So much of our success—in life and in investing—depends on asking the right questions. A carefully crafted question can force us to look underneath the surface of things, to expand our range of vision, and acknowledge that we know far less than we think.
Things are not always as they seem. Engaging a question with an open, inquisitive mind involves striving for deeper knowledge that may challenge our existing beliefs, open new vistas of thinking, and unveil new ideas and insights.
By no means rush to answers, but take the time to frame thoughtful questions, and then work your way through the various stages of protracted inquiry to consider the widest range of possible outcomes.
As Albert Einstein said: “If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first fifty-five minutes determining the proper question to ask... for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.”
Author David Sturt’s research found asking the right question can increase the odds of your work having a positive affect on others by 4.1 times. Answers, on the other hand, often signal a full stop in thought.
Hence, our writing is nothing more than artful questioning.
Even if you don’t agree with our answers, we hope that you at least find value in our questions. As Voltaire put it: “Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.”
Even if you don’t agree with our answers, we hope that you at least find value in our questions. As Voltaire put it: “Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.”
We have found learning how to ask the right questions, as opposed to aimlessly searching for answers to everything, has made our research more productive. Not every question deserves an answer and there are no right answers to wrong questions.
