When you are confronted with something (like a problem or obstacle), have you ever stopped and asked out loud, ‘What if’ ….. we did it this way/ that way or differently?

Your answer is no if you’re like nearly 91% of the population.

However, if you belong to the small sliver of people who like to challenge the world, i.e., if you believe in thinking differently and living your life outside the box, some form of ‘What if’ is already baked into part of your thinking.

I was reminded of this in a conversation with a Brit specializing in Brand Strategy a few weeks ago. He introduced me to the concept of Solar Punk (google it, it’s a thing) and highlighted some really ‘out-there’ ideas that many organizations, especially those too big to fail, could do to help shrink our reliance on fossil fuels in a faster, safer and more economical way.

To him, and those of us patient enough to listen to an outburst that begins with ‘What if,’ the possibilities are endless, opportunity awaits at every corner, and hope does spring eternal.

The biggest issue most of us have with an individual who likes to ask, ‘What if?’ is that we see their natural gift for creativity as more like rebellion. They always colour outside the lines, are not afraid to push buttons and boundaries, and have never met a rule that can’t be bent or broken.

I think the time has come to give those who ask more questions than spit out platitudes to take the floor and show us the avenues we can’t see. Think about it for business, politics, education, and government. So much hot air is expended on ‘stuff can’t/won’t work,’ they suck as an (insert preferred noun), so and so or such and such is to blame, and that is just never going to go away.

Our collective anxiety level is at an all-time high. So many issues are rattling around in our universe right now. I do not suggest that any of them will be solved overnight. I AM suggesting there are better ways to tackle them.

I don’t believe any one of us has the answer. And I also believe we can figure out a way to meet collaboratively and add into the mix a couple of people with ‘what if’ thoughts. Then, together, we could harness the best from all of us and finally move forward in a few areas.

Like it or not, we need to give the people who ask the ‘What if’ questions more air time. Because quite frankly, most of us are still operating from a place of logic, with ideas formed in the past. If we want to move forward quickly, we’ve got to rely more on our imagination. Embracing the ‘what if ‘mindset can lead to innovative solutions, new perspectives, and, ultimately, progress.

So, let’s give those with the most incredible imagination their chance to shine for us. Let’s be inspired by their ‘What if ‘questions and use them as a catalyst for change.