You Might Be Asking The Wrong Question
Feb 06, 2026
Have you ever wondered what the next step should be?
That’s what happened to a colleague of mine recently.
For the past several years, he has successfully grown his business (from scratch) and has built a solid reputation in the community. He is highly skilled, provides an excellent service, and his clients like him.
But as were chatting at a local business event, he commented that he was facing a problem and couldn’t decide between two strategic options. So much so, he had delayed taking an important step for several weeks.
He felt stuck.
After taking time to learn more about his predicament, I decided to ask him the single most effective “strategy” question that I’ve discovered:
“What’s your exit strategy?”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Look,” I continued, “one day…and I know this sounds morbid and a bit harsh… but eventually the day will come when you are not going to be continuing in your business. Either, you are going to sell it, you will close it, or you’re going to bring someone else in to run it. One of those situations will happen.”
“Ok…” he said, a bit disconcertedly.
Realizing my scenario had as much cheer as the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland, I quickly drove home the point.
“So if you can’t decide on where to go right now,” I added, “then does gaining clarity on where you want to be in the future…. does that make the decision a bit more simple?”
He saw it.
And pretty soon, he knew what he needed to do.
(Picture: “What’s YOUR exit strategy?!!”)
After we brainstormed what he wanted his business to look like in 10 to 15 years, the short term strategic decision he had been wrestling with…became obvious.
And he went and took action.
Which brings us to you.
First, I find it interesting that a simple (yet challenging) question cured weeks of indecision in a matter of minutes.
I heard once that the quality of our answers depends on the quality of our questions.
Are you asking yourself the right questions? Or are there deeper, more powerful ones just beneath the surface?
If so, who can help you find and ask them?
I’ve found that having conversations with the right people with the right insights have saved me months, and even years of wasted effort. Who is that person for you?
(Picture: The end from the beginning)
Second… what is your exit strategy?
Whether you are in a job, run a business, or are in any other pursuit… one day you will exit.
And whether it’s by force, health, or new emerging opportunities that draw you elsewhere, how do you want that exit to go?
Are there things you can do now to make that exit more clear and beneficial?
On my desk I designed my mousepad to have inspirational quotes I frequently reflect on.
One of the more powerful reminders is to “Choose purpose over precision.”
So often our questions are “precision” questions.
· What should I do?
· How should I do it?
· What’s the best thing?
But I find when I am struggling with “precision” questions… its because I’m not clear on the “purpose” behind them.
· Where do I want to go… determines what I should do.
· Why I want to do something… clarifies how I should do it.
· Who I am doing something for… defines what is the best thing.
Can you see how “choosing purpose over precision” makes all the difference?
So next time you find yourself asking, “What’s the next step?” try asking a different question first.
· Where do I want this to lead?
· Who do I want to become in the process?
· How do I want this chapter to end?
Better questions, give you better answers. And when purpose is clear, precision tends to take care of itself.
Now THAT is a good strategy.
Christian
CHRISTIAN HANSEN has gone behind the scenes in some of the biggest organizations in the world to find out the reasons why some people get chosen and why others don’t. As the #1 bestselling and LinkedIn Top Ten ranked author of “The Influence Mindset: The Art & Science of Getting People to Choose You” Christian helps teams and organizations who want to stand out and be the obvious choice. With degrees from Brigham Young University and The London School of Economics, he’s helped thousands of individuals position and sell themselves. A fan of international communication, history, and choral music, he currently lives in Utah with his wife. Reach him at: TheChristianHansen.com
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