Two people used those two words with me over the past week, with very different meanings.
Wilder Baker – Why Not
Had breakfast with Wilder to talk about his ideas for his upcoming CEO Boot Camp dinner talk. (He's going to be awesome.) One of his stories is about how he positioned his advertising agency with a "Why not" point of view with great results. Attitude matters.
R. Michael Ryan – Why not?
Father Ryan, Chair of the Ethics Department, Vatican University gave a talk at this week's Cornerstone International Group conference in Rome. Its pivot point was the question why not do something you're thinking about doing. His conclusion is that if you're really asking that question, something's bothering you about it and it may not be in line with "natural moral norms". Seems like a great way to check your own ethical choices.
Why not when onboarding
My sense is that it is extremely important to get this balance right in onboarding, having a "why not" attitude and a "why not?" regulator in place at the same time. Need to be assertive while staying within what you believe to be natural moral norms.
