Having a Traveler’s Curiosity in Small Business

Let curiosity guide your small business decisions and the journey will unfold.

I want to explore what else is possible. I want to curiously ask questions about what I desire. I want to let new, wild ideas surface.

The weather is fully indicating that it is Fall here in Bentonville and the first of the maple trees are beginning to tinge fiery red and burnt orange. It’s a delight to notice day by day. It is the best time to visit the Ozarks as nature puts on a show and the temperature begs you to be outside.

Tourist season is in full swing here. Each day my walks are filled with people out exploring and I’ve had many wonderful conversations with visitors who are falling in love with our treasure of a town.

I’ve been thinking lately about the persona of a traveler. Who I become when I travel. And I notice in the visitors I’ve been talking with, that there’s something familiar — something I can identify with.

Curiosity.

When I travel I’m curious. Curious about the area, curious to explore, curious about the people there. And talking with so many people from all over the world who are visiting Bentonville, completely open to adventure, curious about what the area holds, has sparked the recognition of this spirit within myself.

I’ve been experimenting with the fun of viewing my town thru a traveler’s eyes. And I’m in awe. The calm vibe that new residents refer to as Pleasantville. The 100s of people just casually strolling about the city on foot. The thousands of bikes that weave their way thru the woods and city streets. Dinner at a restaurant by candlelight on the patio. Pastries at the coffee shop that transport you to a French patisserie. It’s magical.

I’ve noticed this weather and the traveler’s heart has made me more curious and willing to explore. I’m shaking up my routines a bit each day by walking different pathes to the grocery store or ice cream truck. I stop and visit with people, neighbor or newcomber, on my strolls. And I’m fulfilled in the most contented way.

And it makes me think, how can I be curious in my business?

How can I be open to the adventure of business? How can I explore ideas and create experiments with a traveler’s heart?

After 6 years in business it’s been much easier to settle in to “this is who I am and this is what I do”. And if I’m being honest it’s more terrifying to think about shaking it up. But, for curiousity’s sake I want to.

I want to explore what else is possible. I want to curiously ask questions about what I desire. I want to let new, wild ideas surface. I’m ready for this now, but I have to say there’s been many months of stubborness and fear on my part, creating a rigidity that was uncomfortable and unfamiliar to my entrepreneur roots.

Now, I’m ready. And I’m curious about what I’ll become curious about in the coming months.

What can you be curious about in your own business? What are you curious about exploring in your business? Curiousity is one of my values. Do you have a particular value you want to start bringing into the day to day in your business and life?