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Goals Gone Wild
Issue #119: Ask and Ye Shall Achieve (Part II)
April 20, 2007
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Ask and Ye Shall Achieve
(Part II)
Matthew Poepsel, LeftBrain/Co-Founder
Last week, we covered a number of questions you can pose to yourself to help clarify your life goals. Capturing your goals is an important first step, but knowing what you want in life is not a guarantee that you will actually get it. (Sorry, didn't I mention that earlier? My bad.) I think we all realize that if we're going to achieve our goals, we've got to actually do something about it.
But happens if we don't exactly know where to start?
I'm glad you asked. (You're getting pretty good at this whole question thing.) You see, too many people suffer in silence. They become frustrated by not having achieved their goal and also by not feeling as if they have a clear path to ever really do so. (That's double trouble.) Too many times, they keep their challenges bottled up rather than reaching out for help.
Fortunately, you and I know better. We realize that there's no such thing as a self-made man or woman. Everyone who's succeeded in life has had a little help along the way. An encouraging word, a piece of advice, start-up capital, a key introduction - someone has done something to give them a leg up.
Think about your goal. Has someone else out there achieved that goal? Let's say you want to write the great American novel. Do you know any writers? Know any editors or agents? Know anyone who likes to read? Chances are that you do. Reach out to one of those people to get the ball rolling. Any contact will do at first.
But what do you do once you've connected with someone? (Again with the questions. Sheesh.) Well, one of the easiest ways to strike up a fruitful conversation is ask engaging questions. This makes the conversation much easier for them. You can use a great technique called an "informational interview". Ask someone you want to meet for 15 to 20 minutes of their valuable time to help you write your success story. (Who could say no to that?)
Once you connect with them, tell them what you're trying to accomplish. After you (quickly) do that, here are the three most important questions you should ask during your informational interview:
1. "How were you able to succeed?" This is a great icebreaker, and his or her success will serve to inform and motivate you. Consider what actions your interviewee took, what challenges he or she faced along the way, and how he or she overcame those obstacles.
2. "What would you do if you were in my position?" You can really benefit from someone's experience when you ask them to consider your situation. He or she may be able to outline a really beneficial and clear path to the finish line. At a minimum, he or she should be able to point you in the right direction.
3. "Who else would you recommend I speak with?" It's unlikely that any single person will have all the answers. It is highly likely, however, that he or she will know other people who might help you complete the puzzle. If you do a great job in the interview, don't be surprised if they give you a few names to consider for your continued education.
Use this simple informational interview technique, and you won't be disappointed with the results. The information you receive will guide you, motivate you, help you understand your own situation better, save you time, save you headaches, and generally help you increase your chances of success.
I've found that there's tremendous power in a question. Wouldn't you agree?
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