1. Get started with these prompts
Here are some prompts to help you get started identifying your own favorite problems:
- What were you obsessed with as a child or teenager? (Ask your parents or caregivers)
- What are the longest running hobbies you’ve had in your life?
- What common themes or patterns do you notice emerging in your life repeatedly?
- What kinds of stories, art, or music give you goosebumps, make your hair stand up, or move you to tears?
- What pursuits that others consider challenging do you find fun and engaging?
- What do you find your mind wandering to in the in-between moments of your day?
- If you could wave a magic wand and have the ultimate answer to any question, what question would it be?
- If you could travel to the future and ask your future self anything, what would it be? What would you ask your past self?
- If you read all the books and took all the courses you wanted to, what question would you like to have answered after all that?
- What are your most pressing problems currently?
2. Formulate your own “How/What” questions
Once you have an idea of your long-term interests, I recommend phrasing them as questions that begin with “How…” and “What…” Such questions can’t be answered with a simple yes or no – they invite more subtle, complex answers based on deeper reflection:
- How can I…?
- How might we…?
- How can my team/organization…?
- How can I help others to…?
- How does X relate to Y?
- How do I…?
- What does it look like to…?
- What would be possible if…?
- What do I want with…?
- What would I do if…?
- What would happen if…?
- What would have to be true to…?
3. Make your questions specific, counter-intuitive, or cross-disciplinary
Here are some guidelines to help you come up with the most direct, impactful questions possible:
- Make them specific
- Make them counter-intuitive
- Make them cross-disciplinary