I was very fortunate growing up working on the farm. Our tractors always had air conditioners. The A/C may not have always functioned perfectly, but the tractors were equipped.
They also had cabs. They may not sound like an important distinction, but it is. That means our tractors were relatively new. Emphasis on relatively.
But we had one tractor that would transition between what we called the farm and the ranch. It was a John Deere 4020, and it was a bear to start.
Until one day someone gave my dad a tip: as you try to start, turn the steering wheel. Guess what? It worked.
In fact, it worked on all of our John Deere tractors. As you turn the key, put your hand on the steering wheel, turn it left to right repeatedly, and it will crank a lot easier.
Hacks make life easier. But here’s the thing: hacks are never written into the original owner’s manual. Why? Because hacks develop out of necessity and frustration. Sometimes you develop it on your own (adapt and innovate), and sometimes an old farmer shares a tip.
That’s what the 3 Questions have become for me. They are a hack to help move student leaders (and adults) into an attitude of leadership.
Chances are you have a leadership hack or two in your arsenal as well. Or if you don’t, you know people around you who do. And that’s the beauty of what we do: we don’t have to do things alone.
My challenge to you today is to think about the thing that frustrates you on a regular basis, then think of someone in your life who might just have a hack for that situation. And ask.
You never know what information is out that there that might make things easier, until you ask.
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