A Curious Mind

1. Curiosity is Your Most Valuable Asset for Success and Happiness

More than intelligence or persistence or connections, curiosity has allowed me to live the life I wanted.

Curiosity opened doors. From overhearing a conversation about a job at Warner Bros. and immediately calling for an interview, Brian Grazer's life trajectory was shaped by his willingness to ask questions and act on his curiosity. This initial "glorified courier" job, secured through a simple inquiry, became his entry point into the entertainment world. He quickly realized that curiosity wasn't just a personality trait; it was a powerful tool.

A secret weapon. Brian consciously cultivated curiosity, turning it into a discipline and then a habit. By insisting on meeting the powerful people he delivered documents to, he transformed a mundane task into an opportunity for learning and networking. This early success taught him that people, even famous and powerful ones, are often willing to talk about themselves and their work if approached with genuine interest.

Fueling life and work. Curiosity infuses everything with possibility and has been key to both professional success and personal happiness. It provides energy and insight, making life never dull. Brian believes curiosity should be as valued as creativity and innovation in culture, education, and workplaces.

2. Use Curiosity to Disrupt Your Perspective and Understand Others

That’s what Daryl Gates did for me: he completely disrupted my point of view.

Escape your own bubble. Brian uses curiosity conversations, especially with people outside Hollywood, to see the world through different eyes. Meeting individuals like LAPD Chief Daryl Gates during the LA riots, movie mogul Lew Wasserman, or H-bomb father Edward Teller provided starkly different perspectives from his own. This exposure to diverse viewpoints is crucial for a storyteller.

A strategic tool. Understanding how others think is vital in many professions, from doctors and detectives to business leaders and diplomats. It allows for anticipation, better negotiation, and creating products that truly meet customer needs. Examples include:

• Sam Walton's "Saturday Morning Meeting" focused on competitor analysis.
• H.J. Heinz researchers observing customers to design the upside-down ketchup bottle.
• Steve Jobs intuitively anticipating user needs.

Beyond the label. Often, what we call "innovation" or "consumer research" is simply organized curiosity. By explicitly using the word "curiosity," we can better understand, appreciate, and cultivate this essential skill in ourselves and others. It's more accessible and democratic than abstract concepts like "creativity."

3. Curiosity and Storytelling Are Deeply Intertwined and Mutually Reinforcing

Curiosity is what drives human beings out into the world every day... Storytelling is the act of bringing home the discoveries learned from curiosity.

The engine of narrative. Curiosity is the irresistible force that makes us want to know "what happens next" in a book, movie, or TV show. It creates the momentum that keeps audiences engaged, leading to "driveway moments" for radio listeners or binge-watching for TV viewers. Inspiring curiosity is a story's first job.

Sharing knowledge. Storytelling is the act of sharing what curiosity has discovered. From ancient tribes sharing survival knowledge to modern social media updates, stories are how we communicate our experiences and findings. This sharing, in turn, sparks curiosity in others, creating a powerful, Escher-like spiral of exploration and communication.

Emotional truth. Stories, whether factual or fictional, aim for emotional truth and resonance. Brian's movies, like American Gangster (about capability) or Apollo 13 (about resourcefulness), use curiosity to find the deeper, universal themes beneath the plot. His own struggles with reading fueled his passion for stories, which he accessed through listening and conversation.

4. Curiosity is a Powerful Tool for Building Courage and Confidence

Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will.

Facing down fear. Brian uses curiosity to manage his own anxieties, such as public speaking or interacting with powerful people. By asking questions about what he fears – understanding the audience for a speech or the mindset of a police chief – he gains knowledge that dissipates the fear or helps him handle it. Preparation through questioning builds confidence.

Beating the "no". Hollywood is a land of rejection, but curiosity helps navigate it. Instead of being discouraged by "no," Brian uses curiosity to understand the resistance. With Splash, he learned people weren't saying no to a love story, but to a mermaid fantasy, allowing him to reframe the pitch. Persistence guided by curiosity leads to finding the path to "yes."

Cultivating grit. Advice like "make the hardest call of the day first" combines curiosity (understanding the challenge) with determination. This practice builds resilience and confidence. Brian's distinctive hairstyle, initially a gambit, became a symbol of his willingness to be different and a test that revealed others' reactions, reinforcing his confidence in his own path.

5. Transform Every Interaction into a Curiosity Conversation for Deeper Connection

Human connection is the most important element of our daily lives... And curiosity is the key to connecting and staying connected.

Managing with questions. Brian's management style relies heavily on asking questions rather than giving orders. This approach elicits information, creates space for unexpected issues, and requires people to make their case, fostering engagement and responsibility. It's about finding the best path forward, not asserting authority.

Building trust and cooperation. Asking questions shows a willingness to listen and respect others' perspectives. This is crucial when working with diverse teams, including talented and sometimes challenging individuals like actors. By asking Tom Cruise if he could be a leader on the Far and Away set, Brian empowered him and secured his commitment.

Sustaining intimacy. Curiosity is vital for maintaining vibrant personal relationships. Familiarity can lead to taking loved ones for granted and ceasing to ask genuine questions. Asking open-ended questions about their day, feelings, or interests, and truly listening, combats loneliness and deepens connection. The Jonas Salk story highlights the power of simple, human curiosity.

6. Sometimes, Anti-Curiosity (Knowing When to Stop Asking) Is Necessary

Sometimes you need anti-curiosity.

Protecting your vision. While curiosity is generally beneficial, there are moments when you must stop seeking input, especially when you have a strong, unconventional idea you believe in. Constantly absorbing criticism or reasons for "no" can dilute or kill an original concept. Brian learned to politely decline detailed critiques once he had committed to a project.

Confidence in taste. No one truly knows if a movie idea is "good" until it's released. Brian's confidence in his ideas comes from decades of experience and cultivated taste, informed by curiosity but ultimately a personal judgment. He trusts his instinct about what makes a story worthwhile, even if it's not a guaranteed commercial hit (Cinderella Man, Frost/Nixon).

Avoiding derailment. Anti-curiosity is necessary when further inquiry would sap momentum, drain enthusiasm, or undermine confidence without providing constructive alternatives. The Cry-Baby experience taught him that sometimes, not being curious enough about potential pitfalls (like a director's previous work) can lead to problems, but knowing when to trust your core belief and stop listening to doubt is also key.

7. Curiosity is Accessible to Everyone and Vital for Personal Growth and Democracy

Curiosity is democratic. Anyone, anywhere, of any age or education level, can use it.

A universal tool. Unlike creativity or intelligence, which can seem innate or hard to teach, curiosity is a fundamental human instinct available to all. It can be consciously cultivated and used to enhance intelligence, creativity, effectiveness, and personal well-being. It's free and requires no special equipment.

Beyond the Internet. While the internet provides unprecedented access to information, it risks becoming an "opium of the masses," providing answers that satisfy superficial curiosity without inspiring deeper inquiry or original thought. True curiosity involves asking questions that haven't been asked and synthesizing new ideas, which the internet cannot do for you.

Essential for accountability. Curiosity is fundamental to democracy. It drives citizens to question authority, understand how government functions, and hold leaders accountable. The structure of American government, with its checks and balances and public access, assumes an engaged, curious citizenry. Cultivating curiosity in ourselves and encouraging it in others, especially children, is crucial for a healthy society.

Last updated: June 23, 2025