Stay Curious
Why Lifelong Learning Is Your Founder Superpower
Reading this Gallup report something that stood out to me was the global rise in curiosity. I thought “this is great news for founders”. Why? You might be asking, because we all became founders because of our curiosity. Our desire to solve a problem that was bothering us. So seeing the rise in curiosity means that there are more problems likely to be solved. In this post, we unpack how micro-learning fuels momentum, innovation, and motivation when business feels stuck.
54% of people said they learned or did something interesting the day before the highest Gallup has ever recorded.
In a world filled with burnout, decision fatigue, and distraction, curiosity might be the most underrated business advantage. For founders and solopreneurs, learning is not a luxury it is a strategic edge.
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Learning Is Your Competitive Advantage
Markets evolve fast. New competitors pop up. Customer needs shift. AI tools drop daily. What worked six months ago might not work today. Founders who learn faster adapt faster. When you make learning part of your operating rhythm, you stop reacting to the market and start shaping it. You spot trends early, connect the dots others miss, and stay resilient when things change. When the market changes most people get fearful. Think about all the doomsday news about AI recently. Will there be a change to jobs good and bad? Yes, of course. But those that stay curious and seek to add tools to their tool belt will quickly see a new road to success. Set aside time each week to learn something you are curious about.
It’s not about knowing everything. It’s about being willing to learn anything.
Micro-learning Adds Up
You do not need to enroll in a course or binge a 12-hour audiobook. Learning does not have to be structured to be impactful. In previous market shifts that might have been the case, maybe you would need a new degree or certificate and those things are still around. The thing is these days the pace of change is such that sometimes you just need a quick intro and then start using the tool. Also consider:
A 10-minute conversation with a customer? Learning.
A quick podcast while driving? Learning.
A thread that changes how you think about pricing? Still learning.
These small inputs when done consistently lead to outsized results. They shift your perspective, spark ideas, and create new paths forward, especially when you’re feeling stuck in the business. It is just like the small habits that James Clear talks about. You just have to start somewhere. Also think about your retirement savings. It was/is really small today, but with compound interest it will grow with time. The same is true of mrco-learning.
Learning Keeps the Fire Lit
When you are overwhelmed or bored, it is often a sign you have stopped learning. Curiosity reignites motivation. It reminds you why you started in the first place. So find one thing in your work to get curios about, or maybe one thing outside of your work. Learning something new, even outside your business domain, can give you energy you did not know you needed. It opens the door to creative thinking and better problem-solving. Consider some ideas:
Feeling stagnant in your sales?
Read about how chefs build menus.
Or how a product was invented.
Burned out by operations?
Study how athletes recover between games.
Or maybe how a new technology works
Chat with ChatGPT
Ask it random questions you have thought this week.
Ask it for tangent areas to your work
The most innovative founders pull insights from unlikely places not just their industry. So give yourself some time to explore. Just like the Google 20% rule.
Action Step
Try the 1–1–1 Rule this week:
1 article from a different industry.
1 podcast on a topic you have never explored.
1 conversation with someone outside your field.
Do it once a week. Watch what happens after a month. Hint, schedule it on your calendar now.
Recommended Reading
Why Lifelong Learning Is the Secret to Success – Harvard Business Review
The Surprising ROI of Founder Curiosity – First Round Review
Are you looking to improve your sales process or hire your first sales professional?
Are you a technical expert ready to transition into sales and need guidance?
If so, we’re here to help! Reach out to us with your specific challenges, and we’ll schedule a time to discuss how we can develop a customized plan to meet your goals.
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