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A question asked deserves an answer

My wife, whose observations are usually spot‑on, once summed me up in seven words: “You’re either all in, or not in.” She’s right. Whether it’s a new technology stack, a Saturday DIY project, or a stint doing a Tough Mudder I probably had no business signing up for, I’m fully committed or I decline. There’s never much middle ground.

That same mindset showed up at our dinner table, and wider life, voer the years. When someone wonders aloud, “Why does Saturn have rings?” or “Who invented bubble wrap?” the question hangs there for no more than a heartbeat.  An answer must be found. It might not be at that exact moment, but it will be found and shared.

Why bother? Because every spoken question is a door to something we don’t yet know. Saying “Let’s find out” is a micro‑commitment to growth. It’s a promise that curiosity will trump complacency, and that our collective knowledge—family, team, community—gets a little sharper every time we walk through that door.


Straightforward facts vs. catalytic curiosities

Some questions resolve in seconds—a quick search, a definitive answer. “What’s the capital of Iceland?” (Reykjavík, case closed.) Others wear the disguise of simplicity but explode into hours of debate. I love those questions even more, because the path to the answer teaches us as much as the destination.

Here are two that recently sparked lively conversations at recent events I’ve attended:

  • Why do we do it this way?
    Five words that can unearth legacy processes, invisible biases, and institutional inertia.
  • If we’re bringing in AI to handle what our juniors cut their teeth on, how will we still grow people with superb skills?
    Progress shouldn’t come at the cost of apprenticeship; it challenges us to design new ladders for learning. How can we unpick this gordian knot of dependancies to create a new way forward? That needs debate.

Questions like these rarely fit into a tidy FAQ. They demand listening, iteration, and the humility to admit we don’t yet know.


So here’s the challenge I’m throwing out to you (and to myself, again):

Embrace your curiocity: The next time a question is asked out loud, decide right then—are you all in, or not in? If you choose “all in,” chase the answer—no matter how messy the chase. You’ll gain more than facts; you’ll build the muscle of relentless curiosity.

If a question deserves to be asked, it deserves to be answered. And if we’re going to answer it, let’s be all in.

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