That’s a big part of what I’ll be exploring in this blog. It’s entirely subjective, of course. A question could be considered “beautiful” for all kinds of reasons. But from my own perspective, I tend to be particularly fascinated by questions that begin to change the way we perceive or think about something—and that can serve as a catalyst that may eventually bring about change.
The questions flashing at the top of this site’s Home page are good examples. They all come from real situations and people. A number of them come from anecdotes in my last book, Glimmer, while an equal number are new ones submitted by readers of this blog.
See the long (and growing) list below:
How can we crowdsource an entire city?
This is the question that the creators of Foursquare sought to answer (and they’ve done a pretty good job of it).
What if we made an oven that couldn’t cook?
This is a question asked as part of creativity specialist Tom Monahan’s “180-degree thinking” program—in which people are encouraged to come up with new ideas for things that don’t work or make no sense. Surprisingly, it often leads to insights for things that do work.
How do homeless people spend their days?
I met a group of college students in Minneapolis who were trying to help that city to improve its services for the homeless. They started by first trying to understand how people without homes and jobs spend most of their time. The students discovered that homeless people spent their days shuttling back and forth across the city to try to obtain the various services they need. This led to a actionable proposal for Minneapolis to do a better job of consolidating some of those services, thus easing a big burden for those folks.
What if a wheelchair could walk?
Inventor and designer Dean Kamen asked this question one day when he saw how much trouble a man in a wheelchair was having simply getting over a curb. It led to the design of the iBot wheelchair, which could climb steps.
What business are we really in?
This is a question that more and more companies need to ask in these times of flux, as everything (including customers’ lives) is undergoing change. Nike, for instance, was once in the business of selling sneakers. Today it’s in the business of figuring out how to serve all the complex lifestyle needs of people interested in fitness and athletics.
How can we ask anybody anything anytime?
This is what the red-hot Q&A site Quora set out to answer. The key for Quora was to be able to get those questions answered not by everybody but by anybody—which would include the people most qualified to answer.
What would the universe look like if I were riding on a lightbeam traveling at the speed of light?
Albert Einstein posed this question while he was still a teenager. It eventually led him to his theory of relativity.
Why do we need front lawns?
A question raised by the architect/designer Fritz Haeg, who makes a strong case that if we plant edible gardens in place of front lawns, we can help the environment, eat better, and have stronger relationships with our neighbors.
What are prisons for?
Hilary Cottam and others trying to change our prisons have asked this question. The answer determines what our prisons ought to look like. If we want them to simply warehouse people, then existing designs probably suffice; if we want them to actually help in rehabilitation, they must be made entirely differently. Here’s some of the ideas, posted originally on Glimmersite.
How do we ask without asking?
Cara Herman of Crush Republic sent in this question. Her point is that in trying to get people to respond to her agency’s research questions, it can be most effective to “have them respond naturally, without thinking (or) filtering their answers.” Which requires asking questions in a whole different way—thereby encouraging people to give more honest, organic responses. Thanks, Cara. And yes, I’m certain we can help each other on our respective quests to “master the art of asking questions.”
What would happen if teenagers believed they deeply mattered to the world around them?
Great question submitted by Annie Murrell (@AnnieMurrell), from the blog A Quiet Mind. (She sent in many others, too; see her March 23 comment to the post “Writing About Questions.”) I think what would happen if teenagers believed this is that the world would benefit greatly—by being able to tap into an incredible source of energy, creativity, and optimism that could help solve many of our problems.
Why do I have to wait for the picture?
This question was asked back in 1943 by Edwin Land’s three-year-old daughter, after he’d snapped her picture with a standard camera. Land decided this question deserved a good answer and he proceeded to invent instant photography via his company Polaroid. Thank you to another brilliant innovator, Edward Boches, for pointing out this story to me, and for submitting several other beautiful Qs, such as: “Why do so many people think that they are not creative?”
How can we create resiliency in children such that they grow up to be (happy) contributors to society?
Submitted by Kris on the blog. Great question and while I don’t pretend to have the answer, I suspect one of the things that might help would be to teach them how to ask questions, explore, and solve problems, starting at an early age.
Why is the sky dark at night?
Thanks to Steve Woodward (@nozzlsteve) from Nozzl, the social media site, not only for the question but for this terrific answer: “This question was proposed by astronomers about 400 years ago. The answer seemed obvious, but it actually wasn’t. If the universe were stable and infinite, as everyone believed it to be, there should have been a star at every location in the night sky. In other words, the night sky should have been blindingly bright, not dark. The dark sky became evidence of the Big Bang and an expanding universe—concepts inconceivable at the time the question was asked. Today, that question is known as Olber’s Paradox.”
What if competitors worked together?
Thanks for this idea go to Michelle Riggen-Ransom (@mriggen), co-founder of BatchBlue Software, who says that she when first proposed a version of this question among competing tech companies, it led to the creation of thesmallbusinessweb.com, a network of likeminded companies who share data and try to help small business owners succeed.
What if pizza was good for you?
Robbie Vitrano (@RobbieVitrano), who I know from a marvelous New Orleans ad/design firm called Trumpet, sent in this question, and Robbie is trying to create the answer in the form of his new business, Naked Pizza. Can’t wait to find out what his answer tastes like.
How do we motivate someone to step out into their unique destiny?
Submitted by Diane on the blog. A question that must be on the minds of many parents and teachers.
Why can’t the classroom be a coffee shop?
Thanks to Kenn Compton (@KennCompton) of the CPCC Advertising & Design program for this question, which makes me think of another question: Who says education has to happen only in a classroom? We tend to limit our idea of where “formal education” should be happening, but anyplace can become a learning environment.
How do we unlearn to relearn?
Thanks to my old friend Jim Mountjoy (@JimMountjoy) of LKM creative communications in Charlotte, NC, for this beautiful Q. Yes, indeed: The unlearning part is the hard part. Children don’t have to do that as much as adults, which is why kids have an edge when it comes to questioning and learning. I am told there is a Zen Buddhist concept known as Shoshin, or “beginner’s mind”—and there’s something in the business world these days called “zero gravity thinking”—both of which involve setting aside preconceived notions and biases in an attempt to look at things the way a child or a naïve outsider would. Not easy, but apparently it works.
Do we write to turn chaos into a story with a beginning, middle and end?
Thanks to Jane Gross, author of the memoir A Bittersweet Season: Caring for Our Aging Parents and Ourselves, for this question.
Submit some of your catalytic beautiful questions by clicking on “Submit Your Beautiful Question Here” in the sidebar (which will send a direct message to me). I promise to feature some of them in the rotating box of beautiful questions on the home page of this blog, and eventually in my book. Thanks!
