How good are you at asking for what you want? Spice is brilliant!

This is Spice, out with me on the beach today. She’s epileptic and was the runt of the litter. But she’s 110+ in dog years, enjoys her daily run and has the mischief of a youngster.

So what’s Spice’s secret? 🐕

Maybe it’s got something to do with her ability to clearly ask for what she wants?

From a puppy Spice learnt how to make herself heard in our busy and sometimes chaotic household. She had to compete with many other voices and learnt a way to get her point across despite the language barrier. Her early tactics were not always popular, but she’s honed her communication.

She's never wanted for anything, because she has always asked for it.

I can’t help but contrast this to how many of us, particularly women, feel unable to ask for what we want.

In their excellent book ‘Women don’t Ask’ Linda Babcock and Sarah Laschever ask why do we find it so hard?

Sometimes we don't know change is possible, we simply don’t know we can ask. Sometimes we fear asking may damage a relationship. And sometimes we don't ask because we’ve learned society can react badly to women asserting their own needs.

Spice clearly doesn’t have any of these hang ups! What can we learn from her?