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/

---

Keep Track of Your Results

Three key words to remember: weigh, count and measure. Now,... Read More

I Have Failed Before

Have you failed before and wished the earth could open... Read More

Success: The Slight-Edge Formula

Self-improvement; A great deal has been written on the subject,... Read More

Winning: Defining It - Achieving It

If you ask most people whether they would like to... Read More

The Importance of Listening Skills for Self Improvement and Success

Effective listening is almost certainly the most important communication skill,... Read More

Key Things Ive Learned From Studying The Lives of Great Achievers

I've long been a student of those who have achieved... Read More

8 Ways to Get Off The Success-Go-Round and Have a Consistent Flow of Success

Are you consistently chasing success? Once you achieve it, do... Read More

The Power of Small

Routinely, I rise out of bed before the birds, and... Read More

5 Master Qualities of Extraordinary Achievers

You can be a master achiever by developing the same... Read More

A Little Equation that Creates Big Results

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

Three Things You Must Know to Attract Success

Everyone wants success.Some people spend their every waking moment pursuing... Read More

Nine Sure Fire Ways to Boost Your Career

1. Differentiate yourself using a Personal Value Proposition. A PVP... Read More

Hidden Gems in a Quote: From Henry David Thoreau I have learned, that if one advances...

"I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the... Read More

You Must Play By The Rules

You must play by the rules. Everything has rules. You... Read More

Identity Theft - Defining Who We Are

Identity theft!We've all seen them. The commercials use the voices... Read More

Will You Be Successful?

We all want success. You do. So do I. Some... Read More

Unlock The Key To Your Success By Learning More About Yourself

Finding balance is deciding to notice what goes on in... Read More

Is Success About Money?

Success could be just about making money, but I think... Read More

Living A Life Without Limits

The starting point of all great success and achievement is... Read More

Wheres Your Value?

The simple action of writing the every day grocery demonstrates... Read More

Five Principals for Prosperity

Many years ago, forty to be exact, I started my... Read More

Evaluating Your Associations (Part Two)

Two weeks ago we took a look at the power... Read More

Staying Cool When the Job Heats Up

Jobs are heating up. We're all feeling the pinch of... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Give Yourself A Gold Star

Give yourself a gold star Remember how rewarding it was... Read More

Creating an Action Plan

So you've bought into the idea that you need to... Read More

The Ungiven Gift

He was pencil thin and walked with a limp. A... Read More

Choice and Change - The Two Constants

OK, so here we are. We've switched the calendars out... Read More

Success Lessons I Learned From My Single Mom

I was at a dinner party the other night when... Read More

The Circular Blame Game

Mike, his feet dangling above the city, opened his lunch... Read More

Learning From Your Mistakes

Your ability to deal constructively and effectively with mistakes and... Read More

The Opportunity Clock

When I was in college, I heard someone say something... Read More

How My Friend Bob Went From Being A Failure To A Winner By Taking Intelligent Action

Let me tell you story about a friend of mine... Read More

Your Words Have Power

You teach others how to treat you by how you... Read More