Future Skills

CHAPTER 18CURIOSITY AND CONTINUAL LEARNING

If I were to pick just one key takeaway from this book—the one skill that I think everyone must cultivate—it would be curiosity and continual learning. Whatever your age, whatever your industry, if you can spark your curiosity (and, crucially, keep that spark alive), you'll be giving yourself the best chance of a successful, fulfilling life—workwise and otherwise. Being curious is what introduces us to new people, new information, and new experiences. It keeps life interesting and stops us getting stuck in a rut. As such, it's key to maintaining an active, healthy mind, which, as someone who's embracing middle age, I consider a definite priority!

And in a work context, curiosity and continual learning is fundamental to being able (and willing) to embrace change. It ensures your skills stay sharp, that you can keep up with the major transformations taking place in the fourth industrial revolution, and that you stay relevant.

Luckily, it's easier than ever to access learning materials. From audiobooks and podcasts to online courses, learning can be done on your terms. You just need to cultivate that desire to learn, that all-important curiosity.

What Do We Mean by Curiosity and Continual Learning?

Curiosity is the desire to learn and understand new things—whether it's understanding how something works, learning a new hobby, trying new foods, visiting new places, or whatever. This desire to learn fuels a journey of continual learning ...