January 20, 2007

Ideas? 20 Questions to Kickstart New Thoughts

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:53 am

Get Curious

Finding Ideas Outside of the Box logo 2

What are you thinking right now? Are you thinking about your answer to that question?

We’re good at answering questions. We learn that in school. Sometimes we get so busy preparing our answers that we miss what’s going on around us.

10 Questions to Kickstart New Thoughts

Imagine you just landed on this planet. You’d have a passel of questions and a totally beginner’s view. The key is not to try to fix things, but to find new reactions to what you encounter.

  1. What do you see what you look at me? What do you see when you look at yourself?
  2. What do you hear when you listen to all of the sounds around you?
  3. What is it that everyone wants to know, but is afraid to ask? What are the silly things we don’t tell people that they should know?
  4. What do we do that is touching or ridiculous?
  5. What do we take for granted that seems to have no logic?
  6. What would you do if you had only one day to spend here?
  7. What of our ordinary buildings, machines, and gadgets would stymie and fascinate you?
  8. What about our planet would amaze you?
  9. What about humanity would inspire you?
  10. If you had a conversation with yourself, what would you talk about?

The ideas are waiting in the details. Twist your view; add a dash of imagination; and take a look.

10 More . . .

I have 10 more questions. They’re all about you.

  1. Do you do stuff like keep your ketchup bottle upside down or choose CDs based on who’s in the music store?
  2. Do you find money that you forgot about in a jacket pocket?
  3. Do you get nervous when a boss starts a friendly conversation for no apparent reason?
  4. Do you know a story that people ask you to tell over and over?
  5. Do you wonder what else you might have done with all of the time that you’ve been blogging?
  6. Do you know the most important thing you’ve learned?
  7. Do you know what gadget you would invent if you could?
  8. Do you have a secret for dealing with folks who cause stress wherever they go?
  9. Do you know what you want to be if you grow up? Will you share an idea or two?
  10. Do you wonder what it’s like to be me the way I wonder what it’s like to be you?

If you answered “yes” to any of those, and you decide to write a post, I’d read your answer. I bet that lots of folks would. E-mail me at lizsun2@gmail.com with 20 QUESTIONS POST in the subject line and a link to your post by Wednesday, january 24. I post the links as they come in.

–ME ‘Liz” Strauss

For more ideas see the Successful Series page.

Share This


Filed under Idea Bank, Outside the Box, Successful Blog |



C'mon. Let's talk!

9 Comments to “Ideas? 20 Questions to Kickstart New Thoughts”

  1. January 20th, 2007 at 10:48 am
    Karin said

    Hi Liz
    (Almost going home time for me ;-))
    Questions? Answers?
    Can I share this quote with you (really love this one):
    “It’s more important to know some of the questions than all the answers” (James Thurber)

  2. January 20th, 2007 at 10:50 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Karin!
    I love James Thurber! That’s such a great quote. Thank you. :)

  3. January 20th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
    GP said

    Wow… great minds think alike… am working on a post right now about ??? if you had one day to make the perfect day. :) Will send on yonder.

    How’s the crayons going?:) More importantly (maybe) how was the Sauvignon Blanc ?

    GP in Montana

  4. January 20th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi GP,
    I’m doing great! Thanks for asking! :)

    Love that blogger synchronicity!!

  5. January 25th, 2007 at 9:39 am
    Claire Stringer said

    Dear Liz,

    You’ve kick-started my day!

    The burning question I have is this:
    Why do people stay where they are miserable, just to worry and complain about it?

    The way I see it is these people are so stuck that they don’t even know they are stuck. They think they are victims. Woe unto them! Here is one clue for millions of people who feel this way and will probably die never knowing that they HAD THE POWER WITHIN THEMSELVES to opt for happiness instead.

    they say….
    What? I can do that? No, I am a victim. I have no power.

    the truth….
    YES YOU CAN. BUT FIRST you are going to have to let go of your ‘blankey’ and step forward, look in the mirror and tell yourself that YOU ARE WORTHY OF HAPPINESS. YOU ARE WORTHY OF JOY. YOU ARE EVEN WORTHY OF SUCCESS.

    more truth….
    YOU ARE A VICTIM BECAUSE YOU MADE YOURSELF THE VICTIM. YOU BROUGHT TO YOURSELF WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCES YOU ARE NOW IN.

