One of the secrets of innovators and entrepreneurs throughout the ages is that they go out of their way to pay attention to their mistakes, random events, and things they weren’t looking for. They themselves will tell you – it is not a matter of intelligence. It is a matter of being observant. While most people tend to ignore their mistakes and accidents, legendary innovators and entrepreneurs are different. They are fascinated by the ridiculous and the absurd because that’s the stuff they find most interesting. That’s usually where the biggest secrets are hidden.
Isaac Asimov once said, “The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka’ – but ‘that’s funny’……” Some of the greatest discoveries in history came from the aggressive pursuit of idle curiosity.