The Square Root Of 4

August 14, 2026

What is the square root of 4? Most people get that answer wrong. What was your answer? 2? That’s the wrong answer. On a math test that answer would be counted as wrong. It is true that 2 is the square root of 4 but it’s not the only square root of 4. The correct answer is 2 and -2, because (-2) X (-2) is also 4. So why the math lesson in square roots? It’s actually not about the math. It’s about perception, awareness, and observation.

The Accepted Explanation

I was watching an interview with Dr. Travis Taylor, astrophysicist, aerospace engineer, and soon to be receiving his third PhD, this time in theoretical physics. He asked the square root of 4 question to his interviewer. His point was that people judge something based on an accepted explanation when in reality there can be more than one correct answer to the question. Or the accepted answer might not be complete. We have to be willing to look at other possibilities. The “accepted explanation” is often confining us to a limitation that keeps us from exploring for more truth.

The last time someone asked you what you do, what was your answer? Did you give your 30 second elevator speech or your one liner that is supposed to explain what you do within your narrow niche? Does that answer actually explain enough of the story? Do you spend half your day posting and engaging with other people’s posts on social media, liking, commenting, connecting, because that’s the accepted way of marketing your business? For every problem there is often multiple correct answers. There will usually be a correct answer that is best for you.

A New Old Approach?

I have recently heard some entrepreneurs talking about moving away from the social media hamster wheel and taking a different approach. Social media burnout and AI burnout are very real and I have a feeling it will drive the next innovations in marketing in a different direction. Maybe even backward into some sort of hybrid between old style ads (the framework of which is still effective and still the basis for copywriting), and AI assisted image generation and copywriting. Or maybe something totally new will show up and save everyone from marketing burnout and trying to keep up with AI changes coming in at warp speed.

Awareness

We have to maintain the awareness that there are usually multiple solutions to any problem. And we need to remain aware of the fact that we need to keep an open mind and always question someone who says “You have to do it this way or you won’t succeed!” When Bruce Lee developed the martial art of Jeet Kune Do he emphasized the philosophy of “No way as way”. He prioritized simplicity, directness, and personal freedom over rigid styles(Wikipedia). In other words, more than one answer to a question, more than one solution to a problem.

The square root of 4 is…?

Thanks to all our readers and welcome to the new subscribers!

​Click Here to read previous articles

That's it for this time. See you next week!

If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you would like to subscribe to receive your own weekly issue delivered to your inbox, Click Here​

​Click here to listen to the Financial Momentum Podcast

Momentum Lifestyle Network, LLC 200 University Blvd #295 Round Rock, TX 78665​
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​