Clarity: Getting The Answer To The Question You Don’t Want To Ask - Grasshopper

Amazing the things we don't ask about that would make a situation crystal clear instead of having to rely on a crystal ball.

I'm not a fan of "Why" questions, but I'll make an exception and give you my opinion why we don't ask hard questions. We don't want hard answers.

 

We'd rather hang on to the false hope that goes along with an answer that doesn't spell it out.

 

Most guys will be able to relate to this: Whether or not to ask the girl at the junior high dance to dance. Most young men have been in this situation. Why don't we ask? We are afraid of hearing "No," being rejected, having our bubble burst that our dream girl isn't dreaming about us, yadda, yadda.

 

Our chance of getting an actionable answer is zero if we don't ask.

 

You can't take the next step with a marshmallow answer.

 

One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from a management consultant. He said, "Shorten the storm."

 

You elongate the emotional storm within by keeping the question that needs an answer to yourself.

 

Yes, you may not get the answer you were hoping for, but the answer does present the next step. "No answer" keeps you in limbo and confused.

 

Clarity will take you to the next step. Leaving the question unasked will keep you dancing with yourself.

 

Stop pretending you know the answer and ask.

 

You will screw up more often by not asking. Here's a passage from my free e-book: THE SUCCESS TRIANGLE that spotlights the perils of not asking.

 

Revisionist historians tell a fabulous story about the massacre Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote about in his poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade." In this poem, we read about 600 soldiers riding into the valley of death.    

 

This death ride took place during the Crimean War. The historians tell us a messenger approached the commanding officer of the 600 and delivered this message, "Advance to the front." The officer dutifully lead his troops to the front, and they were all killed.

 

Lord Tennyson's poem recorded the blunders of the Battle of Balaklava (October 25, 1854) for future generations. This officer was guilty of mind reading, falling victim to fluffy communication, and then to the enemy.

 

There happened to be three fronts. He never took the time to ask the messenger, "Which specific front?" He knew there were three fronts. The officer owed it to himself and to his men to break down the word "Front." He pretended that he knew where to advance and paid with his and their lives.

 

Finally, just for clarity, the question you're pretending to know the answer to needs a real world answer in order for you to take the next step that clarity brings.

   

 

All the best,

John