The other day I was hanging out with my grandchildren when Zachy, who\u2019s not yet 4, decided to turn his younger brother\u2019s cradle into a helicopter. He tipped it on end and struggled to cover it with blankets.<\/p>\n
The contraption was wonky and kept slipping across the wooden floor. Zachy was undeterred.<\/p>\n
I suggested he abandon the project, but he kept at it. \u201cI’m making an awesome<\/em> helicopter,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n I’ve known Zachy long enough to know that determination is one of his trademarks. Once he has a vision, he follows through. He is unimpressed by adult wisdom and advice. It\u2019s obvious that he would rather struggle than settle.<\/p>\n Zachy reminded me that innovation can be messy and uncomfortable, but when we’re curious that doesn’t matter much.<\/p>\n I also realize that without curiosity it’s hard to make things happen or to make much of a difference.<\/p>\n Seth Godin\u2019s book Tribes<\/em><\/strong> has much to say about the importance of recovering our curiosity. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s a matter of saying a magic word; boom<\/em> and then suddenly something happens and you\u2019re curious,\u201d he writes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s more about a five- or ten- or fifteen-year process where you start finding your voice, and finally you begin to realize that the safest thing you can do feels risky and the riskiest thing you can do is play it safe.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce recognized, the quiet yet persistent voice of curiosity doesn\u2019t go away. Ever. And perhaps it\u2019s such curiosity that will lead us to distinguish our own greatness from the mediocrity that stares us in the face.\u201d<\/p>\n This weekend I\u2019m headed to Denver to teach at Colorado Free University, one of the longest-running curiosity incubators in the country. I\u2019ve been wondering if the people area realize how fortunate they are to have such a treasure in their midst.<\/p>\n While I\u2019m looking forward to meeting the people who are curious about how to establish themselves as an expert or make a living without a job, I\u2019m especially excited to see who shows up in my new program, Become a Great Idea Detective<\/em>.<\/p>\n I could have called it, I\u2019m Curious. Now What?<\/em> because it\u2019s loaded with tools for exploring and expanding ideas. Besides that, hanging out with curious people is at the top of my list of favorite activities.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s taken me three decades to unlearn the impulse to be practical,\u201d confessed writer Sarah Ban Breathnach. \u201cJust imagine what you might have accomplished if only you\u2019d been encouraged to honor your creative reveries as spiritual gifts.\u201d<\/p>\n Happily, it\u2019s never too late. If you\u2019re curious.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The other day I was hanging out with my grandchildren when Zachy, who\u2019s not yet 4, decided to turn his younger brother\u2019s cradle into a helicopter. He tipped it on end and struggled to cover it with blankets. The contraption was wonky and kept slipping across the wooden floor. Zachy was undeterred. I suggested he…<\/p>\n