Curiosity Killed The Cat? Why I Disagree.
Oct 31, 2025
Written By Bart Berkey | Most People Don't
I believe "Curiosity Enabled the Cat" to live at least 9 fulfilled lives with new learnings along the way.
There’s a moment in every great journey when curiosity becomes the catalyst for change.
Cave people created fire because they were cold and getting sick from eating raw meat.
We invented the wheel to find an easier way to transport things.
I created a podcast because it was a tool to reach and help more listeners.
You should be embracing AI, curiosity and AI elevate learning and impact. It will make your life and job more efficient.
During a recent podcast with my guest Will Byington, a successful photographer, videographer, and creative storyteller, based in Chicago, we talked about the power of curiosity.
Will reminded me that curiosity isn’t just a personality trait, it’s a practice.
Most of the breakthrough discoveries and remarkable inventions throughout history from flints sparking fire to self-driving cars, have one thing in common: curiosity.
The impulse to seek new information and explore novel possibilities is a basic human attribute.
Is there a link between curiosity and intelligence?
Einstein said, “Curiosity is more important than intelligence.”
So, we now know that curiosity is not the exclusive domain of the intelligent, but curiosity can increase our intelligence.
Excellence begins where curiosity meets humility, whether you’re photographing celebrities, climbing the corporate ladder, or leading a global team.
Most People Don’t stay curious, especially when they reach the top, but that’s where change really begins; it's very important.
Not only that, it's essential for your journey toward excellence.
Curiosity fuels learning, new beginnings, and excellence.
Will’s story is filled with turns that only curiosity could have inspired.
After studying communications, he moved to Los Angeles to chase a dream in movie marketing.
But as he put it, “I only lasted one year in an office in Beverly Hills.”
The dream didn’t fit the reality.
Disillusioned, he returned home to Chicago, head down, confidence shaken, until one night everything changed.
He went to see a band called Cowboy Mouth, one of his favorites from college. After the show, he didn’t just go home; he asked a question:
“Hey, do you ever need help? I’m available.”
Two weeks later, he was on their tour bus.
That small act of curiosity, of wondering, asking, and offering, launched his twenty-year creative career that’s taken him around the world photographing popular bands, major brands, and extraordinary people.
The Power of Intellectual Curiosity
Will’s success didn’t come from knowing everything.
His success came from wanting to know more.
Whether he was experimenting in a darkroom at the University of Alabama, learning digital photography on the road, or testing AI tools two decades later, his career is a reflection of relentless curiosity.
He said,
“Every time I ask someone what problem they’re having with their phone camera, it’s often helpful for me too. Because I want to learn."
"Every question typically teaches me something new that I can then use to help more people.”
That’s the heart of true excellence and how curiosity can be applied to leadership.
Curiosity & learning utilized not just for self-improvement, but for shared improvement is the true foundation of lasting excellence, lifting teams, sparking collaboration, and driving meaningful change for everyone involved.
How does Curiosity impact the workforce?
Performance |
This is more vital to performance than most realize, helping leaders and teams adapt to change, solve problems creatively, and thrive under pressure.
Innovation |
When curiosity is triggered, we think more deeply and rationally about big decisions, fueling innovation at every level.
Respect |
Curious leaders earn greater respect, while collaborative curiosity inspires trust and stronger relationships among colleagues.
(Source: Harvard Business Review – The Business Case for Curiosity)
New Beginnings Come from Asking “What If?”
When Los Angeles didn’t work out, Will didn’t quit, he recalibrated.
He reminded me that new beginnings often start with humility, not heroics.
He admitted feeling defeated, but curiosity led him to the next step.
“I was 23, out of work, and didn’t know what was next. But I knew I loved being around creative people."
“So, I asked a question. That’s all it took.”
Excellence isn’t born from knowing the answers, it’s born from having the courage to ask better questions.
Focus & The Art of Paying Attention
One of my favorite parts of our conversation came when Will described taking photos of big concerts and large conferences.
“I’m not the show. I’m not the star. I’m there to capture the experience, not interrupt it.”
He said he’s missed “award-winning shots” because he refused to block the audience’s view.
But he knows that if people remember him as “the guy with the hat who blocked my view,” he’s failed.
That’s focus not on the lens, but on the people.
The focus on the people and their experience is where excellence makes a long-lasting impact.
Lessons from Will’s Journey
- Curiosity creates momentum. Every meaningful opportunity began with a question.
- Failure isn’t final. His setback in LA wasn’t the end
it was the education he needed for what came next. - Focus on people, not ego. His goal isn’t the perfect photo; it’s the perfect moment for others.
- Share what you learn. Will once feared that teaching photography might “teach himself out of a job.” Instead, he found joy in helping others create. Rising waters lift all boats.
Excellence begins where curiosity meets humility.
It’s not about always being the expert; it’s about staying the student or having a beginner's mindset, whether you are a CEO, Senior Leader, or recently laid off.
Will reminded me that curiosity doesn’t just help us take better pictures; it helps us see life differently.
It makes us better leaders, friends, and humans.
Most people don’t stay curious after they find comfort.
Most People Don’t ask a follow-up question after they’re told no, but you can, because you know that every question opens a new beginning.
- Curiosity sparks pivots, moments of innovation, and deeper connections.
- Curiosity fuels adaptability; it helps leaders see new possibilities, inspire their teams, and build cultures where growth is shared.
Exemplary leadership starts with asking what’s possible, not just for oneself, but for everyone.
As the phrase is typically known,
Curiosity Killed the Cat; Satisfaction Brought it Back.
But I believe,
Curiosity starts the journey, courage drives the change, and shared discovery builds the future.
— Bart
For More Inspiration:
🎧 Listen to This Week’s Podcast Episodes:
Most People Don't...but YOU Do!
For All The Marbles, In Partnership with Marblism
Episode #3 “It’s Not About the Photo… It’s About the Focus" - Will Byington, Photographer and Creative Genius, How one creative turned his lens from pictures to people
Be Better, Feel Better, Do Better
Live with Greater Impact.
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