28th
Two Questions to lead to some of life’s grandest adventures
Some of the grandest adventures in life are embarked upon by asking two simple questions to many of those you meet. These two questions will immediately lead you into amazing discoveries and authentic discussion.
Are you tired of discussing the hottest band’s music, the latest tech toy, whether or not a friend is with so-and-so? Well I am. It is one thing to chat about anything on occasion but how boring it is to simply and mostly talk about the next roadtrip, hunting trip, shopping trip, game trip, drug trip, legislative trip, church trip, youth group trip, construction trip, you name it.
I use these questions everywhere and with anyone. It is like lighting a fuse to colorful fireworks. For the non-pyrotechnic among us, who love the outdoors, it is like taking a shovel to dirt and hitting diamonds.
Today I present the first question only: What do you do?
No pre-conditions. No presuming. Just right out there. I am interested in knowing what occupies your life. It is my way of implying that your life is important to me. Not what do you do with me or will do with me. Not who do you know. Simply – what is important enough to you that you dedicate the bulk of your life to it – every day.
Nice thing about this question? Everyone knows the answer to it. Sometimes someone can’t actually tell you what they do. Our neighbor in Vienna, Virginia worked for an intelligence gathering organization of the U.S. government. Didn’t talk about work.
Most can chat away, intelligently, no matter what they do. Try asking this question every reasonable chance you get today, with people for whom you don’t already know the answer.
If you have never heard of or know next to nothing of this “what they do” then ask them to give you some direct explanation of their work. For example, a simple answer like, “I am an architect,” is a general description of vocation – so get just a little closer by saying, “Okay, you are an architect, interesting, what do you actually do as an architect, what will you do today?” Or, “Do you have a project you are working on and what are you doing today on it?” This is still the primary question: “What do you do?”
This is the set-up question to the “fireworks and diamond” question coming next. This question is like opening a door to a hidden world. I have asked this question at all cultural levels and never had anyone act like I was intrusive or offensive. I have had a few people lie to me, but you can generally tell. You can know if they are lying rather easily when you ask that second question! Enjoy the day of asking, “What do you do?” and listening…carefully.
