I street performed for 4 years. I met a lot of beggars. A beggar says “Spare a dollar?” They don’t say “Spare a dollar, or you know I need socks, or give me some food, or your subway card, or treat me with some respect.” It’s clear and it’s simple and it works.
A single call to action is aggressive
Asking for one thing is direct. It might feel intense to ask someone directly for one thing. That aggression and directness can create a tension that drives action from the askee.
A single call to action is bold
Being direct is a responsibility for the asker. On the flip side, that responsibility is a relief to the askee. We follow boldness. We assume that a bold person is to be followed / responded to.
A single call to action is rewarding
When a friend tells me their favorite flower, I know I can get them that flower and receive positive feedback. It’s a simple game. When we ask someone for one thing, they know what they need to do; and if they think it’s an attainable goal, it will be a joyful little journey.
Ask shrapnel sucks
Due to insecurity, or lack of direction, or general excitement, we can sometimes have trouble asking for one thing. We end up giving people a wishy-washy, uninspiring, unfulfilling, situation. We don’t get what we want, and we end up burdening them with the responsibility of decisions and rejection.
We might think we’re hedging our bets when we ask someone to subscribe to one of 4 social media platforms, or buy a ticket, or get a book, or give us a call… but we’re doing them a disservice.
Pick a thing. Doesn’t have to be the most important thing. If it’s important, ask for it.