Boost Your Bottom Line by Asking Powerful Questions

"He who asks questions cannot avoid the answers." -African Proverb

Powerful questions yield powerful answers. Here's an example...

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My beloved grandson, the battle inside every person is between two wolves. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, false pride, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee gently grasped the boy's shoulder and replied, "The one you feed."

Are you getting the results you want in your life? Do the questions you ask get to the bottom line?

Last December I wrote an article called The Power of Personal Accountability. In the article, I mentioned that asking the right questions can help us find the right answers. After publishing this article, one of my subscribers -- Lee Wise -- sent me a list of powerful inquiries he wrote. Lee has graciously given me permission to share them with you.

There is great power in asking a good question, especially when asked in the form of an inquiry. (An inquiry is a question you ask over and over, that does not necessarily have one "right" answer.) The potential for meaningful change may lie before you in the form of your own seriously considered answer to a selected question. Any one response to any of these questions can have a powerful impact on your life.

Here are Lee's questions...

19 GOOD QUESTIONS FOR LIVING THE GOOD LIFE
(Asking Just The Right Question To Get Just What You Desire)
Đ Lee Wise All rights reserved.
http://abeautifulmomentintime.blogspot.com

What one small thing is holding me back from doing my best today?

What one small thing is hindering me from becoming the person I be could be today in one area of my life?

What action could I take today to brighten someone's world? (Key: make it simple, doable, and even fun!)

How can I double my value as a ___________ this year? *As a... husband, father, employee, friend, etc. Suggestion: ask this question many, many times.

Where should I influence my world in a positive way?

Are negative thinking patterns eating away my potential in any area of my life -- no matter how small?

Am I saying "I can't" when I should be saying "I can" or "I must!" anywhere in my life?

My greatest area of tension at work or home right now is ____. How could I improve just 10% in this area?

What positive discipline have I let slip lately? What price am I paying for this slip?

Where can I, or should I, make a positive difference?

If I took a thirty second "happy memory break" right now, what would I remember?

How can I schedule a small break in my life -- just enough to be refreshed and recharged a bit?

What untapped potential could I bring to my world?

Am I learning what I need to learn?

Are my associations making me or breaking me?

Who is challenging me or inspiring me right now? Who could?

Should I procrastinate on anything, or set aside anything, that is not important for what is most important?

Is there anything I should stop doing?

Am I out of balance anywhere in terms of striving to perform? Am I seeking a standard of excellence in the right way, for the right reasons?

Use these strategies to get the best results...

Pay attention to your initial feelings about an inquiry you read.

Should you notice a "first impression answer" that ushers in a sense of excitement, challenge -- or a deep sense of "I should do this" -- be sure to slow down your internal speed of life and park there a moment or two.

Repeating a question over and over sets in motion an on-going search to discover just the right answer for you.

Consider recording your thoughts in a journal.

Enjoy the process!

For additional reading about the power of asking the right questions, visit our article The Power of Personal Accountability at the link below. http://www.orgcoach.net/newsletter/dec2004.html

Copyright 2005 Kathy Paauw

Wouldn't you love to stumble upon a secret library of ideas to help you de-clutter your life so you can focus on what's most important? Kathy Paauw offers simple, yet powerful ideas, on how to manage your time, space, and thoughts for a more productive and fulfilling life. Visit http://www.orgcoach.net

In The News:

pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Can Pain Be A Motivator?

Carol was a new client. She had been looking for... Read More

Get Negativity Out Of Your Life!

They say that the way to have a positive attitude... Read More

A Turning Point

19 years ago, I was a young working mother at... Read More

10 Ways to Kick the Procrastination Habit

I recently read about a survey (by the University of... Read More

How to Stay Motivated

You've read a book that motivates you to action; you've... Read More

The Magic of Success is Actually a Law Set in Motion. Finding it is Quite Simple

Building Energy Around your Investment!For a century or more men... Read More

How to Eat an Elephant

I recently returned from a wonderful vacation in the U.S.... Read More

Contemplating Change And Moving Into Action

Do you ever have the sense that there has to... Read More

How to Get Up on a Down Day

One of the major obstacles to achieving goals is losing... Read More

Does Your Battery Need Recharging?

A technical support person in a pager company tells the... Read More

One Last Month to Make it Count!

Can you believe it, summer is almost over. Did you... Read More

How To Beat Procrastination At Work

Listen. If you donīt beat procrastination at work the long... Read More

Motivation: 3 Suggestions for Living a Life of Purpose, On Purpose

"There's so many roads that seem, To lead down to... Read More

How Are You Feeling? Its More Of A Brain Question Than You Think

How you respond to How are You reveals a great... Read More

Motivation: The Power of Asking

Very shortly, in this paragraph, I'm going to share with... Read More

Why Do Flowers Inspire Me So Much?

I grew up in a very cold climate where winter... Read More

The Simple Secret To Lasting Motivation

This is a key to lasting motivation and beating procrastination.If... Read More

Our Life ? Our Choice

OK, maybe that's a bit of an overgeneralization but it... Read More

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone - Before Its Too Late

Think about what you're doing each day and ask yourself... Read More

Is Failure the End of Everything?

"The important thing is to learn a lesson every time... Read More

Keep the Channel Open

Why do you do what you do? What is your... Read More

Lego Laws for Life

Just about everybody owns or has owned a bucket of... Read More

Your Life Story: Whatcha Gonna Do? Write Your Life Story NOW before Its Too Late!

Imagine this scene: Project yourself into the future. You are... Read More

The Top 10 Creative Strategies for Moving into Action and For Getting Bottom Line Results

Your ability to move into action and to achieve bottom... Read More

A Reality Practice

Suggested practice to gain freedom from self-limitation.It is suggested that... Read More

Come Alive!

As many of you know I have a passion for... Read More

Everything Going Against You

"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that... Read More

A Reality Practice

Suggested practice to gain freedom from self-limitation.It is suggested that... Read More

Going with the Flow

This whole idea of change is founded on a single... Read More

Do More! Learn More! Create More! Live More!

Over the years in America and the west generally, the... Read More

Self-Limiting Beliefs: The Inner Enemies of Progress

What are they?Self-limiting beliefs are those things you believe about... Read More

Say It Aint So

For years, many of us heard the phrase "Knowledge is... Read More

Getting Out of a Rut

Are you feeling bored or restless? Do you need to... Read More