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Notes from QBQ! The Question Behind the Question by John G. Miller

1. landing the plane with the stopped engine "differently"
2. solutions to procrastination
   1. stop asking externally focused questions that begin with "when"
   2. instead, ask QBQs, like. . .
      1. What solution can I provide?
      2. How can I more creatively reach the customer?
      3. What can I do to find the information to make a decision?
3. personal accountability
   1. comes from questions that begin with the words "What" or "How" and contain the word "I"
   2. to make a qbq action-focused, add verbs such as "do", "make", "achieve", and "build"
   3. add "can" or "will" and "now" or "today"
   4. results in
      1. "What can I do right now?"
      2. "How can I make a difference today?"
4. managers don't change people
   1. change only comes from the inside as a result of decisions made by the individual
5. integrity
   1. being what I say I am by acting in accordance with my words
6. serenity prayer
   1. old: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
   2. qbq: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it's me."
7. QBQs
   1. All QBQs begin with "What" or "How", not "Why", "When", or "Who."
   2. All QBQs contain the personal pronoun "I", not "They", "Them", "We", or "You".
   3. All QBQs focus on action.
   4. The spirit is personal accountability. No more victim thinking, procrastination, or blame. I can only change me. I will take action.
      1. Not "What can I do to make you change?"
      2. Not "How can I avoid responsibility?"
      3. Not "What action can I take right now to do the wrong thing?"
      4. Not "Who can I blame today?"