all your time looking for one. One thing I have consistently done that has helped me is sit down to compile names of people I look up to on the internet.

I follow them on all major platforms, read their works, see their thought processes, look up what they are working on, study their codebase, and keep asking them questions about different things that I might not be clear on.

You might accidentally get a mentor that way, if no one is practically looking to take you under their wings directly.

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Apugo george k.

This struck me hard, I just read Mattew 7:7-10. We mostly use that verse to pray to God. In reality, it says ask and it shall be given you... the verse doesn't say "ask from God" but ASK!

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Yes!!!!!

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John Samuel Obinna

After reading this the only thing that came into mind to ask is a faster laptop. Something within 16 GB ram😢

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Ask, Ask and keep asking. You might just be lucky to get one.

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John Samuel Obinna

Boss I'm now asking you. I need a faster laptop the one here is very very slow.

Make my Matthew 7 Vs 7 come through. 😭😭😭

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Solomon Osadolo

This!!!! This is a fantastic and timely message, Prosper. You are absolutely right, we actually limit ourselves by anticipating unfavourable outcomes before even trying. Just ask. Just ask!

Thanks for putting this out.

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Thank you so much, Solomon. I'm glad you enjoyed it

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Mustapha Abdul-Rasaq

Thanks @unicodeveloper , REACT here i come

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

You are welcome, Chief

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Mohamed Said

This is gold! Very well written and very well thought of. Thanks :)

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Thank you so much, Said!

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Richard Nelson Pepple

Thank You Sir, for this timely piece, I find asking to be a herculean task, but lately, I've had to build up boldness and take up the challenge to ask, not just for little but for much more than my little mind could grasp. I relate to everything that you shared.

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Yes!!! That's the spirit

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Olohundare Nasirudeen

Thanks @unicodedeveloper for coming up with a very nice post. Pls can i get a link to your DM ?

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Hello Chief, DM here or on Twitter?

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Olohundare Nasirudeen

ok thanks.

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Ogbonna Basil

Keep on asking and it shall be given.Wonderful reminders prosper

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Thank you, Ogbonna!

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David

I really needed this at this moment, especially as a Christian. Thanks bro

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Yes. Remember the story of the Judge and the woman in the bible? Remember the story of the woman and Elisha? Remember Jacob and the Angel? They kept asking!

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Chukwunonso Orjiakor

Always on point boss. The few times I've summoned the courage to ask, I have really not been disappointed. GOD Is always Faithfully and HE works through people around us.

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Yes. God is faithful.

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Chidume Nnamdi

Now I am emboldened and know I am doing the right thing. I'll keep asking, and asking for more till I get a YES.

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Thank you, Nnamdi. Yes, please asking!

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Johnson Ogwuru

Thanks Prosper, this was actually very timely.

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Thank you so much, Johnson!

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Ndifreke Friday

This is all the push I need, thank you Prosper.

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

You are welcome. Thank you, Ndifreke

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Rukee Ojigbo

Prosper. 🥺🙌

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Chief!!!

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Clint Buhs • Edited

Thank you for the encouragement. It's difficult to keep the message in mind every day, and your reminder is appreciated.

Typo: "Steve Job" >> "Steve Jobs"

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Thank you for catching that! Updated.

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Gabriella Amaefule

Reading this on a Monday morning and the beginning of the month is a plus. I am one to be on the side of not asking and being scared of rejection.

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Ask. Ask. Ask and keep asking!

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Ajeigbe John Oluwaseyi

God bless you for this wonderful article sir, I celebrate the anointing of God on you. You are a blessing to me, Nigeria, Africa, and the world!

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Thank you so much for your kind words, John. I really appreciate it.

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Destiny Ajakaiye

Thanks boss for this, it was indeed inspiring..

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Thank you for reading

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Ayobami Ogundiran

Wow. This is awesome. I want to convert this and your other post to visual stuff and you will be credited for the job well done. Do you permit me to do that?

Thanks in advance!

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Sure. Feel free!

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Emeka boris ama • Edited

This is great Man, the same way I ask and I got some support for AI Festival Nigeria 😁

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Exactly! Thank you.

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Sylvester Nkeze

Thanks a lot. Truely inspirational as always

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

I'm glad you found it inspiring. Thanks Sylvester.

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Karen Efereyan

Amazing read. Thanks unicodedeveloper

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Thank you, Karen.

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Ayobami Ogundiran

Wow. This is "fire 🔥🔥🔥" as usual.

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Thank you so much, Ayobami

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Olabode Opeyemi • Edited

Great read.

I remember when I went for service (NYSC) in the North, I didn't want to redeploy, and I already had a full time role in Lagos 😅.

I asked to work remotely for that year (no history of any dev working remotely for the company), and they agreed. It seemed impossible but it was. I learnt a lot of course because my ability to communicate my position properly vocally and through emails had to be stepped up.

Also turned out to be that my renumeration was untouched significantly. It was a great win.

Thanks for sharing sir.

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Have any concerns? Would love to know your thoughts

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oluwaseun

So apt and on point
Really great write-up.

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Thank you so much

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Issa Rukayat

This is absolutely valuable. Thank you for being selfless with your thoughts.

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Thank you so much for your kind words, Rukayat!

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mwanjajoel

Wow! Thanks Prosper for this write up! You have blessed me!

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Prosper Otemuyiwa

Thank you so much, Chief. I hope to bless more.

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Winner Onaolapo

...Sometimes I am like this man thinks differently. You are an inspiration to us all including those in BU too. You've sparked young developers in Babcock to know and do more. Greater Heights Sir!!!

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ogenathan

Wow thank you, I don't think I have seen asking for things in this manner.
Thank you for the insight, The ability to ask for things boldly.