We live in a world of questions. In fact, in business, we are inundated with them. Think about all the questions you ask in a day – everything from “How can I get more customers to call?” to “What am I doing wrong?” And this, my friend, may be exactly where you are going wrong!

Whether or not your questions will actually do anything to help you over a hurdle or take your business to the next level depends a lot of the questions you are asking yourself. Seriously. You can’t just say whatever crosses your mind and expect that the universe is going to bring you a good answer. It doesn’t work like that!

Go Big
While you may want ‘more’ in your business, whether that be more customers, more tax deductions, or more money in the bank, you may not be asking the right questions to get those things. Your brain is a well-oiled machine that is constantly working. Researchers estimate that you get anywhere from 12,000 to more than 50,000 thoughts throughout the day, depending on whether you are a deep thinker.

It is important to ask yourself the questions whose answers you really seek. Ask your mind some good questions and you are going to get some great responses. You will be able to find solutions and options – ones that you have probably never thought of before – that will be a perfect fit. But your mind is like a computer: garbage in, garbage out. So stop feeding it garbage questions!

Let’s say you want to make more money. I know, easy one, because who doesn’t want to earn more money, right? Anyway, your goal in business is to earn more. Well, you know what? Asking yourself how to earn more money is simply not enough. Not by a long shot. Your brain cannot figure out the answer to that question, because the question is far too broad.

You need to go big with your questions and get a little more specific. If you don’t, your brain is likely to think of half a dozen other things, including that last donut down the hall. But you can give it something to really think about by asking it a bigger and deeper question. Ask how you can earn another $100,000 per year, or how you can get a particular number of clients to sign up this week. Then let your brain do the work! Believe me, it is far more sophisticated in this area than you can imagine!

Getting Better
The one thing you have to do is get out of the habit of asking yourself questions that focus on negativity, or that don’t really give your brain enough information to formulate a good response. For example, you don’t want to ask what is wrong with your company, why people don’t keep the phone ringing, or why you can’t be like the competitor down the street. Instead, only focus on those questions that are positive and will keep you moving forward.

Your brain is a powerful tool that can be leveraged to grow your business or find the business idea that you know is perfect for you. But you have to ask good, solid questions, and then get out of the way. The answer will come to you. It may be in the middle of the night, when you least expect it. Or it could arrive when you are down the hall, munching on that last donut. Either way, be open to the responses and ready to act on them. Ask, and ye shall receive!