But in my opinion, the best way to get more comfortable asking “dumb questions” is to ask them more, because then you’ll see the benefit and become addicted. I learned this skill at school because I noticed the deep sighs of relief from classmates when I sacrificed myself by asking my teachers or professors the dumb question we were all thinking.... See more

Is there a way to cultivate curiosity? To start with, you want to avoid situations that suppress it. How much does the work you're currently doing engage your curiosity? If the answer is "not much," maybe you should change something.

It’s not that every “smart” person you admire is innately smarter than you. What they’ve preserved is the willingness to keep asking questions—the obvious ones, the inconvenient ones, the ones that risk making them look naïve. The difference isn’t raw intelligence, but the permission they give themselves to stay in constant motion.

Curiosity is like... See more