Ask and you receive | Chibuzo Ikonta | TEDxUnilag
The speaker argues that the concept of "ask and you receive" is less about verbal petitioning and more about executing the necessary work, illustrating this by comparing verbal requests to physical actions, as seen in professional dance. He asserts that one must focus on the disciplined effort required to achieve goals rather than merely stating the desired outcome. The central theme emphasizes proactive work and sustained discipline, whether in art, career, or life goals.
## Speakers & Context
- **Slim** — The speaker; self-identifies as a professional dancer, martial artist, fitness expert, choreographer, and aspiring photographer.
- Delivered talk after driving, admitting to speeding and texting while driving.
- Brought his partner, Cora, to physically demonstrate the concept of "ask and you receive."
## Theses & Positions
- The principle of *"ask and you receive"* is not spiritual petitioning, but rather *doing the work it takes to get the job done*.
- Speaking one's desired outcome ("I want to...") risks diluting the idea, as it becomes "mixed up with air," requiring one to remain silent and act.
- The path to mastery requires discipline, hard work, and unity, surpassing the need for belief in specific religions (Christian, Muslim, Buddhist).
- Success is found through demonstrable action rather than mere declaration or asking for help.
- To achieve something, one must focus on the difficult, disciplined process, such as mastering dance forms, instead of focusing on the end result.
- One should be the best possible version of oneself, given that everyone ultimately desires the best for themselves.
## Concepts & Definitions
- **"Ask and you receive"**: Interpreted not as prayer, but as the physical action required to achieve a goal.
- **Action vs. Word**: Actions are presented as having a greater impact than words, despite words having a longer reach.
- **The Process**: Emphasized as the essential element for mastery, comparing it to the "gruesome annoying process of getting it right" in dance.
- **Dilution**: The danger of vocalizing goals, which causes ideas to become "watered down."
## Mechanisms & Processes
- **Securing an object (Camera):** Instead of asking the young man for the camera directly, offering something of greater value to him is the effective method of acquisition.
- **Getting a girl to dance:** A man does not use just his hand, chest, or leg, but his *entire being* to initiate the dance, demonstrating a comprehensive, embodied request.
- **Artistic Demonstration (Rumba):** A step-by-step physical demonstration of a basic dance movement, requiring leading, following, turning, and continuous motion.
- **Career Building:** The comparison between the speaker's dedication to dance studies versus friends partying at "salsa night" highlights the required sustained focus on practice.
## Examples & Cases
- **Mosquito Analogy:** Underestimating the effect of one person is like underestimating the effect of one mosquito in a room without A/C.
- **Latin Ballroom Examiner:** An examiner noted that Christian reliance on "ask and you receive" showed too much dependence on spirituality, arguing that *action* (opening the bottle) was the true 'ask.'
- **Losing a Partner/Idea:** Feeling that a mentor/partner suggested that one's potential required traveling abroad (e.g., to Russia or France) when the speaker felt the solution was achievable locally.
- **The Dance Scenario:** Using a girl in a dance context, demonstrating that *how* the request is framed physically matters more than the words used.
- **Unilag Struggle:** The speaker's experience transferring from Engineering to Natural Science, followed by dedicating time to dance, exemplifies the necessity of unconventional focus during periods of professional difficulty.
- **Book Idea Theft:** Being discouraged by another person who takes an idea presented in conversation, reinforcing the need to keep ideas private.
## Named Entities
- **Cora** — The speaker's partner who assisted in the demonstration.
- **Unilag** — University of Lagos, where the speaker endured a difficult academic transfer period.
- **Department of Law** — The academic department where the speaker previously worked with a girl.
## Numbers & Data
- Time difference in arrival: Expected 1:00 PM, arrived 1:15 PM.
- Depth/Pressure: 1 atm (surface) vs. 10,000 atm (deep ocean), though this was mentioned in context of comparison.
- Timeframe for struggle: Four years struggling with his partner in dance/business.
## Tools, Tech & Products
- **Instagram**: Source of the initial quote/write-up.
- **Camera**: A tool that the speaker hypothetically sought to borrow.
## References Cited
- None provided.
## Counterarguments & Caveats
- Skeptics (implied by the examiner) believe "ask and you receive" is simply a religious platitude that lacks depth.
- The common belief that "words go a longer way," which the speaker argues is false compared to action.
## Conclusions & Recommendations
- **Primary Advice**: Do the work that it takes to get the job done; keep at it and build upon one's product.
- **Guiding Question**: When facing difficulty, ask oneself, *"Why did this happen? What am I meant to see/achieve?"* (as a mental, not verbal, question).
- **Behavioral Mandate**: Do not speak about what you want to achieve to others who cannot contribute, or your idea risks being diluted.
## Implications & Consequences
- The speaker’s self-discovery and current professional status were facilitated by recognizing that the required "work" was available locally, contrary to previous advice suggesting international travel was necessary.
- For entrepreneurs or students: Relying solely on theory, words, or external belief is insufficient; the physical, disciplined effort is the prerequisite for success.
## Verbatim Moments
- *"Unless you've slept in a hot room with what's one mosquito."*
- *"The concept of ask and you receive is less spiritual than you think."*
- *"I'm not going to do that i'm gonna open the bottle and i'm going to drink that action is the asking."*
- *"If i could give him something that is worth more to him than the camera he will give it to me."*
- *"God had pushed maybe angel michael with blessings to coming to meet you and you just made that statement you'd be like i have to go back even if god himself should take hand and put on your head and you say you can't get that good here there's nothing that god can do you've tied his hands."*
- *"Now i want to ask that's asking for a lady in dance who is you know mature enough to understand the difference between a and b."*
- *"Ask and you receive do the work it takes to get the job done."*
- *"No matter how prejudiced anybody is everyone always wants the best for themselves so be the best you can be."*