1 week Ago By Robert Backer
“Why is a raven like a writing desk?” At first glance, this riddle from Alice in Wonderland may seem nonsensical—because it’s meant to be. But when coaching clients to boost their creative muscles, I’ve often used this line as a challenge: “How can they be related? Give me ten ways.” Hunter: Focuses on finding a specific answer from a narrow pool of information.
Structured, efficient, and goal-oriented, though sometimes overlooks alternatives. Busybody: Explores possibilities widely, sampling bits of information across many topics. Flexible, but sometimes scattered .
Dancer: Leaps between fields, making unexpected connections. Innovative but unconventional. Hunters Good for: efficiency and mastery Poor for: mental flexibility and resilience, potentially leading to increased rigidity and burnout Busybodies Good for: complex problem-solving, adaptive learning, getting “unstuck” Poor for: high-stakes decision-making, peak athletic performance, time-critical operations Dancers Good for: inspiration, personal growth, invention Poor for: short-term, practical needs While intentional curiosity helps us explore new ideas and possibilities, it’s important to know when to shift the gears.
Nobel Prize behavioral economists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky discuss the difference between “getting it right” and “getting it done” in Kahneman’s book “Thinking Fast and Slow.” Sometimes, we may want to cast a wide net, consider information broadly, and widen possibilities. Other times, when it’s important to converge on a specific solution to a problem, too much wandering may be a source of frustration.
Given the many benefits of curiosity, you may be wondering how you can harness this power to enhance well-being. To make the most of your natural curiosity, follow these four R’s: Hunters should define a clear question or task, break it into steps, and stay focused by setting time limits or sidelining irrelevant leads. For example, if you’re learning a new app on your phone, focus on the most important function first—why you downloaded the app to begin with—rather than exploring everything.
Ask yourself, “What’s the next most important step?” The path isn’t always linear, but prioritizing moment-to-moment is key. Stay focused—set a timer, note distractions for later, and structure your environment to minimize them. Keep your eyes on the prize! Busybodies can encourage mind-wandering by engaging with a variety of materials and allowing unexpected ideas to surface.
Or, challenge yourself to pick an object and brainstorm as many uses for it as possible without stopping. Surround yourself with diverse materials to increase the ease of associational thinking—follow ideas as they connect, then reflect later. Physical movement or non-directed meditation—sitting still and observing thoughts for five to 10 minutes—can also help.
Dancers benefit from shifting perspectives—try blending different interests, exploring new environments, or talking with people outside your usual circles. Dancing may feel hard for some at first, as the brain often resists breaking familiar habits, but with practice, it can become natural and greatly enhance mastery and resilience to burnout. Prompts often help when we feel stuck or not particularly “creative.
” A good prompt can be especially useful first thing in your day when you are fresh and unencumbered. Complete a challenge, like taking a different route to work and noticing three things you’ve never seen before. Peer beyond the surface—learn and explain something challenging to another person.
Try a new “dance move”—listen to a music genre you normally avoid while working. By recognizing and adapting your curiosity style, you can harness natural rhythms rather than forcing rigid habits. Whether you need to narrow your focus, expand possibilities, or take an unexpected leap, your greatest creative breakthroughs may come from shifting your approach.
So, why is a raven like a writing desk? The answer might depend on how you choose to think..
