When I was in college I pledged a couple fraternities. (I know, I know...it seems so unlike me.) The only thing I liked about the pledging process was interviews. We were expected to interview the members to get to know them better. Now, most people asked basic and boring questions, much like those email surveys that make the rounds; "What's your full name?", "Where did you go to high school?", "What's your favorite color?", etc. Those questions bored me to tears. I hated asking them and I hated answering them. Also, most pledges thought the more questions they asked the better the interview. I dreaded the long laundry list interviews.

When I was a senior pledging one fraternity, I decided to do something different and a bit unprecedented. I asked only twenty questions. I didn't ask anyone's name, hometown or favorite color. I didn't care about that crap, nor did I think it would help me get to know anyone better. I asked questions that provoked conversation and reflection. I asked questions about values, morals and choices...questions I thought would help me really get to know the people I was interviewing.

Most of the questions came from The Book Of Questions. It's a tiny little book to stimulate self-discovery or conversation. I found it the other day in a box. I haven't picked it up in ages. I went through and marked some of my favorites.

So, if you will indulge me, I'd like to ask these questions to you. I'll just do one at a time in a sort of series. Once I receive your answers, I'll post my answer and selected responses. If you prefer not to have your response public, let me know in the email.

Here's an excerpt from the introduction of the book: Don't simply answer "yes" or "no" to these questions - probe and explain your responses and pursue interesting tangents. There are no correct or incorrect answers to these questions, only honest and dishonest ones.

Here we go...

Question #1

Whom do you admire the most? In what way does that person inspire you?