Ask

The first step to achieving virtually anything we aspire to is Ask. It is the most deceptively simple—and one of the most powerful—skills you can have. In fact, it is so deceptively simple that most people don’t appreciate its power.

This certainly isn’t limited to, business, but it’s been absolutely crucial to my success as an entrepreneur. I can’t count the number of times I have posed questions like: “What do we have to do to make this happen?” or “What is causing the problem?” or “What does our target market really want?” or even “Why haven’t I been doing what needs to be done?”

This is especially important if a situation makes us uncomfortable for one reason or another. In these cases, we often hesitate, react or, worse, make the wrong decision because we’re biased or afraid. Asking questions not only illuminates issues, but it also clarifies our intentions and identifies the real roadblocks to success.

In some cases, there may be a particularly seductive diversion from your stated goal that captures your attention. There is a quote from the Bhagavad Gita that is particularly illustrative in these cases: “We are kept from our goal not by obstacles, but by a clear path to a lesser goal.”

Whether it’s avoiding the path of least resistance or discovering a root problem, asking is an essential ingredient to long-term success. The best part? We can ask questions of ourselves and others… any time… and it’s almost always free.