The Power of Why

Human life is all about questions and the quest for answers to these questions. So, we can say that there are answers because there are questions.

While the questions: What, Who, Where, When and How demand a comparatively easier and less complicated reply, the question WHY needs a lot of deliberation. 'Whys' can seldom be answered in a monosyllable or a short, simple sentence. The response has to be invariably a detailed explanation put forward in an extremely convincing manner. 

The question 'why is asked by every human throughout his life (ever so many times) right from their childhood up to the last day of their life, in fact until the last breath. 

Children are curious by nature. They have thousands of whats and whys when they are growing up. Even a cute, little two years old, in his naivety stands up, puts up his chin and asks WHY he must drink milk or 'why they are not allowed to throw/smash their toys. At such moments, parents patiently and sensibly engrave into the minds of their growing children the importance of morals, ethics and high values. This process becomes possible only by responding to the question WHY and the faith put in by their offspring at every age and stage, giving rise to a strong belief system.

For a fifty-year-old, who has almost completed his duties of rearing his children and getting them settled in life, his 'whys' are framed with a different perspective; they are more thoughtful, pensive and almost in the realm of spirituality. After fulfilling his worldly duties, he wishes to seek the ulterior motive of his creator in sending him to the world. He has an ardent desire for inner peace and a heart wrecking longing for proximity to god. It is at this vulnerable moment that he turns to his guru or mentor to seek an answer to such questions as 'Why did God create the universe?', 'Why did God create mankind?', or 'Why did he make man so different from other living beings by giving him a brain capable of reasoning and understanding?' 

During the last phase of life, when the person is old, physically and mentally weak, he retrospects on the bygone years. There are flashes of good, happy memories at every stage of life; however, they seem to be overshadowed by the more numerous unhappy and painful memories of life struggles, hardships and sufferings. And again he asks: 'Why did he come to the world alone?' or 'Why does he have to make the exit all alone?' Unfortunately, this is the time when no guru or mentor can give him the solace he yearns for. It is precisely then that he breaks all barriers and addresses the Almighty directly seeking His presence and WHY He does not embrace him and engulf him into His shelter, His divine being? 

Now moving onto another world which we professionals live in day in and day out, the world of our Karma and the place where we make our fortunes. Here also, the first thing that engulfs us is WHY. The WHY from our bosses to the WHY from our customers. In fact, the WHY here is at the core of what we do. As they say, 'People don't buy WHAT you do; they buy WHY you do it.'

Almost every company or organisation under the Sun knows 'how' they do 'what' they do including their unique differentiators, their value proposition but very few know or articulate their WHY — their purpose, their cause or their belief. This WHY is your reason for being and why anyone should care, and it gives your customers a chance to connect with the brand on a personal level.

The answers and solutions to most of the questions, problems and doubts in life can be sought by uttering one word WHY to the relevant person at the right time. This WHY gives a sense of purpose, an anchorage in whatever you do and most importantly, the 'Ultimate Truth'. 

In the past 2 decades of my career I have always been surrounded by questions, but the only one that has mattered and will always remain is the 'why' of things. Be it a brand, company or an individual if we know the answer to this one, the rest 4 Ws and one H get sorted.  

So, whenever I am stuck, I trace my steps to the 'why' and rest of the things fall in place. What about you?

So, realise, accept and understand the unparalleled "Power of Why" and never hesitate or refrain from asking WHY…..