Home
>
Success
>
Why Are Manhole Covers Round?

Why Are Manhole Covers Round?

Recently I stumbled across a list of Microsoft Interview questions and was amazed by how the questions challenged me to look beyond the ordinary. I share some of the questions for you here in the hopes that you also will recognize the spark of creativity that is required to solve these fascinating puzzles.

Questions 101

The experts tell us that we each have somewhere around 60,000 thoughts every single day. What most people don't realize is that the average person asks themselves the same questions over and over again.

Same question. Same Answer. Within this pattern is a trap of monumental proportions.

A true treadmill.

"Why does this always happen to me?"
"How come I never have enough money?"
"Will my business ever be successful?"
"Why aren't I making any sales?"

Boring! Tragic!

There is much to be learned by understanding that the quality of your life depends upon the questions that you constantly ask yourself. If you want to experience the type of life you truly deserve we need to shake things up a bit the Microsoft Way!

Focus the Microsoft Way!

Bill Gates is a puzzle aficionado. I was fascinated with this because puzzles were originally created as a means of hiding or disguising knowledge by breaking the wisdom down into smaller pieces. Long ago I learned that the best teachers were those that asked the most intriguing questions. Needless to say, the same can be said of companies.

This list of questions is fascinating and will definitely stretch your boundaries. Remember?.think outside the box, look at them as a puzzle and search for the possibilities. The sky is the LIMIT! May the creative force be with you!

"Why are manhole covers round?"

"How many gas stations are there in the United States?"

"How are M&M's made?"

"You have been assigned to design Bill Gates bathroom. Naturally, cost is not a consideration. You may not speak to Bill. What would you do?"

"How would you explain how to use Microsoft Excel to your grandma?"

"Explain a scenario for testing a salt shaker."

"How would you design a coffee-machine for an automobile."

"How would you go about building a keyboard for 1-handed users?"

"How would you build an alarm clock for deaf people?"

Interesting aren't they? Were you disturbed by these questions? Or were you fascinated by the possibilities they presented? I can understand why Microsoft is such a successful organization when creativity of this nature is expected right from the first job interview.

Internet Marketing Expert, Mark Hendricks said it best when he stated; "Problems have solutions, they are made that way."

Apply this logic to your life and business!

It seems that the software developers Microsoft first ask themselves, "what is it that you want to experience?" Then, they build a belief system to ensure that experience is supported and created. This is incredibly shrewd knowledge that we can all apply to our lives and businesses.

Upon first reading the questions I couldn't help but sympathize with those prospective employees who had perfect scholastic records but lacked the imagination to confront the possibilities. Success in life often has very little to do with book smarts. Great technology starts with great attitude.

So what is it that you want to experience in your life or business? Believe it or not, limitations live only in your mind. But if you use your imagination, your possibilities become limitless.

Those individuals who live truly fulfilling lives discover that they have managed to challenge their current realities by confronting their imaginations for what is truly possible. When I worked through the above questions I quickly discovered that "HOW" I confronted a problem determined the RESULT I could achieve. How quickly can you change your beliefs about what is possible?

Albert Einstein once said that "the mind that solves a problem is very different from the mind that first confronted it." From this simple statement we can begin to appreciate that within every question lies either a prison of limitations or an endless series of possibilities. The choice is clearly yours.

So the next time you are confronted with a problem in your business or personal life that seems monumental, I challenge you to ask yourself?."Why are manhole covers round?"

That ought to change your focus around long enough to be able to look at the problem through a new set of eyes.

Harald Anderson is the co-founder of Artinspires.com a leading online gallery of motivational posters. "When Art Inspires, Dreams Become Realities. His goal in life is to become the kind of person that his dog already thinks he is. http://www.artinspires.com/

recurring cleaning service Wilmette ..

In The News:

DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.

Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.

Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.

Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.

A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.

South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.

Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.

Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.

Major data breach at Conduent exposes personal information of 10+ million people. Government contractor hit by cyberattack affecting Medicaid, child support systems.

Texas startup Janta Power raises $5.5M for innovative vertical solar towers that generate 50% more energy than traditional panels while using just one-third the land.