Warrick Sullivan
Founder of Raising the Question
Are you an astronaut or an astronomer?
This question has been around for a while. It has even made a couple of movie appearances, including Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park. It asks whether you are an astronomer, someone who observes the stars from the comfort of Earth, or whether you are an astronaut, someone who risks it all experiencing space first hand.
Do you know anyone like this?
Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my grandmother visiting older relatives, but my favorite visits were when we saw her brother, or as I knew him, Uncle Sam. He lived alone as long as I knew him and had no car, so he never really went far, but he was one of the most joyful people I ever met.
How long will you wait for the experts to fix the world?
I remember a time as a young man working under the bonnet of my pride and joy, a Ford Anglia which I picked up for a whopping $360. It was one of those cars where for every hour I spent driving it, I spent 2 hours fixing it, but I loved it just the same.
How to Find Innovative Solutions to Challenges
Have you ever found yourself facing a problem or challenge and feeling stuck on how to solve it? As it turns out, one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal is the ability to ask the right questions.
Mental Models: How to Think Clearly in a Complex World
Have you ever watched someone solve a seemingly impossible problem with ease and wondered, how did they see that when I couldn't? Or perhaps you've admired how certain people consistently make better decisions across diverse situations. Chances are, they're wielding what might be the most underrated intellectual superpower available to us: mental models.
Was your childhood exactly as you remember it?
A few years ago I got the chance to revisit my childhood home 20 years after moving out and I must say, it was quite the eye opener. As you can imagine, so many memories came flooding back, but there was one revelation I was not expecting.
What advice would you give a friend in your situation?
Have you ever noticed how we can think calmly and logically when a friend comes to us with a problem? But when it comes to thinking through our own issues, it's always much more complicated, and the solution is anything but obvious.
What does the world need more of?
Have you ever seen someone do something heroic, or generous, or kind, and somebody comments “the world could use a lot more of that”?
What else could this mean?
Have you ever been waiting for a loved one, and they haven't shown up when they were supposed to? To make things even worse, they weren't answering their phone either.
What is your most watched movie?
You can't beat a good movie. Movies take us on a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows. They push our emotions, from the terror of a good horror movie to the laughter and joy of a great comedy.
What problems are you focused on?
With around 7 billion people in the world, each as unique as their fingerprint, in many ways we are also very similar. Nobody makes it through life without a few scars.
What's your job in the 1800s?
How many times have you heard someone say 'they were always destined for greatness' like they were born with the talent, the drive, and the determination to do amazing things.
Why does time go faster as you get older?
If you are starting to get a few years under your belt, you will know exactly what we are talking about. Each decade seems to go by a little quicker than the last. At first it sneaks up on you a little bit.