Melissa and I's life has been a journey of many beginnings, we have it in our DNA. Whether planting churches, going after real-estate investments, putting on a nationally headlined events, or planning to get up in front of thousands of people with a mission or cause, we have seen successes and learning opportunities. Many of these results where predicated on what questions were asked before starting to execute the projects. Learning to ask the right questions before going after dreams, concepts, causes, vision or ideas makes seeing these things actually become reality and at the highest level possible. So, what are the right questions?
They're actually very simple and I've found that many people think about the questions, it's answering them honestly and following through that seems to be the toughest part. Some great questions to ask are:
1. What is the end result we want to have in our endeavor?
2. Who do we involve in our team to accomplish our overall goal?
3. What is our realistic budget and how do we stay within our means?
4. What are the core values that become our guidelines for sustaining the project's focus?
5. Are our goals realistic?
6. What will research tell us about our idea or experience?
7. Is it good or great?
8. Who is our target audience?
9. What is unique about our cause/product/idea that will compel people to engage?
10. Can you explain your concept in three sentences?
God gave you a brain, so why not use it right?
Questions like these, when answered and used as a guide, set us up for greater success. It's our responsibility as humans to utilize all the gifts and talents we are given. Its our way of contributing to the beauty of us all being a "body fitly joined together" (Ephesians 4). My journey has been full of "learning opportunities" though as I spoke earlier. We all have the stories where if we would have just made one more adjustment, prepared more or just asked the right question, we would have had the success we were looking for in our endeavor. I came across someone a few weeks ago that in two questions had me rethinking our conversation for multiple hours. Questions should push us to know for sure what we believe we know. Great questions are usually found in having the right people around us.
If you want to optimize your success, I've found that building a great team and surrounding yourself with loyal personal relationships creates a safe place for research, development and of course sounding board.
Having people who think from a different perspective work with you allows for the working out of a concept with rich depth. This process requires patience, self-control and of course real love in what you're doing. If you love it, it's worth putting through complete process of discovery that a healthy foundation can be built. Many relationships are built on constant states of agreement. I've found that instant agreement as a rule of thumb can create as much havoc as it can momentum. When different people come together with different perspectives, questions get asked. It's our job to be honest with the answer and believe in the outcome of that answer. It takes real relationships to handle this dynamic, but it's possible.
So as leaders who embrace God as a true source in all we do, how do we ask the right questions, plan for the future and still live a lifestyle of risk/faith? I'll address that in my next post of "Do You Ask The Right Questions? PART 2"
