Don?t Stop Asking So Many Questions

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.

---

Success Through Enthusiasm Rather Than Surgery

"Enthusiasm is worth any pot of cream ever offered."Can you... Read More

The Formula For Failure and Success

(Excepted from the book The Five Major Pieces to the... Read More

From Rags To Riches

Nicholas Darvas, escaping his war-torn homeland, Hungary, sought refuge in... Read More

Top 6 Business Success Strategies

"The principal purpose of business is to create a customer."... Read More

Stop Juggling, and Start Achieving! Three Steps to the Top!

Want more success in your business or professional life? Here's... Read More

Vacation Your Way to Success!

All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy... Read More

Great Century, by George

George Burns' career could have ended as early as 1958,... Read More

How do Tiger Woods and other Tippy Top World Achievers do it ?

They 'do it' by sharpening their FOCUS on the task... Read More

The BIG Secret to Success in Anything You Do

There is one big "secret" to success that can help... Read More

Belief Helps You Succeed But Can It Win A Boat Race?

On March 27th 2005, Oxford won the annual boat race... Read More

The Secret of Lasting Personal Change

Why do diets end up in gained weight? Why do... Read More

7 Tips for Success

In this article we mention 7 tips for your success.... Read More

Identify Your Unique Factor and Succeed

What makes you unique? Answering this question will provide the... Read More

Modelling Your Way to Success

The fastest way to succeeding in anything, be it online... Read More

Sticktoitivity: Lessons Learned!

Walt Disney coined a special phrase for persistence and determination;... Read More

Changing Your Mind Can Be a Wrestling Match

If you've been walking this earth for any length of... Read More

Learning From Failure--What To Do When You Blow It!

Becoming successful is not easy. We all get tossed around... Read More

Ten, Humourous, Power Attitudes

The ability to achieve our enormous untapped potential is directly... Read More

4 Steps to Set Your Mind for Success

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our... Read More

Nice Guys Really Finish First - Really?

How can anyone with the brain of a cockroach make... Read More

Paying Attention

Being a spiritual teacher has continually frightened me. Not because... Read More

Help Yourself To Success

If you help yourself, God and humans will help you... Read More

The Only Option is to Succeed

With the end of the year fast approaching, now is... Read More

How to Lose Your Money, Fake Your Destiny with Great Success

Everyone talks about how to be successful through hard work... Read More

10 Principles of Success

How do we define success? Webster's dictionary defines success as... Read More

Discovery In A Million Dollar Mistake

I have noticed that though my clients often have created... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Aim For The Impossible

Choose "impossible" goals When faced with a hard-to-reach goal, your... Read More

Success Showdowns

I confess, I love westerns. There is nothing like those... Read More

Create Credibility for Success

Back in my early marketing days, finding the magic ticket... Read More

The Communication of Your Biology & Beliefs

Not only do we communicate with ourselves, but our cells... Read More

The Bubble Of Prosperity

My life is a bubble; but how much solid cash... Read More

Self-confidence - How To Develop This Important Key to Success

"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key... Read More

Success: What Are You Afraid Of?

What are your fears? Fear of failure? Fear of success?What... Read More