Lessons from a 5-year old

I spent 3 hours yesterday next to a 5-year-old on a train.

While there were certainly some drawbacks to that long train ride, I reached a very simple conclusion: We can all be more childlike, and we all should.

Kids have an unparalleled power to observe their surroundings with a pure intent to learn more. They ask the right questions, and, while perhaps not changing their sentence structure, seek a better understanding of the world around them.

Robert Greene‘s Mastery calls for us to return to our origins and immerse ourselves in deep observation on the path to becoming a master.

Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner’s Think Like a Freak calls for us to embrace childlike thought in asking the small questions and acknowledging that saying “I don’t know” should not only be acceptable, it should be encouraged.

Sakichi Toyoda’s 5 Why technique led Toyota’s innovative approach to problem-solving that revolved around one simple childlike question. It is not only possible to return to our childlike state of observation and curiosity, but it should also be encouraged.

Today, I challenge you to say “I don’t know”, to embrace your inner child and stay passionately curious.