It’s asking the right questions that is difficult
We live in a time where answers are relatively simple to access. I’m not sure that makes us smarter. Some might argue that it makes us less smart because we don’t have to really “know” anything anymore. Regardless, as a society, we are increasingly putting more and more value towards having answers.
It seems like a reasonable idea, I guess, but what if we’re asking the wrong questions? What are those answers worth then? Probably not as much as we think, if anything at all.
“If I would have asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
– Henry Ford
Knowledge vs. Intelligence
The human race has never, in the history of the world, had more knowledge than it does today. Oh man do we know stuff. Lots of stuff. Well, we kind of know it. Maybe not exactly “know” it, but we could get the answer immediately which is kind of like knowing it…ya know? The problem is that knowing things isn’t really the same as being smart.
Being smart or intelligent isn’t just knowing answers, but knowing what the questions are. It’s assessing a condition or situation and knowing what information is missing and required to make progress or resolve a problem. It’s thinking about the issue on a larger scale and working backwards to see what steps are needed, and maybe even an idea on how those steps could be taken. If nothing else, being smart is knowing what you don’t know.
“Those who know how will always work for those who know why.”
– Someone smarter than me
What’s a question worth?
Questions may not offer a clean resolution, but answers don’t always do that, either. Answers can be faked. Made up. Questions, though, are real in that the lack of resolution only offers guidance.
Answers are definitive and limiting, while questions and open for interpretation and allow you to put yourself in the equation in defining and finding the answer.
FAQs for days
When I launched my own business venture, I had way more questions than answers. I figured the answers would come and, in parallel, so would success.
What I’ve found, though, is that although answers come from time to time, they don’t remove the question from existence. Questions that can stay relevant on a large scale are the ones to keep asking yourself.
Questions like, “What can I do better?” “How can I increase value for my community and/or customers?” “What other collaborations outside of my industry can be made?”
The right questions are the ones that are less about finding the answer, and more about keeping you moving in pursuit of answers — note the plural.
You’ll look back and see progress every time.
#bewhatyoumake
