This exercise comes almost directly from A More Beautiful Question by Warren Berger (link to Amazon.co.uk). Whilst I could certainly have used it when I co-founded a start-up, this exercise is equally applicable to any endeavour that requires full-on commitment. The idea is to cast the process as a mountain climb and ask questions around that.

How Does it Work?

Ask yourself:

  • Why am I climbing the mountain?
  • How do I know I am not climbing the wrong mountain?
  • What is waiting for me at the top?
  • What am I you going to do when I get there?
  • Am I enjoying the climb itself?
  • What am I leaving behind below?

This exercise thus encourages participants in any endeavour to think deeply about their motivations and goals and to consider not only the potential prizes ahead but also the costs along the way.

Questions in the Image:

  • Why am I climbing the mountain?
  • What is waiting for me at the top?
  • What am I you going to do when I get there?
  • Am I enjoying the climb itself?
  • What am I leaving behind below?

Nurturing Curiosity – Daily Practice: This is part of the Nurturing Curiosity series of tools, insights and questions designed to help nurture curiosity as part of our daily practice. In point of fact, every interaction we have is an opportunity to question what we are observing and how we and others are seeing the world. Also remember that questions come in many forms throughout our day – tiredness at the end of the day is an opportunity to ask Where I am holding the tiredness? What type of rest do I need? What sucked my energy?

What Thoughts Would You Like to Share? My name is Tom O’Leary, and I envision a world in which curiosity shapes leadership. In this world, leaders aren’t boxed in by traditional thinking or established playbooks. They are open to fresh ideas and diverse perspectives, fostering a culture of exploration and learning. My mission is to shift leadership focus from authority, over-measurement and control to curiosity, learning and innovation, empowering leaders to prioritise the essential. My journey, lived in a number of countries and through various languages, has always been driven by a profound sense of curiosity. In fact, life has taught me that possibility lies not so much in seeking answers but in learning to ask better questions – the ones that help prioritise what is truly essential. I welcome your thoughts, feedback, or personal experiences related to these questions or any insights they may have sparked.