Tom Peters’ book In Search of Excellence is regarded as one of the most influential business books of all time.
In an article about the book, Peters says, “There was no carefully designed work plan. There was no theory that I was out to prove. I went out and talked to genuinely smart, remarkably interesting, first-rate people.”
Tim Ferris has a podcast that has been ongoing for ten years and downloaded more than one billion times. It is one of the most successful podcasts of all time.
In an interview with Patrick O’Shaughnessy, Ferris said . . .
It started off as purely an exercise for me to try something fun in 2014 that would also allow me to win even if it failed. What I mean by that is I wanted to ask myself what skills could I develop or deepen, what relationships could I develop or deepen that would make it worth it even if I stopped doing the podcast after six episodes.
Tim’s blog is at its root, his sharing of conversations he wanted to have anyway.
Peters and Ferris are outliers in so many ways. What’s common I find fascinating. It all began with a deep curiosity and a desire to learn. Talk to a lot of people. Ask great questions. Pay attention to what you learn.
Everything we notice, enjoy and applaud comes from their willingness to keep asking and keep sharing.
There’s wisdom there.
What would it do for you if you talked to more people and shared what you learned?