August 27, 2013 / in General Information / by Mic Johnson
Post written by Mic Johnson, Blog Coach|LinkedIn Trainer|Social Coach|Rational Optimist|Jayhawk Fanatic|Sushi Addict|Cancer Volunteer
When I first wrote the title for this blog I imagined N’Sync singing “Why? Why? Why?” instead of “Bye, Bye, Bye.” The infamous boy band was on my mind after watching them perform at the MTV Video Music Awards the other night. I didn’t watch that by choice. My wife made me. I guess she wanted me to know very clearly that she would leave me in a heartbeat if Justin Timberlake came calling. But I digress….
I woke up this morning thinking about why it’s important to ask “Why?” Maybe I need some therapy on why I wake up thinking about blog post topics, but I’ll save that for another day.
With “Why?” on my mind, I started brainstorming around all of the different directions I could take the blog post. Then, as my wife Missy and I were getting ready, I ran the idea by her. And she not only said “I’m not even awake yet”, but then asked me (ironically, I might add) why I would write a post about the question “Why?”
I thought to myself, “She’s not a blogger. She doesn’t get it.” But maybe she will after reading this. (P.S. – Missy, if you’re reading this…I LOVE YOU!)
As kids grow up they ask “Why?” all of the time. Because they’re curious. They want to understand. They want to know why things are the way they are. Why things work the way they are. Why they have to eat their vegetables. Why they can’t go somewhere. Why you won’t let them go over to a friend’s house. Or why they can’t eat pizza every day.
I’m sure every parent out there has said “BECAUSE I SAID SO!” too many times to count. I know my mom did. Who knows, but maybe that’s where some people start to get the idea that asking “Why?” is a bad thing.
I’ve always been a “Why?” guy. I want to know why things are the way they are. I want to know why things don’t work. I want to know why people are the way they are. In the end, I guess I’m still curious.
But I also ask “Why?” because I have a burning desire to make things better….for myself, for my wife, for my family, for my trusted and valued relationships, for my clients, for their employees…basically for those people in my life that I care about.
With the rest of this post, I want to share some “Why?” questions with you. Some are business related. Some are personal. Some are things that just popped into my head as I was writing.
I don’t have all of the answers, but my hope is that these questions make you really stop and think. Or inspire you to make a change for the better in your life or career. Or help you figure out something about yourself that you didn’t realize before. Above all, I hope they motivate you to start thinking like a child again and start asking “Why?” of yourself, and of others, more often.
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Kandy Meehan
Owner of Home Rental Services
Nice post! I’m also a ‘why guy’ (gal, really) and I find that my questions frequently frustrates my coworkers (and at times my family, lol).
Aimee: Thank you for taking the time to read the post and comment. I really appreciate it. No doubt that “Why?” can frustrate coworkers and families and friends and all kinds of people….many people don’t like to have the Why? question ask because they don’t want to think about it or because they don’t care about making things better….I’m glad YOU do!