When asking a friend for help, I always go by the adage business before pleasure.
Write a small paragraph describing what you want. Start with a one sentence summary. End with pleasantries. If you do it in the reverse order, it seems much more like you are trying to exchange pleasantries for a favor, and feels like there is less genuine interest in the person's life.
I think that's because a lot of people front-load the request for a favor with a lot of pleasantries, and you just build that gut reaction of fear because you don't know how big the favor will be until it's asked.
The thing I hate to hear most of all? "Can I ask you a big favor?" Just ask me the favor. When I hear those words, I brace myself. It's doubly annoying when the favor is small.
Write a small paragraph describing what you want. Start with a one sentence summary. End with pleasantries. If you do it in the reverse order, it seems much more like you are trying to exchange pleasantries for a favor, and feels like there is less genuine interest in the person's life.
I think that's because a lot of people front-load the request for a favor with a lot of pleasantries, and you just build that gut reaction of fear because you don't know how big the favor will be until it's asked.
The thing I hate to hear most of all? "Can I ask you a big favor?" Just ask me the favor. When I hear those words, I brace myself. It's doubly annoying when the favor is small.