10 Questions to Break Your Patterns and Succeed More

Dr. Niklas Richter · 2026-06-08

What will your business look like 10 years from now? And what are you doing today to truly understand your customers' changing needs—and keep understanding them? These are just two of the ten questions I'm sharing here to pull you out of your usual thoughts and patterns. Take your time with them. They'll give your life and your business a real boost. It's so easy to get stuck in a routine, isn't it? You wake up, check emails, handle the same fires, and before you know it, another year has flown by. But real growth happens when you pause and ask yourself the hard stuff. The kind of questions that make you squirm a little. That's where this list comes in. ### Why Breaking Patterns Matters If you're an entrepreneur or intrapreneur in the U.S., you know the grind. The market here moves fast—faster than most places. What worked last year might not cut it next quarter. Breaking your patterns isn't just about feeling refreshed; it's about staying relevant. When you challenge your own assumptions, you open the door to new ideas, better strategies, and bigger wins. Think about it like this: your brain loves shortcuts. It wants to save energy by repeating what's worked before. But those shortcuts can turn into blind spots. By asking yourself targeted questions, you force your mind to take a different route. That's where innovation happens.  ### The Questions That Matter Here are ten questions to get you started. Don't just skim them—really sit with each one. Write down your answers if that helps. The goal is to shake things up. - What would I try if I knew I couldn't fail? - What's one belief about my business that might be holding me back? - If my customers could change one thing about my product or service, what would it be? - What am I avoiding that I know I need to address? - How do I spend my first hour of the workday, and is that helping or hurting? - Who in my network challenges me to think differently? - What's the biggest risk I've taken recently, and what did I learn? - If I had to double my revenue in six months, what would I do first? - What does success look like for me personally, not just financially? - How can I add more value to my team or community this week? These aren't easy questions. That's the point. They're designed to cut through the noise and get to what really matters.  ### Turning Insights Into Action Once you've answered them, don't let those insights sit in a notebook. Pick one and act on it today. Maybe it's reaching out to a customer for honest feedback. Maybe it's changing your morning routine to start with focus instead of chaos. Small shifts add up fast. For example, if you realized you're avoiding a tough conversation with a partner or employee, set a time to have it this week. If you saw that your first hour is wasted on emails, block it for deep work instead. The key is momentum. ### A Tool to Check Your Balance Want to see at a glance which areas of your life could use a little extra attention? Grab the free Focus Wheel tool. It helps you map out where you're thriving and where you're lagging—so you can balance your energy better. ### Level Up Your Skills If you're ready to go deeper, check out our exclusive bundle of four e-learnings, designed specifically for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs like you. Use the code BDPODCASTFAN to get everything for just $109 (instead of $274). It's a steal for the kind of growth you'll unlock. ### Stay in the Loop Want more exclusive tips and insights? Sign up for the Business Dad Monthly Briefing. It's packed with practical advice to help you lead better, work smarter, and live fuller.