The Power of Curiosity: Opening New Doors

Curiosity is a timeless driver of innovation and growth. It’s what pushes us to explore the unknown and opens the door to new possibilities.

For many of us in the WordPress community, it’s where everything begins.

How my curiosity led me to the WordPress community

I was introduced to WordPress four months ago during a course in my Web Design and Development Associate’s Degree. This course focused on Content Management Systems, mainly WordPress. I learned about open source software and how WordPress was created and continues to be maintained by a community of people all over the world

I became curious about the WordPress community and I searched online for local WordPress meetups, eventually finding one in Edmonton. Being a part of the group has been a great experience, i’ve learned a lot about WordPress and built new relationships. The group meets every month to share stories, celebrate wins, and dive into discussions about everything WordPress. At the most recent meetup, some graduating students from my program presented their capstone project, which was proudly built with WordPress.

I found out about WordCamp Canada at one of the meetups and signed as a volunteer. It’s been a fulfilling experience that’s helped me grow in ways I didn’t expect. I contribute to the marketing and communications team by writing content for the website, managing our social media accounts, and promoting WordCamp Canada in public spaces. The best part is the opportunity to work with a supportive and diverse team.

“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”- Richard Feynman

Nurturing curiosity in your own work

Encouraging curiosity is how we grow as individuals and as a collective. It’s what drives us to build new things, solve old problems, and grow along the way.

Here are a few ways to lean into your curiosity:

• Build something new – Try using a new technology or approach or next project. Break things, fix them, and learn along the way.
• Join new spaces – Join a WordCamp or a local Meetup in your community. New ideas often come from fresh conversations.
• Keep learning – Take a course or join a webinar on a topic outside your domain. Think about how you can combine what you learned with what you already know.
• Ask and share – The internet is a big place! Put your questions and ideas out there. They can spark an idea for yourself and others.

You never know what your next “what if” might lead you to.