I watched a video about sales training today, but it brought up an amazing point that I keep forgetting about.

To be good at sales, you must ask the right questions and then be a great listener.

But being a good listener means asking even better questions based on the initial answers you get.

This way you truly understand who you are talking to or working with.

Here's what hit me:

I think this applies to all relationships.

Friendships. Personal. Intimate. Family.

We forget that sometimes we just need to step back and allow the other person to really share what they have on their mind or want to share.

That can deepen the relationship.

Most of the time, we're so focused on what we want to say next that we miss the opportunity to truly understand the person in front of us.

We ask surface-level questions and accept surface-level answers.

But the magic happens in the follow-up questions.

The ones that show you're actually listening.

The ones that invite people to go deeper.

That's why I truly want to hear from you.

I've been sharing my stories, my projects, my thoughts.

But I realize I haven't been asking enough questions.

I haven't been listening deeply enough to what you might need or want.

So here's what I'm curious about:

What are you going through right now?

What has worked well for you lately?

What would be helpful?

What would you like to see from me that would actually be useful?

If you could build anything, what would it be?

Hit reply and let me know.

I want this to be an open line of communication so I can truly ask better questions and be more of service.

Because the best relationships—whether business or personal—are built on understanding.

And understanding comes from asking the right questions.

Then actually listening to the answers.

Sean May

Science Of Imagery

P.S. Even if you just answer one of those questions, it would help me understand you better. Sometimes that's all it takes to turn a good relationship into a great one.