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Jony Ive: Wanting to Learn Is Far More Important Than Being Right

By Jony Ive · Mindset & Career · 1 min read

Being truly open, inquisitive, and curious has become the basis for all that Ive does. But after a traditional education and working with many people — curiosity has to be a decision. It requires intent and discipline.

Key Points

Curiosity is the basis of all creating — having a genuine relish for being surprised
After traditional education, curiosity has to be a decision — it requires intent and discipline
Great ideas can come from the quietest voice. Resist the urge to fill every moment with opinions.

I really worry how many good ideas I've missed because I wasn't listening.

Curiosity Requires Intent

Ive: Perhaps the most important thing I can share with you is about curiosity. Being truly open, inquisitive, and curious has become the very basis for all that I do and how I think. Having a genuine relish for being surprised and for learning is fundamental to creating.

Many of us have a natural predisposition to be curious. But after a traditional education or working in an environment with many people, it has to be a decision. It requires intent and discipline. In larger groups, we gravitate toward the tangible and the measurable. It's more comfortable and socially acceptable to talk about what is known.

Curiosity fuels our appetite to learn. And wanting to learn is far more important than being right.

After traditional education, curiosity has to be a decision. It requires intent and discipline.

The Quietest Voice

Ive: One of the wonderful consequences of being open is that you find yourself actually listening. To listen well means you need to be quiet.

Great ideas can come from the quietest voice. I really worry how many good ideas I've missed because I wasn't listening or couldn't hear for the usual deluge of opinion. I think it would be great to resist the urge to fill every moment of every minute with opinions — and to listen.

Great ideas can come from the quietest voice. I worry how many I've missed because I wasn't listening.