Asking the Big Questions
Like FAQs but scarier...
Doing a thing, taking a leap, putting yourself out there—it requires a lot. Time, money,1 effort, courage...all the things.
But also, a lot of questions need to take place. Big ones. Scary ones. Honest ones.
Questions of yourself. Questions to and from others. Questions that might just dropkick you out of your comfort zone.
Those questions might kill the project all together. (But in some of those cases, maybe it should before you go too far down the wrong trail.) The questions might make you face some realities you aren’t wanting to address. You might have to own up to the areas you’re struggling with or fear most.
What are you avoiding? What are you afraid of? What patterns keep happening over and over in your thought process? What are you trying to make happen? Is there a market for it? Do you have the capacity or skills or support needed? What are you willing to give up in exchange?
I’m asking a lot of questions on how to best move forward these days with my work. Part of what I’m leaning into and pursuing feels so natural, as if everything was leading up to this. And then another huge part of it feels like new and unfamiliar territory for me. The big bad questions of late have been forcing me to face some logistics and insecurities and risks that feel easier left alone. Sigh, but it’s necessary to move forward.
So my challenge to you is, are you asking yourself the hard questions? Are you giving yourself the time of day and the favor of facing what it is you really want to achieve?
You might not be able to answer them right away, but ask yourself the questions. Questions can also unlock a newfound excitement. You might realize that instead of roadblocks or self-doubt, you meet those questions with passion and determination.
Ask big questions. Ask others some questions. Then ask others to ask you questions. And don’t shy away from the hard ones.
To Meme
“Signs you are using the apprenticeship phase as an excuse to stay safe/small”
(Click through to read them because whew, ain’t that the truth)
To Watch
Umm, hi, can I use this space to talk about work musings and then also drop my latest tv binge? Okay, well, that’s what’s happening. Anyone else still reeling from “Shiny Happy People”? I can’t stop thinking about this four-part series that goes way beyond just the Duggars. Here’s the deal: I have always loved a cult or cult-adjacent documentary. You see how it starts with some decent sounding ideals and hopes and then get the benefit of hindsight to see where it all went wrong.
To Listen
Yep, I’m talking about my latest podcast listen, too. Not work-related per se…but dang, if it doesn’t have to do with asking hard questions. I’ve been obsessed with “Scamanda” even though I already know the ending. A journalist basically cracked the case here, got sued for it, and then went on to make a podcast about a woman who faked cancer for seven years while raking in the crowd-sourced donations and free stuff. You’ve got to appreciate the level of commitment she had to the lie if nothing else.
To Ponder
If someone can be bold/dishonest enough to shave her head and fake cancer for money or compelled to have and homeschool 19 kids and counting…isn’t your thing (that’s probably far less unhinged), worth pursuing?
But for real, what’s one question you can ask yourself today?
I’m currently on a month-long working vacation/family trip/adventure and the most common phrase I keep repeating is “what is money!?” …as it basically flies out the door. But come on, what is money? What’s it really for? After your basic needs are met (please do that) and some savings for the future, if your money is going toward your priorities (be that adventure or education or fun or generosity or quality of life), isn’t that the point of it anyway?