With my cat if you try to get him to do something he's not going to do it. I find it works better if I visualize him doing what I want him to do and he'll usually do it. Does this make me the Cat whisperer? Try it sometime if you have a cat.
Good that you have found a solution.
My cat does anything I ask of her, including shaking hands, rolling over and over as I do this with morning exercises. She comes to me when I call her and she doesn't smother me. She knows the meaning of the tone of my voice and reacts positively to any "request."
It's all true. She a beauty, too. Solid black with full mane and plush tail and her purr is just purr-fect. Love her so much. We are buds. She is 9 years young and we have learned to respect one another's wishes and space.