The Curiosity Gap

Are you leaning in or being left behind?

Over recent months, I’ve been trialling and testing many of the mainstream AI tools. My natural curiosity wants me to find out as much as I can about how they can help me and my clients.

However, I fell into a trap. Within a few clicks, I’d transformed into an action figure, one version of a Viking warrior and another as a 1980s rock star. Just for good measure, I also asked it to turn a photo of our dogs into a Renaissance painting.

The result?

Impressive. Funny. And the latter is slightly disturbing.

And while I was busy smiling and laughing at these creations, a question hit me.

Is this the best we can do with the most powerful technology humanity has ever seen?

Right now, we have tools at our fingertips that can help us solve complex business problems, streamline our work, enhance our thinking, and unlock creativity at a level we’ve never experienced before.

But instead… well, we’re mostly making memes.

It’s funny because it’s true.

And it’s worrying because it’s true.

We’re standing at the edge of human history’s most significant technological revolution. Artificial intelligence, automation, quantum computing, and bioengineering are no longer concepts from science fiction. They’re happening now, changing industries, reshaping jobs, and rewriting the rules.

The pace, the scale, and the reach of this revolution are like nothing we’ve ever seen before. And the uncomfortable truth is this:

Not everyone is ready. Not everyone is even trying to get prepared.

In my conversations with business owners, leadership teams, and founders, I see a clear divide emerge.

On one side, some are leaning in.

They’re curious. Courageous.

They ask, “How could this help us?” rather than, “What if this goes wrong?”

They’re not waiting for the perfect plan. They’re exploring, experimenting, and learning on the move. These people recognise that progress rarely comes from playing it safe.

Then there’s the other camp.

The ones holding back.

They lack ambition not because they’re overwhelmed, unsure, or simply hope the wave of change will slow down and let them catch up. But here’s the thing about waves: they don’t wait.

The change curve is broken.

For decades, we talked about how people go through change: denial, resistance, exploration, commitment.

But the speed of what’s happening now? It’s blowing that curve out of the water.

There’s barely time to deny it. Little room for resistance. You either lean in or risk being left behind.

So, what’s stopping us?

It’s not the tech. It’s not the tools. It’s us. It’s a mindset.

Most of us were raised in systems that taught us to avoid failure, seek certainty, and stick to what we know. But in this new world, curiosity beats certainty every time.

History tells us this.

Think back to the first printing press. The first steam engine. The first flight.

Each breakthrough was met with scepticism, resistance, and even fear. But the outliers, the curious, and the bold shaped the future..

The same is true today.

The leaders who will thrive in this era don’t have all the answers. They’re the ones asking better questions, the ones willing to experiment, learn, and adapt.

You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You need to be open.

Because those leaning in today? They aren’t just adapting to the future. They’re creating it.

How about you?

What’s helping you stay curious and forward-thinking right now?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

However, you’re not alone if you feel tension between your current situation and your plans. I offer a free 30-minute discovery session to help people explore what leaning in could look like for their business.

There is no jargon, no pressure, just a chance to ask better questions and start finding the answers together.

Message me directly or book your session here.

Standing still is no longer the only option.

Have a brilliant week!

Dave Rogers – The Business Explorer