The most beautiful question. The holy grail question. As a business person and as just as a person, asking this question can lead you to places you did not believe were possible. Before a meeting with your client, knowing this is what is keeping them up at 3am or as you think about your own skill-building and personal growth. This is a question I use as my true north on creating value for our brands, people and myself. It forces creative thinking, self-inquiry, doing hard work and confronting reality.

If you’re a business person that is tasked with growing a business or your client’s business or both - ask this question before every assignment. It will bring you to the land of opportunity, it will open your eyes to the possibilities. And, as growth comes it becomes harder to achieve. It can stall. The growth question forces us to have courage to seek new ways, find new mentors, try new brave things and ask questions of ourselves and others that we would not have before.

Personal growth is a behavior that influences all areas of our lives. Learning a new language, picking up a guitar at 45, learning to paddleboard, meditating for clarity, taking up yoga - whatever. I try to learn 2-3 new things a year and see what sticks. it opens my mind and allows me to use muscles I have not to this point -whether physically or intellectually.

The next time you are walking into a meeting with a new client or are looking in the mirror, ask this question. I think you will be amazed by the answers.