Get to Asking: Three Reasons Why We Should Be Asking More Questions

Personal Development

My life changed when I decided to ask for sound advice. It was uncomfortable at first, because it exposed me to what I wasn’t good at it (which was a lot, mind you). But what I found out was this: most successful people love to be asked how they did it--they’re happy to help. Why? Because they didn’t get where they’re at without the help of someone else. There’s another piece to the puzzle, though. This may be the most important piece: I was willing to do what successful people said, and I’m still doing it.

Here are three reasons why we should be asking more questions.

Humility - Asking questions helps us foster humility. It communicates to ourselves and others around us I want to win, and win big, but I can't do it alone. In order to seek wise counsel from someone else, it requires us to sit our ego aside and throw our pride in the trash. This has been hard for me, as it could be for you, because I have the tendency with my competitive nature to want to know it all, be it all and do it all. 

  "What would  you consider your biggest failure?  What did you learn from it?

Lifelong Learner - Asking questions helps us develop our inner student. If we're not growing, we're dying. So, it's important to continue asking questions in order to keep our creative juices flowing. Yes, there are foundational truths to growth and success, but that doesn't mean there aren't new, innovative ways of operating. Keep building on what's tried and true by learning something live and new. 
  
  "What book are you currently reading? How has it positively impacted your life?"

Ship Building - Asking questions helps us initiative meaningful conversations which are stepping stones to building valuable relationships. If we are truly the average of our five closest associations, then this means we can take a proactive approach to meeting new people and building a better network by asking the right questions. Asking questions also expresses a genuine interest in the lives of those we you are connected with. It allows us to gather intel on ways we can add value to them. 

  "Who do you know that I should know? Can you introduce me to them?

What do you truly want to accomplish? No one can do it for you, but you can’t do it alone. Get out of your own way. Find a mentor. Ask for help. The successful people who achieve great things and impact the most people (the right way), actually want to help you do more than they have done. That’s sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But it’s true. It's another way for them to leave a legacy.

Let's grow.

Meeting Darren Hardy, SUCCESS Magazine Publisher - He's a "Master Asker" and an expert on Productivity.