Curiouser and Curioser...You only get bored if you are boring.

I have realized the importance of continuous improvement, learning from losses, empathy, and risk-taking. I have found that maintaining a childlike curiosity, a growth mentality, and a flexible approach to learning, as well as embracing imperfection, uncertainty, and diversity, are essential for personal and professional growth.

Even as we become experts in our craft, it is vital to long-term success that we maintain a level of wonder and fascination for what we do. As a leader, I have found that nurturing a childlike wonder helps me remain at the top of my game. Over the last year, I’ve failed greatly at that.

Rather than wallowing in disappointment, I view losses as opportunities for growth. By analyzing errors and recognizing recurring patterns, I have been able to cultivate resilience and improve my performance.

I thought, I was getting too comfortable, and losing curiosity. A young friend, let’s call him BIG K, helped me out. He came to my office for about a week, to shadow me and offer feedback and advice, every day.

He helped me see much clearer how everything is changing all the time. There’s nothing that stands still. And that on the hard days, all I should attempt to do is truly control my response to minute-by-minute experiences. I saw it as a fantastic opportunity for growth, for learning, and for trying something different.

It has been a few weeks, since Big K offered me the present of his advice, and in the reflections mounting to my next birthday, I am attempting to use some of it to define the ‘’theme’’ of the year for me. I do this every year; it's an opportunity to look back on the path I've traveled and forward to the journey ahead.

In this process, I discovered that what I am really seeking is to awaken my inner child, that part of me that is curious, playful, and full of life. The part of me that lights the way with a spark of optimism when things look darkest.

Finding our inner child can be a process of self-discovery and self-acceptance. It can involve reconnecting with hobbies and activities you enjoyed in childhood, or simply allowing yourself to be more spontaneous and playful in your daily life. My expectation is that by rediscovering my inner child, I’ll find a greater sense of joy, purpose, and satisfaction in life.

Over the next days, I will be practicing some changes to my schedule to support me in this quest:

• Dedicate time to activities I enjoyed in my childhood, such as drawing, painting, dancing to music only I can hear, or playing.
• Allowing myself to be more spontaneous and playful in daily life. It helps that I will be on vacation for two weeks.
• Practice self-compassion and be kind to myself, as you would with a child. This might be the hardest for me.
• Surround myself with people / furry friends who make me feel alive and happy.

I am hopeful that this will be a rewarding and fulfilling journey. That taking the time to reconnect with that part of myself and see the world through the eyes of wonder and curiosity once again will pay off in several areas of my life, and especially in my professional life.

As a woman of color holding a leadership position in Tech, I have found that embracing these qualities has helped me evolve, learn, and succeed in my career:

1. Learning from Losses: Facing defeat head-on is a hallmark of true champions. Rather than wallowing in disappointment, the best performers view losses as opportunities for growth. Mistakes should be celebrated as invaluable learning opportunities.
2. Empathy and Focus: Empathizing with others' viewpoints is a rare skill that fosters deeper connections and promotes mutual understanding. Recognize when and where to remain hyper-focused, whether in competitive endeavors or everyday life. Monitoring overconfidence levels and the volume you allow to your inner critic.
3. Determination: Having a noncompromising will to go through the journey.

Let’s see how my exercise goes, until then, here’s an invitation with some questions for further reflection:

1. How can we maintain a childlike curiosity and wonder in our pursuits?
2. How can we learn from our losses and mistakes, and use them as opportunities for growth?
3. How can we develop empathy and understanding for others, and use develop better relationships for win-wins?

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