I attended a leadership seminar at NDSU today.  The gentleman presenting the workshop stated that constant curiosity was a characteristic of successful people and a hallmark of good leaders.  Whew!  What a relief!  

In the past I wondered if my constant curiosity was a curse.  I know that others have at times viewed it as a nuisance (particularly my children).  The fact that I have a dozen questions about everything and another half  dozen questions for every answer to every question can drive the more focused folks around me quite mad.  As for me – I am genuinely curious about things and when I observe or note something I want to ask about it.  Indeed, some of the most interesting things I know were the result of my constant curiosity.

At the presentation today I had an opportunity to chat with one of the faculty members at my table who does costume design at NDSU and I learned many fascinating pieces of information that I stored away in nooks and crannies in my brain.  I also learned information from the other folks at my table about their career fields and experiences that I likewise stored.  I sometimes think folks must believe me to be a shut-in.  I engage folks in prolonged conversations and always have another curiosity that I think leads them to believe that I don’t get out and see other human beings much.  But I do…I just find each and every one fascinating…which helps you to understand why I had begun to believe that constant curiosity was a curse

When I go to trade shows where they have aisles and aisles of booths my friends typically move forward without me because I always have at least a few curiosities I want to satisfy.  My daughter Sarah says my constant curiosity is the reason I would fail as a waitress (which has long been a job I have wanted to try, but haven’t had the opportunity to yet).  Sarah reminds me that waitresses have mastered a level of quickie conversation that is outside my reach.  I think that is probably a fair assessment.  I probably wouldn’t survive an entire shift without being fired.

But as of today, I know that my constant curiosity isn’t a personal failing.  Now I know it is the key to my success and leadership skills.  Of course I have some questions about how exactly one remains constantly curious without being overly annoying…but, I think I’ll save those questions for later – after my huge success and leadership recognition. 😉

Day six hundred and ninety-one of the new forty – obla di obla da

Ms. C