The Answer to How Is Yes

I've been in more of an analytical frame of mind of late. In a meeting to present the Super Secret Startup on Monday I must have overly stressed the how and assumed my audience to be of the same predisposition (typically a pretty safe bet). Said audience was a consultant specializing in 'emerging' companies and he mentioned Peter Block's book, The Answer to How is Yes. Peter Block is well-known for previous works including his very good Flawless Consulting. I'd have sworn I'd never heard of Block's new book but...

But tonight I'm searching for a half-written never-published post on the analogy between marathons and life and stumble across a recommend of the book via Johnnie Moore's post and this quote (relates to said post: I just knew I wanted to qualify for the Boston Marathon although I had no idea how it would be physically possible; the unwavering commitment propelled me forward to the hows).

According to Peter Block, people keep asking "how?" as a defense against living their life.

Jamie Notter has an excellent review of the book (snippets below):

You get at what matters by asking what he calls "yes" questions. Why are we doing this in the first place? What commitment am I willing to make? What is the price I am willing to pay? What is my contribution to the problem I am concerned with? Answering these questions first will help us to ask our "how" questions more strategically...

The dominant archetypes [in business] are the Engineer and the Economist. They represent the "how" way of doing things... On the other side of the fence is the Artist archetype. The Artist is about being creative and emotional, being on the "outside" and viewing commerce and power with suspicion... Block sees a middle path between these two sides, represented in the archetype of the Architect... This archetype integrates the previous three, thus resolving their unending battle.

More pithy advice from Amazon reviewer, alexkj:

Saying yes focuses on the goal you want to achieve, asking how focuses on all the obstacles.

It's not that asking how is necessarily wrong, it's just that overfocusing on questions like "How long will it take", "How much will it cost" and "How will we do it" can foster a state of mind in which no change is possible. Among other things, these questions assume that no project can be started unless we know the answers in advance.

But in reality most worthwhile ventures are a leap of faith. You must say "Yes, this is what we want" and get started. We'll make up the "How?" as we go along.

Don't know about you but it's just what I needed to hear. And it reminds me of two Henry Miller quotes:

All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous unpremeditated act without benefit of experience.

Back of every creation, supporting it like an arch, is faith. Enthusiasm is nothing: it comes and goes. But if one believes, then miracles occur.