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In the movie iRobot, the detective, played by Will Smith, investigates the death of a friend. His friend was the father of modern robot technology.
After his death, he left a hologram to help the detective solve the crime. However, he limited the responses to specific questions. In response to a question, he would reply, "My responses are limited. You must ask the right question."
When the detective would ask the right questions, he would reply, "Now that is the right question."
In the movie iRobot, the detective, played by Will Smith, investigates the death of a friend. His friend was the father of modern robot technology.
After his death, he left a hologram to help the detective solve the crime. However, he limited the responses to specific questions. In response to a question, he would reply, "My responses are limited. You must ask the right question."
When the detective would ask the right questions, he would reply, "Now that is the right question."
The quality of our questions determines the quality of our lives.
Our life circumstances are more about our mental process than the physical results.
If you work a standard nine-to-five job and need more money, what do you do? Work more hours. How long can you keep that up?
We don't ask how we can generate more cash flow. We don't think about automating something to provide us income. We think, how do I make more money now? And we get the answer.
How long before your body breaks down from overwork?
An older gentleman wanted to work on my yard for some extra cash. He undercharged dramatically, and he broke his back to complete the work. He had a child in the hospital and was working to earn money.
He was worn down by the end of the three-day project, which he didn't finish. Then he vanished and never returned.
How long can he possibly continue this lifestyle?
He is asking, How do I make more money? How can you make more money with less work? Instead, he should consider how to generate more recurring cash flow.
Can you consult with up-and-coming lawncare businesses and advise them? Could you get the jobs and hire subcontractors?
There are usually more options than we tend to see.
The quality of the questions guides us in the direction we want to go.
Don't ask if you have enough clients; ask if you're charging enough for your service.
Here are some ways to ensure your questions take you to the next level.
Start with What if?
Questions that open up the imagination are the best. Instead of lamenting your problems, explore potential solutions. You can suggest things that might not seem helpful. Likely or possible.
You increase the odds of finding a unique solution by putting out multiple options.
Many of the most outstanding products came from what-if questions. What if we could fly? What about a self-propelled carriage?
What if we could communicate digitally across long distances?
What if questions create potential. It gets you thinking in ways traditional what/how questions don't access.
What if questions can help you motivate yourself. What if you tried writing a book? What if you worked on your dream for 10 minutes a day? What if you read a book for 30 minutes every day?
Does Question Lead to Action?
Does your question spur you to action?
What would it be if you could do only one thing toward your dream? What time of the day do you do your best work?
What are some new ways to improve your income stream? Which one of those ways could you implement first?
All these questions lead to action. In the iRobot example, the detective asks, "Whose revolution?" The doctor replies, "Now that is the right question."
Now that he knows what is happening amid the chaos, he can act.
Who is this product created to help? A simple question. Figure out who it's for and act to ensure it fits the audience.
Ask questions with the capability of pushing you toward taking action. Definitive actions. Instead of thinking about who will fund this program? Ask yourself, "Who do we call for funding first?"
Seek Understanding and Clarity
What happens if you don't understand the answer?
To advance, we must avoid making the same mistakes twice. Ask for clarity if you aren't sure of a request or direction.
Every person has some variation or ego. Whether you want to appear correct, are nervous about being labeled in some way, or want to show off, we tend not to ask for clarity.
We would rather be wrong than ask questions and look bad.
It is better to ask questions to know rather than guess. This miscommunication often leads to issues when leading others and being managed.
Get clarity. Like getting asked questions at a presentation and not knowing, don't makeup answers. Let them know you don't know, but you will find out.
What was it you needed me to complete?
Who would be a good resource for this project?
Don't be afraid to ask questions that may allow you to perform even better.
What's Next?
The level of your questions determines the level of your life. If you ask quality questions, you get higher-quality answers, increasing results. You get basic answers and fewer quality results if you ask basic questions.
How do you know if your questions are of good quality?
Use what-if questions. These activate your imagination and can help plot unique solutions. These question types have led to the most significant inventions in our history.
Determine if your question generates action. When are we having dinner? This question doesn't generate action.
What do we need to start dinner? What time do we need to start preparing for dinner?
Those questions result in action. Ask questions where the answer will get a result or generate the next step.
Finally, seek to understand and clarify. Ask questions to understand the answer fully. If you're uncertain, proceeding further will only harm you or your project more in the long term.