The renowned author of As a Man Thinketh, James Allen (1864 - 1912), wrote "For true success ask yourself these four questions: Why? Why not? Why not me? Why not now?" If you want to succeed, you need to ask the right questions. Asking question reveals the level of engagement you possess, especially when it comes to your own life. When you fail to ask questions, you display a lack of interest in the world around you. When you fail to ask yourself questions, you display a lack of interest in your own success. I believe this series of four questions should be asked by all who truly want to achieve personal success. These four simple, but profound questions are of utmost importance for your own growth. The altitude of your success is equal to the depth of your answers to these four questions: Why? Why not? Why not me? & Why not now?

The question 'why?' leads you to understanding. Don't ever stop asking yourself why. Children do this constantly for two reasons. The first is to gain knowledge of the things they do not understand. The second is to begin the process of relating similar concepts and experiences by cause and effect. I believe as we grow older we lose this natural desire to understand and relate to the world around us. The average person begins to trust in his or her own judgment and perceptions of the world and stops seeking greater understanding and relationships. Don't be average. Keep asking why of the world around you. Make the world explain itself to you. Make yourself explain you to you. Understand your drivers and motivations. The first step in identifying your passion is to understand your drivers and motivations. If you are serious about incorporating strategic planning into the remainder of your journey through life, then you need to ask this first most important question.

The question 'why not?' leads you to opportunity. Why not looks at life as it enfolds around you and questions conventional wisdom. The question why not is not asked to gather information, as much as it is asked to test the limits and boundaries of life. From the great to the minuscule, every achievement of mankind was realized after asking this question on a constant basis. Just think about: Why not go to the moon? Why not find a different water route to the Far East? Why not form a new nation? Once you identify your why, you have to begin looking for the most effective and efficient application for impacting life by asking the question, 'why not?'

The question 'why not me?' leads you to purpose, action, and achievement. Why not pursue your passions? Why not add value to another person's life? Why not earn so much money that you can give it away? Why not paint the next Rembrandt, or be the next Shakespeare, or find the next cure for a deadly disease? Why shouldn't it be you who accomplishes these things? Why shouldn't you be the one who changes the dynamics of the game? Why? Why not? Why not you? Your success is only limited by your desires, in alignment with your gifts, abilities, acquired knowledge and resources, to change the world in which you live. You might not change the world, but you can change the world in which you live. But you have to start to ask yourself these four questions.

Finally, the question 'why not now?' leads you to a sense of urgency. Don't wait for success to come to you. You should be pursuing success. Success can be elusive and if you procrastinate, the only thing you will have to show for your efforts is regret. Don't miss the chance to capture opportunity when she presents herself. The four questions of Why? Why not? Why not me? Why not now? lead to understanding, opportunity, purpose, action, achievement, and urgency. These elements are all indicative of personal success. When you possess understanding, you create opportunity. When you create opportunity, you develop a sense of purpose, a desire for action, and the potential for achievement. When you have a sense of purpose, a desire for action, and the potential for achievement, you will have a sense of urgency to succeed knowing that procrastination is the enemy of success.

If personal success has been eluding you, you should consider the professional services of a life coach. A life coach can help identify your blind spots and develop a strategic plan to move beyond those things that have been holding you back from achieving the measure of success you desire. A life coach can also provide you with an accountability partner who will assist you in quantifying the quality of your actions as you systematically take possession of your success.