THE QUEST FOR THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

 

 THE QUEST FOR THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

Not everyone discovers the secret for asking the right questions. I read a hilarious story about three very competitive brothers who left home to make their fortunes, and each of them did very well. One day when they were all together, they started to brag about the gifts they had recently given to their elder mother.

            The first said, “I built Mom a big house.”

            The second said, “Well, I got her the best Mercedes they make, along with her own driver.”

            “I’ve got you both beaten,” said the third. “You know how Mum enjoys the Bible, and you know she can’t see very well. I sent her a brown parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took twenty monks in a monastery twelve years to teach him. I had to contribute $ 100,000 to the order every year for ten years for them to train him, but it was worth it. Mum just has to name the chapter and verse and the parrot will recite it.”

Soon thereafter, each of the sons received a note from their mother. To the first son she wrote, “Milton, the house you built is so huge. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the house.”

To the second son she wrote, “Marty, I am too old to go anywhere. I stay home all the time, so I never use the Mercedes. Besides, the driver is so rude!”

To the third son, her message was softer: “Dearest Melvin, you are the only son to have the good sense to know what your mother likes. The chicken was delicious.”

Some people have to learn the important of asking questions the hard way!

Asking question often separates successful people from those who are unsuccessful. Why? Because you can get the answers to the questions you ask. No questions ---- No answers. As financier and presidential advisor Bernard Baruch said, “Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why.”

Author Brian Tracy commented, “A major stimulant to creative thinking is focused questions. There is something about a well-worded question that often penetrates to the heart of the matter and triggers new ideas and insights.” In general the more thoughtful and precise the question, the better the answer. As speaker Anthony Robbins says, “Quality questions creates a quality life. Successful people ask better question and as a result, they get better answers.”