My uncle said to always ask 'what's the worst that can happen' before a big question

He told me that about a year ago when I was scared to ask for a raise. I finally did it last week, and just laid out my case clearly. They said yes, and even bumped it up a bit from what I asked for. Has anyone else tried that trick for getting over nerves?

3 comments

3 Comments

clark.kelly7d ago

Honestly that question can totally backfire though. It just makes you picture a disaster and amps up the anxiety. Sometimes you gotta just go for it without overthinking.

black.mark6d ago

Totally agree, that question is a game changer. I used the exact same trick before asking my landlord about getting a pet. I sat down and really thought, okay, the worst they can say is no, the lease stays the same, and I'm exactly where I am now. Framing it that way made it feel way less huge and I just sent the email. Turns out they were fine with it as long as I paid a small fee. It really cuts the scary what-ifs down to size.

robinson.jake7d ago

Funny how that question works both ways. My friend used it to talk himself out of a sketchy investment, focusing on the actual worst case. Sometimes the answer is a good reason to not do the thing at all.