When I’d asked to “borrow $100,” “get a burger refill,” or “play soccer in your backyard,” I hadn’t attempted to come up with reasons to demonstrate how saying yes would benefit the other person. People, in turn, said either yes or no, but no one felt upset or talked down to. By starting my request with “I,” I could ensure that others understood that I was asking them for a favor—not trying to do them a false favor that didn’t ring true.
