12 Questions: Focus on What Matters Most
12 Questions: Focus on What Matters Most
My favourite 12 questions to help me focus
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Great questions are magnifying glasses for the mind
When things look blurry, they help you focus. They're flexible, so they don't mind when you switch them frequently. They're also versatile: you use the right type of question for whatever is in front of you, whether it's making a decision, firing up creativity, connecting better with others.
I find questions are also a reminder that perception and reality are separate. Just asking the question can be enough to change my perspective.
But questions are nothing without curiosity. The question is simply the expression of that curiosity.
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” — Albert Einstein
So, questions are:
A reminder that perspective ≠ reality
An expression of curiosity
An instrument to focus
Versatile
Flexible.
My 12 favourite questions to help me focus on what matters most
Leverage. What's the 1 thing that by doing it, everything else becomes easier or unnecessary? (credit: Gary Keller, ‘The One Thing’)
Future 1. At the end of your life, would you rather have a long list of accomplishments or a few key accomplishments that truly matter?
Future 2. At the end of your life, what would you wish to have chosen at the juncture you’re currently at ? (credit: Shirzad Chamine, Positive Intelligence)
Values. Which path do your values suggest you follow?
Crisis. What do you need to do so that this seemingly bad situation turns into a gift 3, 6, 12 months from now? (credit: Shirzad Chamine, Positive Intelligence)
Love 1. If your children were doing what you’re doing, how would you feel? (credit: Jerry Colonna, ‘Reboot’)
Love 2. What would you like your children to feel like when they're your age? If that's not how you’re feeling, what do you want to do about it? (credit: Jerry Colonna, ‘Reboot’)
Avoidance. What are you avoiding that, if addressed, would make the biggest difference in your life?
Flow. What activities make you lose track of time?
Meaning. What do you love doing that also brings value to those around you?
Role-model. What would [enter your role model] do?
No failure. What would you try if you knew you could not fail?
Download the 12 questions as PDF cheat sheet 👇
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