If "What If" questions spark ideas, "How" questions tease ideas into existence.

Gauri Nanda, inventor of the Clocky (Wikipedia), went from "What If" to "How" in a pretty impressive way.

Here's what Gauri Nanda asked:

• What if it was harder to turn off the alarm clock? What if your alarm clock forced you to get out of bed and chase after it? What if I put wheels on it?

• While testing Nanda noticed the clock's fall was traumatic... How might that shock be absorbed?

• How do we gear up for production? How do we handle orders? How do we launch a full-fledged business?

The Clocky is still sold today. I may have just purchased it... and my future self will curse my present self for getting it.