Opening the Doors of Economic Opportunity & Prosperity: Power Questions Are the Answer...

"If I had an hour to solve a problem, and my life depended on the answer, I would spend the first 55 minutes figuring out the proper questions to ask.  For if I knew the proper questions, I could solve the problem in less than 5 minutes."

-Albert Einstein

When we ask power questions, we invite power answers.  Regardless of our purpose, goals, or objectives, asking compelling questions open the doors of opportunity for greater prosperity in all areas of life.

Power Questions help us focus, think, and learn better.  Indeed, they help us make good choices, take appropriate action, and accomplish our desired outcomes in a more timely, cost-effective manner.

The process is ongoing and productive.  It can be likened to a baseball player getting as many at-bats as possible.  It's a continuous process of getting better and better; as we improve our batting, we improve our batting average.

Focus

By asking power questions we quickly and effectively focus our minds on getting our desired outcomes.  Questions of power focus our minds on what we can do.  They concentrate on our strengths and our taking action that makes a positive difference.  Therein lies our ability to accomplish what's important to us.  As it applies to our local economy, therein we find the keys to achieve greater prosperity.

Think

The very process of asking questions causes us to think.  When we ask power questions our thinking processes become powerful.  As we ask compelling questions about how we can build a more resilient economy, our mind thinks of and creates opportunities to do so.

Choices

By asking power questions, we increase our options.  Not only does it increase the "possibility" of getting our desired results, it increases our "probability" of producing those results.  What was once only an idea, becomes a blueprint for action that builds a more resilient local economy.

Action

The who, what, when, where, why, and how of what we should do is clarified to maximize our efforts in accomplishing our objectives, achieving our goals, and fulfilling and maintaining our purposes.  Asking power questions guide our actions in accomplishing what's important to us.  Regarding a more prosperous local economy, asking power questions helps us take power actions that produce the physical results we desire.

Learn

As we focus, think, choose, and act, we should ask and search for valuable feedback that will help us fine tune our efforts to build a more resilient local economy.  By repeating this process over and over again, the actions we take become more and more effective in getting the outcomes we want.  Power questions provide us with power learning as to what we should do.  The more quickly and more times we repeat the process of focusing, thinking, choosing, and acting, the more quickly we learn how we can improve the quality and quantity of what to do.

Power Questions

Learning, consistently applying, and mastering how to ask power questions is the keystone for developing inspiring leaders and cultivating entrepreneurs, thereby building a more resilient local economy in 2014.  It is a process that empowers each of us to make a meaningful contribution.

What power questions will you ask yourself and others today, and in the coming weeks and months of 2014, to build a more resilient local economy for the Silver Creek Community?  What you can and will do makes a difference! 

Next Post

"How to Create Power Questions That Get Results!"

What do you think?

As always your constructive comments are welcome and appreciated!

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The Silver Creek Economy 2014 blog is sponsored by Partnering Technologies, an Arizona-based Learning & Development Company.  Their focus is helping individuals and organizations learn, consistently apply, and master a skill-set that is always in high demand, always highly valued, and always highly paid.  Its founder is Jim Sanderson.

Visit their website at partneringtechnologies.blogspot.com and find out what they are doing to build a more prosperous economy for our community in 2014.

Three Essentials For A Resilient Local Economy: Build Trust, Develop Leaders, Cultivate Entrepreneurs

“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."

-John Wooden, Legendary UCLA Coach

The Pain

Over the last seven years our local economy has taken some hard hits.  The domino effect of economic decline has definitely been felt in a number of local industries vital to our economic well-being (construction, real estate, manufacturing, transportation, local businesses, schools, and municipal services).

However, the real pain has come to rest on individuals and families.  Loss of employment, reduced work hours, declining business activity, business closings, loss of homes, financial loss, loss of self-esteem, and sad to say, in some cases the demise of vital family relationships.

The Challenge

Regardless of the cause of these economic ills and their disruptive effects on the residents of our community, the challenge we now face is how to build a more resilient economy amid the rapid changes we presently face and will face in the future?

Fortunately, our local chamber of commerce and businesses have been working on ways to strengthen our economy.  Likewise, our local and county civic leaders have dedicated efforts to promote economic prosperity for our White Mountain Region as well as our local economy. These efforts have resulted in some promising prospects.

Nevertheless, as individuals, we should ask ourselves, “What can I do to build a more resilient local economy?”  The answer to that question may require us to step outside our comfort zone.  More often than not, that's a daunting process.  However, taking it one step at a time, it can be done.  Each of us have a stake in the economic prosperity of our community and each of us can make a difference.  The timely advice of John Wooden carries a practical message of hope, “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”  Additionally, do your best and then take it to the next level.  

We always have a choice and when we focus and act on what we “can” do, the doors of opportunity open and we increase our ability to do more.

The Opportunity

Our most valuable resource in addressing any challenge is our ability to learn, think, choose and act.  It's an ongoing process because life is ever changing and with that change comes opportunity.  As it pertains to building a more resilient local economy, three essentials come front and center:  Learn, consistently apply and master the principles of 1) building mutual trust, 2) developing inspiring leaders, and 3) cultivating entrepreneurs.

Mutual trust is the currency of prosperity.  "It is a function of character and competence... [it] impacts us 24/7, 365 days a year.  It undergirds and affects the quality of every relationship, every communication, every work project, every business venture, every effort in which we are engaged." (Stephen M.R. Covey, The Speed of Trust). Building, maintaining, and restoring trust are essential to our local economic prosperity.

Inspiring Leaders guide through the bad times as well as the good.  They see the potential of not only opportunities, but more importantly the potential of each individual they influence.  They act to bring out the best in people and help them capitalize on promising opportunities and make meaningful contributions.  “Leadership is not a formal position, it is a choice.”   (Dr. Stephen R. Covey, The 8th Habit).  Inspiring Leaders mobilize individuals to accomplish desired outcomes; they're essential to the prosperity of our local economy.

Entrepreneurs create compelling value in the marketplace.  They seize and act on opportunities to make life more prosperous for all concerned.  "Innovation is the specific instrument of entrepreneurship.  The act that endows resources with a new capacity to create wealth." (Peter Drucker, Management & Entrepreneurship Expert).  Entrepreneurs create an ever increasing number of economic opportunities which in turn create an increasing number of good jobs. They are committed to continuous improvement; they are essential to local economic progress!

With these essentials in mind, the opportunity to create greater economic prosperity for our community has never been better.  The Law of the Harvest favors those who act by sowing the seeds that build a more resilient local economy.

Your choices and what you do are important.

The Question

What will you do today and in the coming weeks and months of 2014, to help our local economy prosper?  Your efforts will make a positive difference!

Next Post

Monday, March 10, 2014

What do you think?

As always your constructive comments are welcome and appreciated.

*********

The Silver Creek Economy 2014 blog is sponsored by Partnering Technologies, an Arizona-based Learning & Development Company.  Their focus is helping individuals and organizations learn, consistently apply, and master a skill-set that is always in high demand, always highly valued, and always highly paid.  Its founder is Jim Sanderson.

Visit their website at www.partneringtechnologies.blogspot.com and find out what they are doing to build a more prosperous economy for our community in 2014.