Ben,
In your article, you end by saying that sometimes asking good questions is as important as your receptivity.
I think you got more from my Guides than you think!
During one particular session with my Guide, I asked what I thought was a pretty good question; "Where are we not aware?"
I wasn't prepared for the response I got:
"Oh come on!! That's not a question! Hell, that's not even a SENTANCE!! You can do better than that... TRY AGAIN!"
Somewhat flustered and slightly abashed, I did, indeed try again: "Where are we not aware of problems?"
Response:
"<slumping of shoulders in a sort of resigned way> Ok... Look, you are SO not aware, that I can't even begin to tell you... Ok...Ok...You want to know where you're not aware of problems? Dubai. There. YOU are not aware of the problems in Dubai."
So I get it right? Questions are impotant. Asking the right questions at the right time in the right way is, actually I think, MORE important than being receptive to the answers - because it means that your intent and focus is clear and precise.
Follow up to the Dubai comment:
About two months after this conversation with my Guide, I am at work (I worked at a Leadership Development center for a huge international defense contractor) and we get the message that a group or very important governmental delagates will be arriving in a few days from....you guessed it...DUBAI.
I happen to be out of the office conducting off-site training on the two days they are in house, but when I return, the Executive Chef catches me in the hallway and says, "Hey, this lady from the Dubai delegation gave me her card. She was looking for you. She said she knew someone from your family over there..."
"??WTF??"
I don't have anyone related to me in Dubai! The closest thing I had was my baby sister who happens to be a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Baghdad at the time, but I called her and she had no idea who this woman was.
So I take the card and try to call the woman back to find out why she was looking for me and who she thought she knew that was related to me.
Guess what? No really... Guess.... I'll wait....
Ok... give up? The number's disconnected. Hasn't been a working number for FOUR YEARS!
Yep. Spirit's got a sense of humor... no doubt.
