The Power of 'The Ask': Denise A. Williams' Key to Living Courageously
I had the incredible opportunity to photograph Denise A. Williams, Ed.D. , President and Founder of W.O.W. Counseling & Consulting, a professional development and executive coaching firm. I asked Denise what advice she would offer her younger self.
“Don’t be afraid to ask!”
“When I came to the United States, I was timid because everything was different and unfamiliar but I was also certain that I didn’t want to fail. I did not want to go back to my country embarrassed and unaccomplished. I also didn’t want to fail my inner compass.”
“I noticed that to accomplish, one needed to have some “guts” - courage. I have courage in some areas. While I was earning my doctorate, I asked many female corporate executives for permission to interview them as research for my dissertation. Afterward, I wanted to thank them in a significant way. I came across a special edition of the poem Phenomenal Woman by Dr. Maya Angelou, with artwork by Paul Gauguin. I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be amazing if Dr. Maya Angelou would sign the books?
Sending this book with Dr. Angelou’s signature would be a special gift, so I began the journey of ‘the ask’.
I located her office, explained my request, that I would ship the books with return postage and all Dr. Angelou would need to do was sign the books. I don’t know where I got the panache to do all that!
Dr. Angelou apparently made a mistake with one of the names, and actually called me to straighten things out! She identified herself, ‘This is Dr. Maya Angelou.’ and I thought, “Of course you are, no one else has that voice!”.
“She signed and returned all the books along with a gift for me. Dr. Angelou was kind and I was honored. I still have that phone number stored in my phone. Wow!”
“Given her stature, this was a very big ask, so I remind myself, don’t be afraid to ask!”
“I would also advise my younger self to:
1. Stay curious. Be nosey! A curious mind will help you tap into yourself and find out what is out there for you.
2. Get enough sleep. Your body will thrive when you give it enough sleep. Sleep deprivation doesn’t just show up as tiredness but also as a lack of engagement in life. Get enough sleep!
3. Stay friends with an older, wiser person. They will teach you a lot. I believe people older and wiser help younger people by helping us understand what might lie ahead. Life doesn’t have to be so daunting. And for older people, it can be energizing for them to associate with younger people. It’s a win for everyone.
4. Remember Denise, that God loves you. He has you. You can be courageous because He wants the best for you.”
“About Alissa, she is kind and lovely, light and easy. We laughed a lot. Alissa’s guidance was super helpful. At first, posing felt stressful but she helped put me at ease and I had a lovely time. Alissa guided me like a pro making me feel empowered. Now I know why fashion models walk with such confidence. I’m very pleased with the end result.”
Thank you, Denise, for sharing your advice with us.