Meet the human being, we are flawed, we are imperfect. We aspire to be and do better, but, you know, not all the time, and not with everyone, and not with every thing. We are complicated.

Our interest in the darkness that lies within human being is very much linked with what we do in our day jobs; however they come, we work hard to really see people. Flaws, contradictions, hypocrisy and all.

Music stimulates parts of our brain, it engages our physical body, it can alter our moods. It is even said that music is at the center of what it means to be human. It’s an interesting claim considering that we often talk about humans as being visual creatures without perhaps exploring how other senses influence what we ‘see’. But it’s perhaps most interesting because of how little we consider, research or leverage music in the consumer good space.

We break plans apart so we can rebuild them stronger. We question things like an outside company would so that our activities stand up to competitor scrutiny. We consider the worst alternative so that we build contingencies for that reality. We pressure test, we rethink, we reassess our plans with positive intent. It’s fun to play the devil’s advocate, sure, it’s easier to spot the negatives than the positives, but it’s also imperative that we do so.

Surely, the act of thinking - pausing, reflecting, considering, probing - is the most critical one in propagating curious behavior that is worthy of our time.

Curious action without curious thought is aimless. But curious thought in itself without curious action is fruitless. In fact, you could say practicing curious thinking, while critical, is not pushing us towards that aspect of curiosity that is so distinct and so revered - bravery.

As Michelle and I discussed on the show, we are complex and contradictory creatures and that will never change. So perhaps what is changing is our desire to understand that better. To showcase that ‘humanness’ to others. As Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” That is surely what drives a lot of us into professions where we are paid to examine life and the living.