Curiosity is a superpower! I once hired a guy who worked for a client of mine. I noticed he was a very giving and empathetic person, but his employer didn’t seem to appreciate these qualities. He worked diligently, but it was clear that his compassion wasn’t valued. He gave big hugs to anyone he met, and that caught my attention. I got curious, so I invited him to lunch.
During lunch, we talked, and I got to know him better. I learned what made him so giving and empathetic: he had lost his family at a very young age, and his extended family lived in other states. He had no family nearby, so his friends and the people he met became his family.
I told him that, although I was deeply sorry for his loss, I saw his compassion as a superpower. Anyone who came into contact with him seemed to immediately lower their guard, allowing him to have genuine conversations. I wanted him to use that superpower in an environment where he could be his full self. So, I offered him a job as a user needs researcher.
He started crying and told me he didn’t have a college degree. I said, “I don’t care about that. You are much more than a degree. You have an innate talent that makes people open up to you. You’re highly empathetic, which is something this world is in desperate need of.”
He joined my business and became an invaluable contributor, not only on the client side but also within our team. His curiosity, empathy, and willingness to connect were assets beyond any formal qualification.
Approaching life with curiosity led me to that lunch, and it opened a door for him—a door that otherwise might have remained closed. Curiosity allows us to see what’s beneath the surface, to find potential where others see none, and to build bridges where walls once stood.
Bottom line: Walk through life as if you have something new to learn, and you will. Never lose your sense of curiosity, and encourage others along the way. It’s never too late to change, to learn, and to get better. Curiosity, when nurtured, has the power to transform not just your life, but the lives of those around you.