Curiosity didn’t kill the cat

You like being an expert. So do I.

Expertise gives us value, right?. Expertise makes us feel wanted. In short, expertise feeds the ego. And feeding the ego feels good.

But what happens when you allow yourself to NOT be the expert?

What happens when you don’t know? When you approach a new situation as a beginner — before you’ve formed all those “expert” ideas about fundraising, or marathon running or pulling the exact perfect cup of espresso.

I’ve recently embarked on a leadership coaching training program. Before attending the first weekend, I came clean with myself. I like being an expert. But when it comes to coaching, I’m a beginner plain and simple.

I said it aloud. And I gave myself permission to approach the training as a complete novice — the anti-expert.

It wasn’t easy. I arrived to a room of impressive people I wanted to impress. But I held firm in my commitment. Notice any posturing. Notice any expert mind. And just let it evaporate into curiosity.

And guess what? What a luxury!

To not know. To experience new material. To try something. To bumble. To land. To challenge. To begin again. To question. To wonder. To try. To bumble. To bumble some more. To land. To experience. To question.

What’s something new you can try to experience that sense of curiosity? Try it.

Then, you can apply that experiences of curiosity to something you already know well — and maybe you’ll notice something new.