A few weeks ago I took my boy on a trip that we make together every year. We left the house at 6 am on Monday and got home at 9 pm on Thursday. That is just 87 hours. However, that is 84,293 questions!
I mean, ten-year-old kids can ask questions! They are question machines! It was a virtual question-palooza! He wanted to know why we got up so early, why we chose that airline, when we would get there, what things meant in the books we were reading, how they got the jelly filling in the donuts, and on?. and on?. and on?. For four days!! Even my friend who drove us to the airport told my wife later that he asks a lot of questions, even at 6 am! Anyway, you get the point.
I found myself repeatedly saying what thousands of you have said many times yourself, I'm sure:
Stop asking so many questions!
And then it hit me: This is why so many people lose their ability to achieve success. We tell them to stop asking so many questions. That's right, we methodically strip our children of their innate inquisitiveness. And then when they get older we wonder why they don't think for themselves! We told them to stop asking questions! They were born with a desire to understand the world around them and we, because of our frustration with the process, tell them to stop asking questions. What happens when you tell someone repeatedly to stop asking questions? They stop asking questions. It is a classic example of negative feedback and association. The chances are high that it happened to you to some degree.
But being inquisitive is inherent to long-term success. We must constantly be asking questions of others and ourselves. We must relentlessly be questioning processes that we use. We must always question whether or not products can be improved. Questioning is what produces new answers, which leads us to forge new ground.
Where does that leave us? Recommit yourself to asking lots of questions. Start by going through the basics: Who, what, when, where, why and how. Except, put "why" at the front of the list. Why? Because "why" gets behind the scenes even more so that the other questions do. "Why" deals with more than facts; it deals with motives and reasons. "Why" can be very enlightening.
After all, "Why" is about 80% of all of the questions that kids ask, and if anybody knows how to ask questions, it is kids. That is, if we let them.
So, as you live your life, let yourself ask lots of questions. Yes, people will wonder if you are a troublemaker, but you will know that you are pursuing enlightenment, knowledge, and the wisdom that will take you far beyond those who chose to live as others tell them life shall be lived!
Don't stop asking so many questions, and if you have kids at home, don't stop them either!
About The Author:
Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams.
To see Chris "live" at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on the subject of Secrets of Influence go to http://chris-widener.inspiresyou.com/ or call 800-929-0434.
move in cleaning service Mundelein ..Once you've made it...throw a Success Shindig! Of course you... Read More
Unfortunately we come into contact with negativity everyday. We can't... Read More
Are you consistently chasing success? Once you achieve it, do... Read More
If you have a choice each day in the tasks... Read More
Hello everybody and a good day (or night !) to... Read More
Success is a journey and along the way we need... Read More
Are you:- feeling unfulfilled and dissatisfied with your life?- ready... Read More
I prefer to call the challenges, obstacles, side-tracks, and barriers... Read More
To achieve what you want, what you desire, needs a... Read More
Make a game out of reaching your goals Go to... Read More
The entrepreneur game is filled with an amazing variety of... Read More
How many times do we fail at something, then attemp... Read More
Authors such as Napoleon Hill have produced a great deal... Read More
The 2004 final of the World's Strongest Man METRx Championship... Read More
Bill is a man for the people, of the people... Read More
Opportunity is all around us and has many facets, but... Read More
Did you see or hear about 'The Masters' golf tournament... Read More
Let me ask you a question? What must happen for... Read More
Jim Rohn, noted leader and speaker in the personal development... Read More
(Excerpted from the 1999 Weekend Seminar audio/CD series)Parents, leaders, employers,... Read More
I always say to my children, as long as you... Read More
Those of you who know me, know that I am... Read More
What the anteater and otter show us about success?It's been... Read More
We all want something to look forward to. The best... Read More
Successful people set ambitious goals. But the high standards and... Read More
insured cleaning company Highland Park ..Management by Objectives, strategic planning, quality, teams, re-engineering. Passing management... Read More
I've been thinking a lot about what I believe to... Read More
In 1989, when the Berlin Wall came down and the... Read More
Imagine you are a fire. Fires burn at different levels... Read More
Do you still keep that all important 'Inner Spark Alive'?... Read More
Howdy folks, today I would like to speak to you... Read More
Study hard, get good grades and you will have a... Read More
How do we define success? Webster's dictionary defines success as... Read More
Self-change is a personal phenomenon. In order to accomplish it,... Read More
Decide which game to play. Is winning that... Read More
You've been searching for self improvement or personal development. Trying... Read More
Lets face it, no one enjoys rejection. But the reality... Read More
Never settle for what you can currently imagine You are... Read More
Knowing when to disconnect, shut it off, unplug, or walk... Read More
In terms of life success, there are four pretty obvious... Read More
Have you failed before and wished the earth could open... Read More
Adults, with eyes to see, can learn so much about... Read More
Do you know what the problem is with asking successful... Read More
What's holding you back?One of my clients came to me... Read More
IntroductionSuccess - we all read about it, hear it on... Read More
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in... Read More
An odd but frequent barrier to prosperity is the belief... Read More
Oprah and Harpo Productions, consistently reap awe-inspiring progress and record-breaking... Read More
Hello,You are reading this article because you are one of... Read More
Have you ever heard this? "It isn't whether you win... Read More
Success |