--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This Why–What If–How progression—which…" description: "\"“This Why–What If–How progression—which can be identified in many stories of innovative breakthroughs—is”\" — Warren Berger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/warren-berger-20636_breakthroughs_this-why-what-if-how-progression-which-c_2812599.png" --- # This Why–What If–How progression—which can be identified… ![“This Why–What If–How progression—which can be identified in many stories of innovative breakthroughs—is” quote by Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/warren-berger-20636_breakthroughs_this-why-what-if-how-progression-which-c_2812599.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/warren-berger-20636_breakthroughs_this-why-what-if-how-progression-which-c_2812599.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/warren-berger-20636_breakthroughs_this-why-what-if-how-progression-which-c_2812599.png) > ““This Why–What If–How progression—which can be identified in many stories of innovative breakthroughs—is”” [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote hints at a three‑stage pattern—why, what‑if, how—that underlies many breakthrough narratives. **In simple terms:** A three‑step process drives innovation. Key Takeaway Identify the stage you’re in and move forward. Themes innovation creativity problem solving Mood curious inquisitive Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - product development - research projects - entrepreneurial ventures - team brainstorming Key Concepts cause analysis ideation implementation Questions to Reflect On - What stage are you currently in? - How can you transition to the next stage? A Different Perspective If stages are not clearly separated, progress can stall. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breakthroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakthroughs/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) ## Related quotes > [Real breakthroughs are not found because you want to develop some new technology, but because you are curious and want to find out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-zeilinger/real-breakthroughs-are-not-found-because-you-want-to-develop-some-new/) [Anton Zeilinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-zeilinger/) > [Big breakthroughs happen when what is suddenly possible meets what is desperately needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/big-breakthroughs-happen-when-what-is-suddenly-possible-meets-what-is/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Breakthroughs come from crazy ideas, taking risks, optimism, doing whatever it takes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/breakthroughs-come-from-crazy-ideas-taking-risks-optimism-doing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Where there is faith, breakthroughs are plenty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/where-there-is-faith-breakthroughs-are-plenty/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [There are no drive-thru breakthroughs. Breakthroughs take time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/there-are-no-drive-thru-breakthroughs-breakthroughs-take-time/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [We can be creative and generate new breakthroughs, if we're willing to work with ideas from the pool of history - both distant and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-dawson/we-can-be-creative-and-generate-new-breakthroughs-if-we-re-willing-to/) [Doug Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-dawson/) > [Let's drive not just breakthroughs in new products, but new ways to give more and more people access to these inventions and their benefits.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/let-s-drive-not-just-breakthroughs-in-new-products-but-new-ways-to/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Historic changes and challenges. Breakthroughs in human knowledge and opportunity. And yet, for vast numbers across the globe, the daily realities have not altered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/historic-changes-and-challenges-breakthroughs-in-human-knowledge-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“O Lord, I desire breakthroughs concerning . . . this month, in the name of Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-k-olukoya/o-lord-i-desire-breakthroughs-concerning-this-month-in-the-name-of/) [D.K. Olukoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-k-olukoya/) > [“Breakdowns create breakthroughs. Breakthroughs create more breakthroughs. More breakthroughs create friction because idiots be jealous or don’t get it or protect their little corner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/breakdowns-create-breakthroughs-breakthroughs-create-more/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [“Innovative solutions to new challenges seldom come from familiar places”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyan-nagpal/innovative-solutions-to-new-challenges-seldom-come-from-familiar/) [Gyan Nagpal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyan-nagpal/) > [“Creativity means bringing simplicity to the existing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/creativity-means-bringing-simplicity-to-the-existing/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [In my experience, in the real-estate business past success stories are generally not applicable to new situations. We must continually reinvent ourselves, responding to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-mori/in-my-experience-in-the-real-estate-business-past-success-stories-are/) [Akira Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-mori/) > [Being independent... is being innovative out of inspiration as well as necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/being-independent-is-being-innovative-out-of-inspiration-as-well-as/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [We have to be innovative, we have to be fresh, we have to be new. People are counting on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-barthel/we-have-to-be-innovative-we-have-to-be-fresh-we-have-to-be-new-people/) [Sarah Barthel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-barthel/) ## More by Warren Berger > [“To the extent a school is like a factory,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/to-the-extent-a-school-is-like-a-factory/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) > [“Yes, we want a Silicon Valley,” she said, “but do we really want three hundred million people who actually think for themselves?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/yes-we-want-a-silicon-valley-she-said-but-do-we-really-want-three/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) > [“with others.” Bennett culls all of these bits59 and shares the best of them with the people at IDEO, or with a larger audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/with-others-bennett-culls-all-of-these-bits59-and-shares-the-best-of/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) > [We have an education and business culture that tends to reward quick factual answers over imaginative inquiry. Questioning isn’t encouraged—it is barely tolerated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/we-have-an-education-and-business-culture-that-tends-to-reward-quick/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) > [“It can be a relief to know that, in coming up with fresh ideas, we don’t have to invent from scratch; we can draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/it-can-be-a-relief-to-know-that-in-coming-up-with-fresh-ideas-we-don/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) > [“As you make those daily choices about what to spend your time on and which possibilities to pursue, the author and consultant John Hagel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/as-you-make-those-daily-choices-about-what-to-spend-your-time-on-and/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) > [“The main premise of appreciative inquiry is that positive questions, focusing on strengths and assets, tend to yield more effective results than negative questions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/the-main-premise-of-appreciative-inquiry-is-that-positive-questions/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) > [“I’ve always been very concerned with democracy. If you can’t imagine you could be wrong, what’s the point of democracy? And if you can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/i-ve-always-been-very-concerned-with-democracy-if-you-can-t-imagine/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) > [If we’re born to inquire, then why must it be taught?