Why?

When I was growing up, I always asked why. I’d like to say I asked my ‘whys’ about technological things. — “Why do microwave ovens cook faster than regular ovens?” — but unfortunately for my mother, my ‘whys’ were much brattier.

• “Why do I have to go to bed at 8?”
• “Why do I have to go to school 5 days a week?”
• “Why can’t I ride my bike after dark?”

If your mom is smart (like mine is), the answer was always “Because I told you so, and I’m your mother. THAT’S why.” Laying down the law.

What I was really getting at, of course, was the reasoning behind the rules. And what I was REALLY getting at (here comes the bratty part) was how I could either get around those rules, or figure out a way to change them.

You’ve probably asked ‘why?’ in your professional life on a regular basis. Why do we do things THIS way? Why is THAT the rule? Why is HE in charge? There’s nothing more frustrating than hearing “That’s just how it works” as the answer, especially in situations where things AREN’T working at all. Besides, we all know the saying “If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always gotten.”

I believe very strongly in education. In order to be successful, you have to learn how things work. But if you’re a creator and an innovator, (hint: we all are), educating yourself on how things work is just an empowerment tool for changing that which needs to change in order to make things better.

There’s a huge difference between ‘That’s how it works” and ’That’s how it’s worked in the past.” The former is restrictive. The latter gives context while providing room for innovation.

We need to stop accepting ‘That’s just how it is’ as an excuse for not innovating. We need to embrace the past only as context for the future.

And, perhaps most importantly, we need to forever keep asking why.