It all started with a book.
Not just any book — a book about WWII aircraft. At 11 years old, I devoured it. That book sent me to the library for more, to the county airport to crawl through B-17s and B-25s, then on to the Smithsonian and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Fast forward and I was in the Marine Corps, a real pilot. The dreams born on those pages had turned into a life I could live. And it didn’t stop there — test pilot school, Delta Airlines, a lifetime of flying… all because of my curious mind.
Except… that last part isn’t quite true.
The books, the museums, the airshows — all real. The Marine Corps pilot part — also real. Test pilot school? Delta? A career of flying? Not so much. It definitely could have been true. It would’ve been a pretty sweet life. I was on that track.
But curiosity — my greatest asset — was also my biggest distraction.
The Bright Side of Curiosity
Let’s be clear: I’m not here to throw shade at curiosity. I’m pro curiosity. In fact, I’d rather live in a world powered by questions than one suffocated by certainty. Richard Feynman said it best:
“I would rather have questions that can’t be answered than answers that can’t be questioned.”
Curiosity:
- Expands your horizons — turns “what if” into “why not?”
- Fuels learning — makes you a sponge for knowledge.
- Builds relationships — genuine interest is magnetic.
- Keeps life vibrant — the world becomes a buffet of ideas.
The Problem with Endless “What Ifs”
But here’s the catch: too much curiosity without direction is like trying to read every book in the library at the same time.
I worked insanely hard to become a Naval Aviator. I was there. I was doing the thing. And then my brain — the same brain that got me there — whispered, “What else can I do?”
That whisper turned into a full-blown detour. I left the cockpit to chase a shiny object. Despite all my effort and my “I always land on my feet” optimism, it didn’t pan out. And there was no way back to where I’d been.
Curiosity with Guardrails
Curiosity isn’t the enemy. Lack of focus is. The sweet spot is curiosity with boundaries:
- Focus on the Big Thing. Find the one pursuit so fascinating you never get tired of turning it over. That’s where mastery happens.
- Assemble a Personal Board of Advisors. People you trust to give honest feedback on your “great ideas” before you start rearranging your whole life for them.
- Put Time Limits on Tangents. Explore the side road — but set a return time so you don’t get lost out there.
The Takeaway
Think about one thing in your life worth focusing the magnifying glass of your curiosity on — not like seven-year-old me trying to burn a leaf in the sun, but like Sherlock Holmes searching for clues.
Stay curious. But stay focused enough to make your curiosity count.