You want something done? Go to the person who can make that decision — and ask.

It’s that simple.

And if this doesn’t work, go ask their boss.

This happened to me multiple times in the military. When I wanted to try out for the SEAL program, the guy with the authority to approve my package turned it down. I had to wait six months, then resubmit. And this time, when he tried to sabotage me again, I went straight to his commanding officer.

The package was approved.

Years later, when my friend Eric Davis and I were instructors at the sniper program, we had a boss who was wreaking havoc and sabotaging the good work of the entire staff. He even yelled at a graduating class for hammering him on their critiques! The guy was bonkers and something had to be done. After a few direct attempts — I’m a fan of trying to work it out directly at first — I finally just had to go over his head to our division officer in charge of the entire Naval Special Warfare Center training. I did this knowing that I was risking my entire military career by doing it. I stuck to the facts, not drama. Within 24 hours our boss was gone and I was put in charge. Sometimes you need to take the risk and ask for what you want, especially when you’re looking out for your people.

Does that mean that you are always going to get what you ask for? No. But if you don’t ask, the odds of your getting it drop to roughly zero. And when you do ask, even if the answer is no, you are still exercising your jumping off muscles, thereby changing who you are.

I am always surprised at how easily most people just shrug their shoulders and give up at the first no. That is the wrong attitude. Instead, the first no should be fuel for you.

And you don’t need to be an aviator or a Navy SEAL to do this. A 13-year-old girl can do it. I know, because I have watched one doing it — my daughter Olivia.

Olivia had been making her class schedule but something was off and she wanted it changed. What did she do? She just emailed the principal and asked. She got her classed changed for her benefit. If a teen can do it so can you. Just make it a habit.