    ouch… How can that be?
    Now that you have laid down your blankey, clear your mind for 20 minutes. Get quiet and focus. We humans attract TO US our circumstances. You might want to check out the “Law of Attraction”. Information about it is in books, movies like THE SECRET, TV interviews and more.

    the bottom line….
    YOU CAN BE, DO, and HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT! First you have to give up your victim status, let go of your hate, forgive the people you need to, and let yourself become the new person you were meant to be.

    but how can I do that?…..
    It is up to you to decide that. How low are your spirits now? When they get rock-bottom, you will look up from the pit you are in and tell yourself you are ready to get out. Whew! What a relief!

    These nuggets I am sharing because I was a huge VICTIM. Woe was me! I had lost my job last spring and after many months of applying, I finally accepted the fact that no one is going to hire a 57 year old Human Resources VP or Director despite my 29 extensive years of experience, my passion for helping companies, leaders, employees and their profitability. I had so much to give, but no one was taking. my HR career was O-V-E-R. Denial set in, then acceptance. But I NEED to work. I am my sole provider. I am not ready to carry trays at the local cafeteria. I really have more to give and more to do.

    In the depths of my despair, I started looking at ‘business opportunities’. Maybe I could start my own business (although I already know that a high percentage of new businesses fail in the first year…after you have sunk you life-savings into the business).

    Then I noticed a business that was already up-and-running, had systems in place to do the backup work and all I had to do was post ads on the internet (YES, I COULD WORK AT HOME) and answer questions for people who were interested. The pay? All commission BUT they were HUGE commissions. The catch is that I must believe in myself, get rid of all my negatives, all the poison I was carrying around from getting let go (OK fired) from my job and my utter resentment that I am no longer wanted or needed in today’s workforce. I WAS MISERABLE and DEPRESSED and I was sick of my pitiful self. So I jumped at the chance to “start over”, forget the past and make a positive life for myself. I started my life over 4 months ago and I feel wonderful, empowered, loved, worthwhile, successful…I could go on for days but I won’t. I will tell you what I found, but first I want to tell you that there are MANY ways to find your best self. I just happened to find this one and it is RIGHT for ME. If you look, you will fidn the right fit for YOU.

    I am now in business for myself but not BY myself. I have the support, mentoring and encouragement of a whole team of precious people who really care about me. Our team posts ad on the internet and answers questions for interested people. It is perfect for me because I am no salesman. But we don’t sell. People who are interested get all the information so they can make a strudied decision whether this is the right fit for them. How sweet is that?

    I love my job, my self development products, my team, my customers (whether they buy or not) and I can do this for the rest of my life OR I can do this until I earn enough to do what I really want to do: open a free counseling center for teens and parents. That is my true mission in life. I will earn enough in the next 3 years to fund my dream. Purpose. Now my life has PURPOSE.

    Liz, you can include or exclude my website address. I want people to know they have CHOICES. They don’t have to live in pain. LIFE IS AWESOME and everyone who wants to can LIVE IT!!
    http://www.1greatfuture.com
    Thanks for letting me spread some good news and nuggets for the taking!

    My best for everyones’ future success,

    Claire Stringer
    CEO
    1 Great Future Group

  6. January 25th, 2007 at 9:44 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Claire,
    Sounds like you did some powerful thinking. Congratulations on that! Folks need a purpose and life sure is awesome. I’m with you all the way there! :)

  7. January 26th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
    Bits and Pieces - January 26 « Ian’s Messy Desk said

    [...] 20 Questions to Kick start New Thoughts – from Liz Strauss [...]

  8. January 26th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
    Claire Stringer said

    Hey. Today is a great day. You know why? Because I am making it a great day. (I think I can just hear Michael Keetan saying that, daring anyone to disagree with him).

    I got up early this morning and said to myself, “good day or bad day?” I don’t have bad days, so of course I said back to myself that I would have a GOOD DAY.

    I know the secret. I get what I attract to myself…you’d better believe I am trying to attract good feelings, good thoughts, good people to me.

    Hey, have a great weekend everybody!

  9. January 26th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Claire!
    You are all energy and good feelings. Have a wonderful weekend!

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

C'mon Let's Talk!