Why Are Manhole Covers Round?

Recently I stumbled across a list of Microsoft Interview questions and was amazed by how the questions challenged me to look beyond the ordinary. I share some of the questions for you here in the hopes that you also will recognize the spark of creativity that is required to solve these fascinating puzzles.

Questions 101

The experts tell us that we each have somewhere around 60,000 thoughts every single day. What most people don't realize is that the average person asks themselves the same questions over and over again.

Same question. Same Answer. Within this pattern is a trap of monumental proportions.

A true treadmill.

"Why does this always happen to me?"
"How come I never have enough money?"
"Will my business ever be successful?"
"Why aren't I making any sales?"

Boring! Tragic!

There is much to be learned by understanding that the quality of your life depends upon the questions that you constantly ask yourself. If you want to experience the type of life you truly deserve we need to shake things up a bit the Microsoft Way!

Focus the Microsoft Way!

Bill Gates is a puzzle aficionado. I was fascinated with this because puzzles were originally created as a means of hiding or disguising knowledge by breaking the wisdom down into smaller pieces. Long ago I learned that the best teachers were those that asked the most intriguing questions. Needless to say, the same can be said of companies.

This list of questions is fascinating and will definitely stretch your boundaries. Remember?.think outside the box, look at them as a puzzle and search for the possibilities. The sky is the LIMIT! May the creative force be with you!

"Why are manhole covers round?"

"How many gas stations are there in the United States?"

"How are M&M's made?"

"You have been assigned to design Bill Gates bathroom. Naturally, cost is not a consideration. You may not speak to Bill. What would you do?"

"How would you explain how to use Microsoft Excel to your grandma?"

"Explain a scenario for testing a salt shaker."

"How would you design a coffee-machine for an automobile."

"How would you go about building a keyboard for 1-handed users?"

"How would you build an alarm clock for deaf people?"

Interesting aren't they? Were you disturbed by these questions? Or were you fascinated by the possibilities they presented? I can understand why Microsoft is such a successful organization when creativity of this nature is expected right from the first job interview.

Internet Marketing Expert, Mark Hendricks said it best when he stated; "Problems have solutions, they are made that way."

Apply this logic to your life and business!

It seems that the software developers Microsoft first ask themselves, "what is it that you want to experience?" Then, they build a belief system to ensure that experience is supported and created. This is incredibly shrewd knowledge that we can all apply to our lives and businesses.

Upon first reading the questions I couldn't help but sympathize with those prospective employees who had perfect scholastic records but lacked the imagination to confront the possibilities. Success in life often has very little to do with book smarts. Great technology starts with great attitude.

So what is it that you want to experience in your life or business? Believe it or not, limitations live only in your mind. But if you use your imagination, your possibilities become limitless.

Those individuals who live truly fulfilling lives discover that they have managed to challenge their current realities by confronting their imaginations for what is truly possible. When I worked through the above questions I quickly discovered that "HOW" I confronted a problem determined the RESULT I could achieve. How quickly can you change your beliefs about what is possible?

Albert Einstein once said that "the mind that solves a problem is very different from the mind that first confronted it." From this simple statement we can begin to appreciate that within every question lies either a prison of limitations or an endless series of possibilities. The choice is clearly yours.

So the next time you are confronted with a problem in your business or personal life that seems monumental, I challenge you to ask yourself?."Why are manhole covers round?"

That ought to change your focus around long enough to be able to look at the problem through a new set of eyes.

Harald Anderson is the co-founder of Artinspires.com a leading online gallery of Motivational Posters. "When Art Inspires, Dreams Become Realities. His goal in life is to become the kind of person that his dog already thinks he is. http://www.artinspires.com/

---

Job and Life Rules to Follow

Decide which game to play. Is winning that... Read More

Ever Find Yourself Saying I Want My Instant Money Now?

If that sounds like you, you're not alone. Everyone needs... Read More

Imagine That

"See, I told you so," she emailed me, "it turned... Read More

Success Analysis - The Concept of Critical Mass

How many times have you thought about being successful, famous,... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Using Eastern Wisdom

Take a page from Eastern wisdom Meditation, martial arts that... Read More

A Simple Idea from a Billionaire

It's simple and powerful.The philosophy of successful people is often... Read More

Own Your Success

Are you getting frustrated because the work you continue to... Read More

Decision-Making: The Right Way!

Why do some people end up with boring jobs living... Read More

Success: 11 Universal Laws to Get You There

The Law of Experience"Success comes from good judgement; good judgement... Read More

How to Achieve Massive Success Before Graduating

How do you land your dream job, win... Read More

Helpful Tips to Overcome Procrastination

Many among us, on many instances, have the habit of... Read More

Listening - A Life Skill for Success!

When I decided to have my web site built, I... Read More

Success = Prosperity

Material or physical success is often measured by the level... Read More

Dont View Your Failures As Being Final

Do not make the mistake of looking at your failures... Read More

A Little Equation that Creates Big Results

The purpose of man is in action not thought -... Read More

Six Steps to Personal Success

Trying to keep up with the Jones only drags good,... Read More

Seven Steps for Success

"The secret of success is to make what you are... Read More

Life Lesson--Be, Do, Have

This revelation hit me the other day while I was... Read More

Preventing Setbacks: Compulsive Eating, Binge Eating, And Eating Addictions

On your journey to moving past using food to cope... Read More

Who Makes You Better?

Commit yourself to spending time only with people who are... Read More

I Just Did It!

I succeeded. I achieved my goal. I am successful. I... Read More

Building the Minds Framework for Success

Man is the most advanced being on this earth. We... Read More

7 Essential Body Language Tips

The secrets of our body language have been around forever... Read More

The Ancestral Cream

"I am the greatest warrior. I have fought with gods... Read More

4 Scientific Strategies to Become Brilliant At Anything

In this brief article we will explore four methods that... Read More

Still Mourning That Business Failure!

No one wants to fail. But when in business you... Read More

Success -- A Secret and A Formula

Are you looking for the secret or magical formula for... Read More

Why Are Manhole Covers Round?

Recently I stumbled across a list of Microsoft Interview questions... Read More

Habits and Success

I got a big reminder over the last couple of... Read More

Success -Ten Winning Traits!

No surprise - winning traits are common among high achievers.Are... Read More

The 101 Habits of Highly Successful People

Personal missions statements (PMS) are just nothing but the winning... Read More

10 Tips for Sensible Living

Here are a few suggestions that I try to put... Read More

The Psychology Of Success; Part 2

In the first part of this article you learned some... Read More