Your first question is here! How to get your first answer right

How it feels when your first question arrives

You made a question box, announced it, and nervously open the dashboard. One question is showing there. The joy of "It's here!" and the nerves of "What should I say?" rush in at the same time.

These nerves are natural. Answers in a question box are made public, so you tend to worry, "What if my answer is weird?" or "What if people think it's boring?" But you don't need to write a perfect answer to your first question.

The person who sent the question probably sent it because they're interested in you. If you respond to that feeling, that's enough. Relax, and answer in the words you'd normally use.

3 things to keep in mind for your first answer

First: answer the question directly. It sounds obvious, but when you're nervous, you can drift away from the heart of the question. If you're asked "What's your favorite movie?", start by naming the movie. Then add your reasons or a story. It's important that the direct answer to the question comes first.

Second: show a little of yourself. "Interstellar" alone works as an answer, but if you add a line, like "Interstellar. I've seen it 3 times in theaters, and I cry at the same scene every time," a glimpse of your personality shows. The key is "a little." You don't need to write a long answer.

Third: don't forget to say thanks. A simple "Thanks for the question" is a good way to open your answer. With the very first question in particular, the sender may also have sent it while wondering, "Is it OK to send this?" Let your thanks carry the hope that they'll feel encouraged to send another question.

What if you get a question like this?

If your first question is a light one, like "What's your favorite food?", you can answer it easily. But sometimes a deep question or a hard-to-answer question arrives right away.

If a deep question comes in ("What do you value most in life?"), you don't have to force yourself to write a deep answer. A simple, specific answer is enough, like "I value keeping promises. I try not to break even small ones." You don't need to quote a philosophical saying.

If you get a question you don't want to answer, it's fine to skip it. Even if it's your first question, you don't have to force yourself to answer. However, if you ignore your first question, your question box will keep showing zero Q&As, so if you can, wait until a question you can answer arrives, and start answering from the ones you can.

If you can tell the question is from a friend (for example, if you asked a friend to send the first one), relax and answer. With a friend, the same tone as your normal conversations is fine.

Take time to enjoy your first question

The moment your first question arrives is special, and you can only feel it then. Someone took the trouble to send words to you. Please take your time and let that fact sink in.

As you get used to it, getting questions starts to feel normal. But the excitement and joy of the first one will never come again in quite the same way. That's exactly why you should feel that joy fully instead of rushing to deal with it.

If it made you happy, it's also a good idea to keep that question as a screenshot (sukusho). When you read it again later, you can remember your starting point and think, "This is where it all began." The first question is a memorable first step for your question box.

Once you've written your answer, share it right away

Once you've written your first answer, share it on social media. If you share it with a line like "I got my first question in my question box!", other followers may think, "Oh, they're running a question box. Maybe I'll send one too."

When your first Q&A is shared, it becomes easier for followers to get a feel for your question box, like "So this is the kind of question to send" and "So this is the tone they answer in." Your first Q&A works as a model for your question box.

Don't forget to add the URL to your shared post with a line like "Still taking questions." That way, followers who see your first Q&A and think "I have something I want to ask too" can get to your question box right away.

It's natural to feel nervous with the first question. But by the second one, you'll have the experience of the first. Give yourself credit for finishing your first answer. You've taken the first step of your life with a question box.