Nod along if you’ve heard the phrase, “curiosity killed the cat.”
Nod again if it’s prevented you from trying something.
*author nods*
It’s happened to me. It’s probably happened to you as well. This idiom-proverb, passed down through generations, focuses on dangers around unnecessary investigation and experimentation — that being inquisitive leads to potential harm.
I think this is the wrong perspective and I think curiosity is immensely valuable. It leads to learning. It leads to breakthroughs. It leads to success. It leads to everything you deep down genuinely want in life.
The idea is to gain knowledge from inquisitive and explorative thinking and then act on and deploy as relevant. And instead of coming from a place of negativity and fear, it comes from a place of optimism and opportunity.
author note: As I sit and write this, my son is learning about Thomas Edison next to me. He looks over and exclaims: “if Thomas Edison stopped after nine thousand nine hundred and ninety nine times, we might not have light bulbs?!”
(The timing coincidence of his comment as I write about curiosity is a perfect example so let’s start there.)
Thomas Alva Edison’s quote, “genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration” accurately captures curiosity. It’s being inspired and then letting curiosity drive relentless pursuit of understanding.
For Edison, one day he’s rolling a piece of compressed carbon between his fingers, gets inspired, and subsequently tests 6000+ plants and vegetables for the most suitable filament material for his version of a bulb.
Curiosity led this man, the one they call “The Wizard of Menlo Park” to improving the telephone, and subsequent invention of the phonograph, an electric light system to provide light to an entire city, wiring to bring current into peoples’ homes, and numerous other product improvements and patents.
He definitely saw curiosity in the right light.
You know who Walt Disney is, right?
Were you aware that Walt Disney Studios’ first animated character was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit?
Unfortunately, contract disputes led to Disney losing the rights to Oswald.
But instead of being consumed by fear, uncertainty and doubt, Walt let curiosity ask “what if I create a new character, in secret, and obtain all rights?”
Voila! Mortimer Mouse is born.
Walt’s wife Lillian, who was not a fan of the name Mortimer, asked “what if we change his name?”
Voila! This new character “Mickey Mouse”, would go on to become the most successful cartoon character in film history and the foundation of a global entertainment empire.
Did you know that Mario (yes, that Mario; the mustached face of the Nintendo franchise) was originally known as “Jumpman”?
Sorry, Nike and Jordan Brand, Nintendo beat you to the name.
Curiosity led to Mario exploring opportunities as a carpenter, plumber, doctor, golfer, kart-racer, protagonist, antagonist, cult hero, and holder of the Guiness World Record for “best-selling video game series of all time.”
Imagine if Nintendo had not expanded possibilities beyond carpenter and pest control phenom in 1983? Suppose they hadn’t asked “what if?”
That’s the power of acting on curiosity.
Maintaining a sense of wonder, and looking for opportunity is imperative. We see what could happen as a positive — and act on the opportunities.
Curiosity teaches us to not be fearful if we fail first. After all, in Disney’s case, it was the second mouse that got the cheese.
It’s not about substantiating fear in our kids because “that’s how it’s been”.
It’s about conversations with our kids and helping them understand what’s possible, and imploring them to see for themselves.
Curiosity inspires a mom and dad going for a run in the rain with their son, and mom asking “can we jump this puddle?”
Then valuing the actual result over the potential “what if I come up short?”, and acting, so the kid can see the value in real time.
It’s about asking “what if ?” Then separating signal from noise by letting curiosity be the guide to: trying, doing, learning, applying, building, and even sharing a fun article on a Tuesday to see if it edu-tains or inspires someone to act on their own.
All of which make for a GREAT day, and an even better life.
Genuinely appreciate you all and hope you find value in some way!
