What Is Your Question

Posted Tuesday, April 13, 2010 in Professional

Knowing your desired outcome can be an inspiring exercise,

The things that drive us forward in our endeavours and in our lives are often fueled by the following:  achievement, acquisition, arrival.

I have found a clarifying question.  It guides my actions, as well as helps me to measure success. It serves me well and perhaps it will for you also.

The question is personally based, and although I will accept that you may choose to take it as your own, perhaps another phrase, or visual/auditory selection will suit you more appropriately.

If you are a musician, perhaps your goal is Carnegie Hall, or at least American Idol.
If you are an artist, a large gallery may be the goal, you can visualize your pieces placed into this space, suggesting success and acknowledgment.
If you are an entrepreneur, do you see yourself clapping as your IPO hits the TSE, or do you see your charity work being fueled by the success that you generate in your business?

For each of these scenarios, and the many more you can imagine, a visual clue or trigger can be created, and from it, YOUR perfect question.

My guiding question is ‘Does this get me to the Beach?’

For me, the beach is a visualization and a physical goal.

If I am considering a project, I ask myself ‘my question’ and the reasons for taking the project on either clarify for me as a leader to the beach, or I turn away, understanding clearly that although the project may be stimulating, or otherwise worthwhile, it will not lead to my ultimate goal, which is always kept in the front of my mind.

“My Beach” is a physically reality, but it also a state of my mind, my emotions, and my body responses.  When I take a deep sigh of pleasure or release, when I complete a task that opens up my time and energy for another pursuit, when I set aside an endeavour that is in fact NOT leading to the beach, I have arrived, or at least moved a little closer.

So I ask, suggest, encourage you, to formulate your own question.
To determine for yourself, what your goal is, to name it, and in doing so, to claim it.

Encourage another in turn.
And we will each ‘Lift As We Climb’
The driving force and ideal behind ‘Layc’

Deb Leroux
Founder of Layc ~ A Mentoring Alliance
Lift As You Climb