Sometimes, It’s The Questions

When it comes to our careers it may seem we're always seeking answers.  We want to know where to work.  We want to know what job will fit us.  We want to answer the right questions in the interview.

Of course we want answers.  Answers tell us what we should do on the job.  Answers give us directions to take at school.  Answers comfort us in adversity – or at least let us know how bad the adversity is so we can face it.

Now of course I am all for answers, but I think it's important that we give Questions their due.



Asking questions is how we get answers.  Asking where we should live spawns a huge litter of other questions that help us determine that very answer.  Asking if we should try to be a writer helps us find a career direction.  Asking if we should take a job offer makes us think.

If your career, and indeed life, isn't going the way you want maybe the problem isn't the answers or lack of answers.  Maybe you're not asking enough questions or the right questions.

Life and job coaches, psychologists, counselors – all these people (if they're any good), help you ask questions.  What skills you like, what your family was like, why you did something destructive – all those questions help you find answers.  Think about the last time someone tried to help you and you'll probably find the truly helpful ones asked an awful lot of questions.

If you're not finding good answers in your career, start asking more questions.  After all, they're how you get answers.

– Steven Savage