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/if-we-re-born-to-inquire-then-why-must-it-be-taught/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) > [“What if our schools could train students to be better lifelong learners and better adapters to change, by enabling them to be better questioners?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/what-if-our-schools-could-train-students-to-be-better-lifelong/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) > [“What might the potential for humans be if we really encouraged that spirit of questioning in children, instead of closing it down? I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/what-might-the-potential-for-humans-be-if-we-really-encouraged-that/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) > [“What would happen if this happens?’ I do that on my own—I do all of my exploring outside of school. Because in school it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/what-would-happen-if-this-happens-i-do-that-on-my-own-i-do-all-of-my/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) > [“Death to Core Competency,” suggests that whatever a company’s specialty product or service might be—whatever got you to where you are today—might not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/death-to-core-competency-suggests-that-whatever-a-company-s-specialty/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) > [Fear is the enemy of curiosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/fear-is-the-enemy-of-curiosity/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) > [“Our grandfathers and great grandfathers18 built schools to train people to have a lifetime of productive labor as part of the industrialized economy. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/our-grandfathers-and-great-grandfathers18-built-schools-to-train/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) [Explore all 29 Warren Berger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) ## More Breakthroughs quotes > [Real breakthroughs are not found because you want to develop some new technology, but because you are curious and want to find out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-zeilinger/real-breakthroughs-are-not-found-because-you-want-to-develop-some-new/) [Anton Zeilinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-zeilinger/) > [“O Lord, I desire breakthroughs concerning . . . this month, in the name of Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-k-olukoya/o-lord-i-desire-breakthroughs-concerning-this-month-in-the-name-of/) [D.K. Olukoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-k-olukoya/) > [Historic changes and challenges. Breakthroughs in human knowledge and opportunity. And yet, for vast numbers across the globe, the daily realities have not altered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/historic-changes-and-challenges-breakthroughs-in-human-knowledge-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We have a lot to gain through furthering stem cell research, but medical breakthroughs should be fundamentally about saving, not destroying, human life. Therefore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-steele/we-have-a-lot-to-gain-through-furthering-stem-cell-research-but/) [Michael Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-steele/) > [Let's drive not just breakthroughs in new products, but new ways to give more and more people access to these inventions and their benefits.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/let-s-drive-not-just-breakthroughs-in-new-products-but-new-ways-to/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [We can be creative and generate new breakthroughs, if we're willing to work with ideas from the pool of history - both distant and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-dawson/we-can-be-creative-and-generate-new-breakthroughs-if-we-re-willing-to/) [Doug Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-dawson/) > [There are no drive-thru breakthroughs. Breakthroughs take time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/there-are-no-drive-thru-breakthroughs-breakthroughs-take-time/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“Where there is faith, breakthroughs are plenty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/where-there-is-faith-breakthroughs-are-plenty/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [Breakthroughs come from crazy ideas, taking risks, optimism, doing whatever it takes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/breakthroughs-come-from-crazy-ideas-taking-risks-optimism-doing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We all have a choice – to sink or swim when the going gets tough. Sometimes the most hurtful experiences can open the doors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-jane-rose/we-all-have-a-choice-to-sink-or-swim-when-the-going-gets-tough/) [Helen Jane Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-jane-rose/) > [“Some chains will never be broken, until you brake them through prayer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/some-chains-will-never-be-broken-until-you-brake-them-through-prayer/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [Big breakthroughs happen when what is suddenly possible meets what is desperately needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/big-breakthroughs-happen-when-what-is-suddenly-possible-meets-what-is/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [“...it's the prayers you pray when you feel like you want to quit praying that can bring the biggest breakthroughs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/it-s-the-prayers-you-pray-when-you-feel-like-you-want-to-quit-praying/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“Breakdowns create breakthroughs. Breakthroughs create more breakthroughs. More breakthroughs create friction because idiots be jealous or don’t get it or protect their little corner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/breakdowns-create-breakthroughs-breakthroughs-create-more/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [“Breakthroughs happen when truth intersects with infinite possibilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hamilton-guarino/breakthroughs-happen-when-truth-intersects-with-infinite-possibilities/) [Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hamilton-guarino/) [Browse all 125 Breakthroughs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakthroughs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This Why–What If–How progression—which can be identified in many stories of innovative breakthroughs—is”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren Berger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/this-why-what-if-how-progression-which-can-be-identified-in-many/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breakthroughs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/this-why-what-if-how-progression-which-can-be-identified-in-many/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/warren-berger-20636_breakthroughs_this-why-what-if-how-progression-which-c_2812599.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/warren-berger-20636_breakthroughs_this-why-what-if-how-progression-which-c_2812599.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/warren-berger-20636_breakthroughs_this-why-what-if-how-progression-which-c_2812599.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This Why–What If–How progression—which can be identified in many stories of innovative breakthroughs—is” — Warren Berger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Warren Berger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“This Why–What If–How progression—which can be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/this-why-what-if-how-progression-which-can-be-identified-in-many/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/this-why-what-if-how-progression-which-can-be-identified-in-many/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```