a curious mind

As I was walking back from the park with mr KoKo the dog today I got to thinking maybe people need to be more like dogs. When I sneak KoKo into the soccer fields (aka the gopher fields right now) he takes about 1 minute flat to sprint around sniffing all of the dirt piles/holes to find where the gopher is hiding (and damn if he doesn't have a good track record). And then as we leave, even when he's tired and panting, he still stops at every last thing that looks new/different and has a scent along the sidewalk pavement. He never stops being curious, he's always open to what he'll find and he lets his nose show him the way.

So what if we used our senses vs our minds (that can often block us via our thoughts) -- perhaps sight and sound more that scent -- to allow us to seek opportunity, to be curious, and open. What if we learned to be less critical when we saw or heard things and instead completely curious and open -- where might that lead us? We'll never know, just like KoKo doesn't but that doesn't stop him from being on a continuous pursuit of discovery.

We're so conditioned to research, plan, plan, research and plan and THEN finally execute on our ideas -- what if we changed that and instead took a strategic approach of exploration. And we decided to trust that wherever it led us, that was going to then take us to the next place and instead of worrying and fearing the "F" word (FAILURE) we embraced the journey and knew that we were learning all along the way and as a result we were getting close to whatever it is we are looking for or trying to achieve.

So I want you to try this out -- what's something you've wanted to start but feel stuck? An idea, a goal, a project, whatever. Think about what the first few steps would be -- where you think you "should" start but yet haven't been able to. For example, you're want to write a book and so you think the first 3 steps should be:
1) write the outline
2) write chapter 1
3) find a book agent

Ok...so what if instead you took the exploration route vs the plan/execute route. And your 3 steps became this:
1) Identify one person you know or can get introduced to that's done what you want to do
2) Go see a speaker or take a class or gain some add'l learning on something similar to what you want to write about
3) Ask a trusted cohort to spend an hour with you over coffee thinking through your idea -- explain the idea to them aloud and see how together you build on it

So before you know it, you could be one or more steps closer to achieving your first few goals by simply exploring -- because you never know how seeing a speaker could inspire chapter 1, talking to someone who's done it could lead you to a book agent and brainstorming w/ a friend could completely map out your outline. It's just a subtle shift in approach and perhaps one that feels less "scary" because it doesn't carry the same failure fear factor...and yet it could significantly impact your results.

Ready, Set, Go Explore...