As kids, we're used to asking for the things we like – writing a letter to Santa is a given.

But as time goes by, we lose this ability.

I don't think we should.

Over the past few weeks, two things have been constant in my daily routine: thinking about Christmas presents and talking to new subscribers of my marketing course. These two topics somehow merged as time went by.

I spoke with a lot of marketers working for bigger companies. They were excited to dive into the course. And most of them paid for it out of their own pocket. While I was flattered by this vote of confidence, I was also curious. Did they try to get the company to pay for the course? It turns out almost no one did.

This got me thinking about the last time I was in a position to request something from my employer. I was diving into growth marketing and eyeing a growth hacking course in Amsterdam. Looked amazing. Was quite expensive.

I went to my direct manager, having tallied all the costs - course fee, accommodation, flights, and the time I would be missing off work. I proposed a plan. She looked at it and said she'd run it by the rest of the leadership team, as we didn't have a set learning and development policy at the time.

What would have happened if they'd said No?

Nothing, really.

I would have looked for alternative education materials. I may have looked into online learning options. But I wouldn't have lost my job. And my manager wouldn't have thought I was pushy or entitled – I was actually keen on improving my skills to serve the company better.

But they said Yes.

And while this is a story about professional education, it applies to everything. Asking for a raise. Asking for additional time off. Asking for more responsibility in your work.

Whatever it is, the first step is to ask.

But don't just ask. Make your case. Present the details. While doing the work, you'll think, "What if they say No?"

But what if they say Yes?

🎁 P.S. What do you wish for at the end of 2022? Drop me a line, I'd love to hear it!

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FROM THE SITE

How to ask for reimbursement on a course?

Even if your employer doesn't have a dedicated L&D (learning and development) policy, they may be OK with paying for a professional course for you. You'll never know if you don't ask. The end of the year is a perfect moment because some companies have an L&D budget left over, or they might be planning the first quarter's expenses and squeeze your request in. In this piece, I've suggested ways to make your case and get a yes.

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