Twice yesterday I was introduced to the idea of curiosity as the guiding principle. Curiosity has certainly been my constant companion for as long as memory goes.
Barry Diller described curiosity as the cornerstone for a successful career on Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People podcast.
Then I found this gem of advice from the remarkable essayist, Paul Graham. If you’ve not come across his writing, click the link and then bask your intellect in his well-thought-out essays.
Graham focused this essay on choosing work.
When in doubt, follow your curiosity. It never lies, and it knows more than you do about what’s worth paying attention to.
I couldn’t agree with this thought more.
I found most of his other insights either something I’ve experienced and agree with or something where the opposite happened much to my chagrin. Check them out and ponder each as you think about your career—or for wisdom to pass along to the next generation.
- Choose work you have a natural aptitude for and a deep interest in.
- Develop a habit of working on your own projects; it doesn’t matter what they are so long as you find them excitingly ambitious.
- Work as hard as you can without burning out, and this will eventually bring you to one of the frontiers of knowledge.
- These look smooth from a distance, but up close they’re full of gaps. Notice and explore such gaps, and if you’re lucky one will expand into a whole new field.
- Take as much risk as you can afford; if you’re not failing occasionally you’re probably being too conservative.
- Seek out the best colleagues.
- Develop good taste and learn from the best examples.
- Be honest, especially with yourself.
- Exercise and eat and sleep well and avoid the more dangerous drugs.
