What Curiosity Really Made Me Realise (And Why It’s Not Just a Personality Trait)
- Caroline Esterson
- Jul 6
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 8
We just dropped Episode 5 of the Little Moves, Big Careers podcast:“Curiosity Is Your Secret Weapon.”
And as I was scripting and recording this one, something started buzzing in my brain (you know that something’s clicking feeling?). And the more I sat with it, the clearer it became:
We keep treating curiosity like it’s a “nice to have” soft skill, when it’s actually a sharp-edge career strategy.
We praise it in theory. It shows up on job descriptions as a throwaway line. We say we want “curious minds” in interviews. But in practice, curious people can make leaders twitchy.
Because curiosity nudges the system. It asks awkward (but often necessary) questions. It doesn’t wait politely at the back of the queue. And if it’s done well it can shift culture, unlock possibility, and fuel the kind of progress that no rigid career plan could ever predict.
That got me thinking about my own career.
The boldest moves I’ve made weren’t calculated. They were fuelled by curiosity. The kind that says:
What if there’s another way?
What if I’m wrong?
What if I don’t need permission?
And the best careers I’ve seen aren’t the ones where people waited until they were “ready.” They’re the ones driven by people who stayed curious long enough to try something even if they didn't have all the answers.
What This Means in Practice
Here’s what I’m learning (and unlearning):
Curiosity doesn’t dilute focus, it fuels it. It stops us from clinging to outdated ways of working just because we’re good at them.
There’s more than one kind of curiosity. This blew my mind while researching the episode. It’s not just “being nosy”, there are flavours. Strategic ones. Emotional ones. Sneaky ones.
You can use curiosity to become more visible at work without being pushy. You can frame it so you’re not “a flight risk”, you’re an asset in motion.
Your Curiosity Style = Your Career Edge
After recording the episode, I decided to turn this into something you can actually use. So we’ve created a cheeky little quiz for you:
TAKE OUR FREE HOW ARE YOU CURIOUS QUIZ
You’ll also get:
A printable Curiosity Compass
Five simple ways to use your style at work (without freaking anyone out)
Not Caught the Episode Yet? Listen on your favourite podcast platform.
Episode 5: Curiosity Is Your Secret Weapon It’s full of tools, types, and a story about a plane, a river, and 208 seconds that you won’t ever forget.
You can listen here on Apple Podcasts
Here for Spotify
Or if you prefer to watch here on Youtube
Because clever people build neat plans.
But curious people build momentum.
See you there.
Kommentare