Curious about the Power of Why: Do You Start with It? Do You Use It? And Why?

“For true success ask yourself these four questions: Why? Why not? Why not me? Why not now?” - James Allen, British author

“You have to think anyway, so why not think big?” - Donald Trump, American businessman

When I first decided to use this three letter word for this week’s theme, I was mainly influenced by one of my favorite gurus, Eben Pagan. He was talking about learning styles and suggested that we start training, books and sales letters with a focus on Why. Why we need to learn this and why it will make a difference in our lives.

However, the more I thought about Why and started investigating the quotations using Why, the more I realized its power. Let’s think about the answers to some of the many Why questions we ask ourselves and others.

Why does something work? Why do goals that are founded and grounded with serious intentions produce results? Why are we motivated to take action? And, why do we procrastinate? Why are some people positive and others negative?

I am sure that you can make up a huge list of why questions that are common to you. Our children and grandchildren always have plenty. Why?

I found so many interesting quotations with so many different approaches, I want to share as many as possible in our time and space:

• “Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes, American writer
• “Curious people are interesting people, I wonder why that is.” - Bill Maher, American comedian
• “Why are we so full of restraint? Why do we not give in all directions? Is it fear of losing ourselves? Until we do lose ourselves there is no hope of finding ourselves.” - Henry Miller, American author
• “If you have ability in a certain area, why not capitalize on it and improve it and use it?” - Wilt Chamberlain, American athlete
• “The reason why worry kills more people than work is that more people worry than work.” - Robert Frost, American poet
• “If you never change your mind, why have one?” - Edward de Bono, English psychologist

And three more to think about:

• “To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.” - Kofi Annan, Statesman from Ghana
• “I have never smuggled anything in my life. Why, then, do I feel an uneasy sense of guilt on approaching a customs barrier?” - John Steinbeck, American author
• “Why don't they pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting anybody from learning anything? If it works as well as prohibition did, in five years Americans would be the smartest race of people on Earth.” - Will Rogers, American writer

Think about the power of why in your life and business. I feel it will surprise you. Why?