More than ever before, 2007 showed me how asking the right questions can often more productive than searching for an answer.
Among my favorite sayings is, "Sometimes the problem isn’t the real problem," knowing the be way to get to the ‘real problem’ is by asking questions — then asking more questions.
My questions for this year:
- What’s the most productive thing I can do at this moment? Sometimes, I’ll need to remember a re-creation activity is the most productive thing.
- How can I best show long-term love to this person at this moment? This can be a tough question, because it doesn’t necessarily mean saying/doing what the person (thinks they) wants.
- Will the Pittsburgh Pirates ever be a quality team again? This question has become a staple. Thank goodness for the Steelers!!
As I embark on a year I plan to fill with questions, a couple of triggers I’ll use:
- Kevin Eikenberry is offering a great question asking tool for both 2007 (reflection) and 2008 (projection). Tip of the cap to Angela for this one.
- Raj Setty will surely repeat and improve on his 2007 Quought of the Day series. I look forward to it.
- Mitch Matthews has such fun with questions, he’s building a series of card games for business, personal, and education. Do You Q?
- Easton Ellsworth is working his way through 200 Blog Review Questions. The questions alone are an awesome resource!
- UPDATE: Team TED points us to EDGE: The World Question Center with this year’s question, "What Have You Changed Your Mind About? Why?" Over 163 contributors – great question!
I might even begin to use LinkedIn Answers section this year.
Photo on Flickr by oberazzi (Tim O’Brien)
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