I love Jimi Hendrix’s famous album titled Are You Experienced. For me it invokes the concept of a curious mindset. Successful people are highly curious. They think about complex systems and ponder the how and why of what they are curious about. They practice, break things, start-over, talk to experts, get mentored and coached, and keep at it until their goal is accomplished. Being curious generates insights, and novel insights create solutions. Curiosity introduces you to new people, new ways of thinking, and inspires creativity.

 

When I became curious about making wine, it became a lifelong journey of learning. I learned about grapes, the history of wine-making, and the materials and machines I would need to crush and press grapes to hopefully make something that resembled wine. Voila, it was actually palpable. The journey continued into deeper research, exploring different varietals of grape, testing out blends, purchasing oak barrels, and the most fun part: sharing it with family, friends, and clients. This curiosity became a hobby that also mirrored other leadership habits: deep learning, attention to detail, continuous improvement, etc.

 

The Exercise:

Take some time to brainstorm and ask yourself: What am I curious about? Write all your ideas down without discrimination. Take a moment to relax and ponder each of them. Then circle “The One,” and go do it