There Has To Be a Better Way: Why Ask Why?

Are you the type of person who always asks why? Or do you get annoyed with the person that is always asking why?

All throughout my days in school, and 14 years in business, I have not had the pleasure of meeting nearly enough people interested asking questions.  Understanding reasons behind why or how things work a certain way- and why or how they don’t work another – is really a rare trait, I have found.

So why ask why?

Many people are satisfied with surface reasons why a process is the way it is, how a piece of software works, or why they were passed over for a promotion. Their satisfaction is superficial.

What about those individuals that ask so many questions? Are they seeking knowledge, truth, wisdom? Or are they simply just not getting it? Do you get annoyed with that one person in your office that just can’t seem to get it despite their best intentions? Come on, I know you have one in your office or workplace.

I had to ask myself that question in the recent past… and the answer I came up with was startling. The problem wasn’t with ‘the other guy’ – It was with me.

You see, even though I ask questions, I never annoy people – well not usually, do I? I’m not that guy, am I?

You see I have been on both sides of the fence. So while it is easy for me to cast stones from my pedestal of knowledge, I discovered that I was the one that did not know see the true meaning; I found that my attitude of self-service truly shut my eyes to real meaning in life. In other words, my heart and mind were not geared to help others find answers, it was geared to help me satisfy my thirst.

I found there is a better way… to ask why, and how, and always seek answers not for my personal benefit – but for the betterment of those I serve, those whom in which I place my trust, those whom I love.

You see I am now an instigator of betterment not because I can ask, “why?”, because even though this trait is indeed rare, what is even more scarce are those with a true sense of wonderment and desire to share.

Ken Stewart’s blog, ChangeForge.com, focuses on the collision between the constantly changing worlds of business and technology. Ken is also the Director of Technology at Kearns Business Solutions.