Most people underestimate the power of curiosity because they view it as a personality trait rather than an asset. They see curiosity as something enjoyable, something that makes life more interesting, but rarely as something that can create economic value. As a result, they often dismiss the countless hours they spend reading, researching, experimenting, watching videos, listening to podcasts, practicing skills, and exploring subjects that fascinate them.
What they fail to recognize is that curiosity is often the starting point of expertise.
Every expert begins as a beginner who became interested in something. Before the knowledge, before the skills, before the recognition, there was simply a question. There was a desire to understand, improve, discover, or explore. Over time, that curiosity led to learning, and that learning eventually led to expertise.
The challenge is that expertise rarely develops in dramatic leaps. It grows gradually, often so gradually that the person acquiring it does not even notice. One article leads to another. One book leads to ten more. One experiment sparks additional questions. One skill opens the door to related skills. Months turn into years, and before long, a person possesses a depth of knowledge that far exceeds that of the average individual.
Because the process feels natural, many people fail to appreciate what they have accumulated.
