She: What do you think about this online course?
Me: I am a fan of learnability.
She: So, do you think I should go ahead with this?
Me: Depends on what are your next four year goals.
And how is this course taking you closer to the goals?
She gets thinking.
Me: A course helps in building credibility, confidence or competence, which one you need to solve for right now?
She: Confidence and Credibility, Confidence more.
Me: Good. Then why not MBA from the top 10 colleges?
She: I cannot afford it. I have been ordinary throughout. My past has been a struggle. I barely managed my graduations.
Me: Would you say the same if your kid gets through one of the best colleges a few years from now?
She: No way! I will do whatever it takes to find ways to enable their education
Me: And why not the best investment in yourself?
She: Well... (Silence)
Me: What role modelling do you wish to set for them?
She: That give your best, make your dreams come true, whatever it takes. Focus on How to make things happen.
Me: So what next.
She: I will find out the process of the top 10 executive MBA colleges by 5 PM the coming Friday.
At times all we need is to shift the question from Why and What of the past to the how of the future.