Closed mouths don’t get fed.

That was the wisdom a mentor shared with me years ago, and I’ve never forgotten it. What I’ve learned since then is that how you ask, and how often you ask, both matter.

In 2025, the Carolina Panthers hosted a playoff game at home. Something that hadn’t happened in a long time. I was excited. My eleven-year-old daughter, Lucy, had a different reaction.

She decided she needed to be at the game with her dad. I loved the idea, but I didn’t love the ticket prices.

Knowing it wasn’t an easy decision, she decided to put “closed mouths don’t get fed” to the test. Nearly every day, in a respectful and mature way, she communicated her desire to go. No pressure, no whining. Just consistent, eager asking.

Eventually, the message landed, and we made the memory happen. (I included a picture at the bottom for proof.)

Now, she clearly had the dad-daughter advantage. But the lesson stuck with me. The frequency and eagerness of asking impacts the outcome.

Only you can decide how often to ask for something. But eagerness is often the difference-maker. It isn’t entitlement or pressure. Eagerness is a posture of positive anticipation paired with a willingness to act.

I don’t know what you need to be more eager about. But I do know this. Closed mouths don’t get fed.

So consider this your reminder to channel your inner Lucy and ask eagerly.

P.S. The Optimistic Outlook is a Podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts would mean a lot.