Thought-full Thursday: The Inspiration of Questions
September 2nd, 2010 | 
Author: Every Thursday, we provide you with a thoughtful way to coach yourself – something all leaders need to do. So take five and enjoy something different this week; questions that have inspired and solved important things in our world. Finally, reflect on the final question.
“What would the universe look like if I were riding on the end of a light beam at the speed of light?” ~Albert Einstein; the question that led to the theory of relativity.
“What might DNA look like in a 3D form?” ~Watson and Crick; the question that led to the discovery of the double helix.
“What is the most ethical action we might take?” ~Johnson & Johnson leaders; the question that helped them to successfully deal with the Tylenol crisis in the 1980’s.
“Where can I get a good hamburger on the road?” ~Ray Kroc; the question that led to the development of McDonalds.
- What is the question that you haven’t yet asked?
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6 Responses to “Thought-full Thursday: The Inspiration of Questions”
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Hello Mary Jo,
Your blogs always seem to brighten my day. It is so often that I read blogs and articles in which people tell us what to do, what we are doing wrong, and how to act. It is refreshing to see a blog with questions that make us ponder life, leadership, and the simple questions that so few people stop to think about. One of my favorite quotes by Howard Thurman is “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” It seems that you have found your way of “coming alive” and it shows in your blog as well as in your comments and opinions. I believe that the leaders who are most passionate about their work, as well as their employees, are those who have also come alive doing what they love. If only more people in this world could find their passion and channel it into a greater good.
Sincerely,
Carina
Hi Carina – thank you for your very kind words and encouragement. I love the quote from Howard Thurman, and it is definitely descriptive of my own passion for what I do. It is a great blessing to be able to do something that I feel is making a difference in the world. I’m guessing, from your comments, that you may also be making a difference in some way – is that true? Thanks again.
Hello Mary Jo,
I think questions are very important for most of us.
Questions can inspirate us to think and then try to find ways to solve the questions. Questions can give us a goal in life for fighting, questions can provide a tremendous power and energy to achieve our goals.
Patrick, you’ve certainly highlighted how important questions are. What keeps us from asking, then?
Hello Mary Jo – Questions (or answering questions)are like exercise. They take energy, require time, and can sometimes be excruciating. The right questions, like the right excercise, can lead to better personal health and well-being. Exercise takes work and planning; asking questions about yourself and your behaviors is no different. The past few weeks, I have been exploring the following question: What can I do to help others around me learn and how can I learn more from others? A simple question with infinite answers. I look foward to next Thursday’s post.
Ricky, you have answered the question about what keeps us from asking, thanks. But I see that you are also considering a great question. I’d love to hear what you come up with.