I have a friend who is one of the most out-of-the-box thinkers I know. I am going to call him "Eric" in this article. Because his parents named him that. Eric processes things by questioning them. Sometimes his questions seem pretty simplistic. Other times, they can seem almost borderline offensive by questioning things someone may hold near and dear. And yet other times, you can see the genius in his questions. But whether you see it or not, all of his questions have a strategic genius about them that cannot be denied.

I really admire his thought processes. I try to copy him but yet I just don't have the same knack for it.

Eric is an inventor of sorts, whether or not he really holds any patents (though I think he does have one). His questions always involve searching for new things, new ways, and new vantage points. That is how progress is made.

Think about the greatest inventions of all times that have affected mankind. The inventors probably got some odd stares from others as they questioned and wondered whether things could be different and, if so, just how different they could be.

That's Eric. One of these days, his real big invention will come. Until then, I am just honored to know him, to learn from him, and to have him as part of my team.