P17: During Times of Rapid Change, Curiosity is the Pivot

Reading Time: 5 Minutes

I just spent two exciting and insightful hours exploring the future of teaching and AI. And by the future, I mean now.

Sitting there soaking it all in, I couldn’t help but think, Wow, this feels like déjà vu. We’re in the middle of a technological shift transforming education, the world, and—just like another shift did years ago—my own trajectory.

A True Story

I had just returned to find that the classroom I once knew had vanished after a long pause in my higher education journey. The internet was exploding, and a few bold educators were venturing into the unknown—piloting new tools and experimenting with PowerPoint.

As part of a required college success course, I had to interview a leader in a field I was considering. A burned-out former high school teacher, I chose an English professor, hoping for insight into the path toward tenure.

With my research in hand, I asked, “I understand that getting a tenured professor job is nearly impossible these days. What do I need to do to stand out?”

Her answer rocked me.

Until that moment, I had taken pride in the idea that, as an English major, I was safely insulated from the rising tide of technology. In my mind, technology would never be my problem.

My fight-flight-freeze response kicked in immediately with dozens of reasons why I needed to find a new path. In short, I was ready to disqualify myself.

I would fight this, run from it, or hope PowerPoint and tech gimmicks were just passing fads.

But as the initial panic subsided, I made a choice:

I didn’t know how I would become tech-savvy, but I would stop resisting—and start getting curious.

Enter Curiosity

I never took a tech class. Instead, curiosity led me down unexpected paths.

I visited the computer lab weekly just to experiment. For example, I played with clip art and PowerPoint, creating story scenes I printed on transparencies—turning them into interactive storytelling tools for my students. It was analog augmented reality, or at least that’s what I tell myself.

Years later, as a graduate student teaching technical writing at Cal Poly, I faced a new challenge. My senior engineering students sat in silence when I asked them to brainstorm mock technologies to build from scrap materials, which would eventually turn into the subject of operation manuals.

The silence was so complete that I could practically hear their internal processors overheating. Desperate for engagement, I signed up for a weekend faculty training on Blackboard, a newly adopted course management system that promised to foster discussion.

The following week, I posted a discussion board, asking the same question that had met silence in the classroom. That night, I checked in and was stunned—over 500 discussion threads were already buzzing with ideas.

The best part was that I had context when I walked into the next class.

It was magic.

My quiet, internal processors were now engaged in some of the most creative, invigorating conversations I’d ever had. I was sold. I saw the light.

Technology wasn’t the enemy—it was a lifeline. A tool that allowed me to do what I had always wanted to do: teach.

Word got out that my Blackboard-driven course was one of the top-rated among engineering seniors. Soon, professors sought me out for advice, and by the time I was ready to graduate, I was recruited to launch instructional technologies across a K-20 consortium in San Diego. I began getting invitations to present teaching with technology strategies at education and technology conferences, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Looking back, I see how easy it would have been to let fear dictate my path. But curiosity—choosing to ask, What if? instead of saying, I can’t—changed everything.

Because in times of change, curiosity is the pivot.

Pivot Challenge

Your pivot challenge this week is to nurture your curiosity. Let me get you started:

Three Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. What’s something I’ve always dismissed as “not for me”—and what if I explored it instead?

2. When was the last time I asked why instead of assuming how?

3. If I weren’t afraid of failing, what new skill or idea would I dive into today?

Three Quotes to Spark Your Curiosity:

Three Easy Ways to Cultivate Curiosity:

1. Cross-Pollinate Your Thinking – Read one article or book chapter outside your usual field each week. Whether it’s science, philosophy, fiction, or an industry you know nothing about, exposing yourself to new disciplines can spark unexpected insights. Or, ask a friend or stranger about their work, hobbies, or expertise. Fresh perspectives fuel curiosity.

2. Tinker with the Unknown – Set aside 30 minutes a week to experiment with something unfamiliar—whether it's an AI tool, a new creative medium, or a coding tutorial. No pressure to master it. Just play and observe what surprises you.

3. Ask, “What if?” Three Times a Day – Challenge assumptions in daily life and see what new ideas emerge.

Three Book Recommendations on Curiosity & Change:

1. A More Beautiful Question by Warren Berger – A deep dive into how asking better questions leads to breakthrough ideas.

2. Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein – Explores how diverse experiences fuel creativity and adaptability.

3. Think Again by Adam Grant – A compelling look at the power of rethinking and staying open to new ideas.

And when in doubt, lighten up—and call a BRAIN Huddle.

Curiosity didn’t kill the cat—boredom did. The curious cat, though? It discovered new worlds, mastered AI, and probably figured out how to open the treat cupboard. Instagram has the evidence.

So, go ahead—ask, explore, tinker. The future belongs to the curious.

Until next week,

Maria Keckler, Ph.D.
Author of Bridge Builders: How Superb Communicators Get What They Want
Creator of the Just One Pivot Letter
Founder of Keckler and Co.

P.S. I’m celebrating the tenth anniversary of my book, Bridge Builders, with a speaking tour. If you want to discuss ways I can help you inspire your group, Send me a note.

P.S.S. If you know someone who could benefit from this, please forward this message or direct them to JustOnePivot.com.