Three easy ways to keep your brain curious.

Curiosity is good for business. 

It improves collaboration, keeps your business goals fresh, and can lead to greater innovation. 

Most importantly, curiosity has been shown to increase adaptability, an essential trait for running your business in the long term. 

When you demonstrate curiosity in what you do, others will start to emulate that approach. But how do you stay curious? 

Read

Read about something you are not interested in. 

Don’t like fish? Find 300 pages about the history of trout in America.

Do the dark ages seem like a slow and boring period? There are volumes to teach you about everyday medieval life. 

Science made your eyes glaze over in school? Try a book about the discovery of DNA

Just reading other people’s words, ideas, turns of phrase, and descriptions can take you outside of yourself for a bit.

Ask

Listen to somebody with whom you disagree. 

And I don’t mean somebody whose ideas make you want to raise your voice. I mean somebody you can talk to but who has an opposing opinion on a particular topic or issue. 

Yes, they might end up changing your mind. 

Or, you will continue to disagree with them, in which case challenge yourself to articulate your arguments in detail. 

Either way, you will learn something new. 

Learn

Social learning is real. Use it. 

Get together with a friend, a peer, somebody you know through a networking group, whoever you feel like. 

Bring a topic that has been on your mind or one you struggle to focus on. 

It can be anything: how to be better at networking, tips for better financial management, the best way to maximize grocery shopping. 

And talk about it. Share your ideas, hear somebody else’s, ask a few questions. Just talk it through. 

And never stop

Make these behaviors a habit. 

Choose learning, conversation, debate, and brainstorming. 

What next

Do you like the read part? Head to your local library. And browse through Amazon, you can start with a little pamphlet I like to call Phrases for Business Success. 

Do you like the ask part? Call your friend and ask them why they think that thing about that topic, or, for something more in-depth, talk to me about an hour of consulting. 

Like the learn part? Organize lunch with a peer and agree on a topic, and while you wait for lunchtime, pick up new ideas with my online courses.