Quotes and Questions: A Combination That Moves Us Into Action

Quotes are like little pockets of life, all sewn up in a few words. They remind us of our humanity, our potential, even, at times, our losses. Over the years, many times, a quote has crossed my path and paused my step. There have also been times when the words re-directed my next steps. And there have been times when the right words have kept my steps going.

One of my favorites right now comes from English actor Tom Hiddleston:

"You never know what is around the corner.

It could be everything. Or it could be nothing.

You keep putting one foot in front of the other,

and then one day you look back

And you have climbed a mountain."

A practice I have found to make quotes such as this one even more powerful is to respond to them with a question that allows me to set them into motion.

An example was reading a quote from Mark Twain and having a conversation with my mentor later.

The quote was this: "The secret to getting ahead is getting started."

Sounds rather simplistic, but in fact, there is magic in those words. One of the most challenging lessons I continue to learn is that progress will always trump perfection. Continuous progress builds momentum, and with momentum, we can transform a dream into reality.

But sometimes, getting started isn't what you might expect.

My mentor's question demonstrates that: What was I willing to give up to realize my dream?

Always before the question was about what I was willing to do – right in line with Mr. Twain. Now it shifted. The right question shifted everything.

What was I willing to give up?

That's when I realized that finding the time to start was caught in a showdown between priorities. I had to choose. Because when it is all said and done, time isn't the problem. I am. Holding back from the start was robbing me of the finish line. For me to have what I wanted, something had to give. A priority had to rise. Others had to fall.

We never know when the words we hear or the questions we ask will be that spark. Priorities weren't something I even acknowledged as the roadblock before that conversation. It wasn't until that moment that I saw that many of my priorities were, in fact, just smokescreens. They were a comfortable excuse. The spark of change can be knowledge, insight, praise, even criticism. But the outcome holds universal potential. The right words at the right time can spell magic. But only if it moves us to action.

What quote have you heard of late that resonated with you? What questions should you be asking related to that thought? The sound bites can bring insight. But when we take them to heart and ask the right questions, they can also get us to action, which is key.

I'm thinking of it as going from insight to incite. Ready to turn quotes into questions? You will be amazed at the results.