Ask by Ryan Levesque Summary
Overview of Ask
"Ask" reveals Ryan Levesque's $100 million formula for discovering exactly what customers want. Endorsed by Pat Flynn and featured in Bloomberg, this counterintuitive approach has built multi-million dollar businesses across 23 industries. What hidden desires are your customers desperate to tell you?
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Key takeaways
The Question That Changes Everything
What if the secret to explosive business growth isn't about having the perfect pitch, but about asking the perfect question? In 2015, a counterintuitive marketing approach quietly generated over $100 million across 23 different industries - from memory improvement to satellite TV. The methodology didn't rely on flashy ads or aggressive sales tactics. Instead, it did something radical: it listened. This approach transformed struggling businesses into category leaders, not by shouting louder than competitors, but by creating a systematic way to let customers reveal exactly what they wanted to buy and precisely how they wanted to be sold to. The insight driving this revolution is both powerful and paradoxical - while customers can't tell you what they want to buy, they excel at revealing what they don't want and what they've already tried. This distinction makes all the difference. We're drowning in advertisements - up to 5,000 daily, ten times more than in the 1970s. Most marketers respond by amplifying their message, creating a deafening cacophony that customers increasingly tune out. The Ask Method takes the opposite approach, using what amounts to a hushed voice that breaks through by speaking directly to specific needs. Think of it as the difference between a pushy salesperson and a skilled doctor. The former tries to convince you to buy something; the latter asks questions to diagnose your problem before prescribing a solution.
Breaking Through the Noise With Strategic Questions
Understanding Your Market at a Profound Level
Creating an Irresistible Entry Point
The Segmentation Secret and Personalized Prescription
Converting Understanding Into Immediate Sales
The Future Belongs to Those Who Listen
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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