On a recent family vacation, we found ourselves in a lively conversation about music. The question on the table: Should you expand your musical horizons, or stick with what you love? We encouraged my father-in-law to give Imagine Dragons a listen—arguing they’re diverse, clean, and surprisingly versatile.
He smiled and pushed back. For him, there’s still a whole world to explore within the genre he already loves—think Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
At the heart of the exchange wasn’t really music—it was curiosity. The willingness to ask, wonder, and engage with something new. And his perspective reminded me: curiosity doesn’t always mean looking outward. Sometimes, it means looking deeper into what we already have… or into who we already are.
Did you know our brains are actually wired for curiosity? When we explore and learn, our reward system lights up. Dopamine is released. Our minds and bodies like curiosity.
So why do we so often resist it?
That’s a question I’ve had to sit with. For me, it usually comes down to fear—of failure, of looking foolish, of being rejected. It’s easier to stay in the familiar than to risk the unknown.
When I launched Buck’s Coffee Co.—
…well, let’s be honest. When my wife launched Buck’s Coffee Co., we were literally in the car. She took my phone, posted a few photos, and introduced me to the world. I was dragging my feet, caught in fear of what might go wrong. She gave me a gentle shove. And here we are.
I’m loving it now. I love exploring different coffees, running into real business problems, and growing through it all. Curiosity is what keeps this work fun, and it’s what keeps me learning—not just about coffee, but about myself.
Coffee itself invites curiosity. The more I roast, the more I discover how a single origin can taste completely different based on roast level, brew method, or even the water you use. It’s a never-ending invitation to learn, experiment, and wonder. And for me, it’s become one of the most life-giving ways to practice curiosity.
What about you?
What keeps you from being curious about the world around you—and what helps you step into it anyway?
