Curiosity Loops
Overview
Curiosity Loops is a structured method for gathering contextual advice from a curated group of peers rather than relying on a single mentor or vague questions. It turns decision-making into a data-collection exercise.
Core principle: The best advice is contextual. Bad advice happens when advisors lack context about your specific situation.
When to Use
- Facing a significant decision (career pivot, product direction, personal dilemma)
- Feeling indecisive or stuck
- Need diverse perspectives quickly
- Want to avoid "single point of failure" advice
The Four-Step Process
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│ 1. FORMULATE → Ask specific, unbiased question │
│ (NOT "What should I do?") │
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│ 2. CURATE → Mix Subject Matter Experts + │
│ People who know your context │
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│ 3. EXECUTE → Reduce cognitive load │
│ (e.g., "Pick top 2 of 9") │
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│ 4. CLOSE LOOP → Process data, share outcome with advisors │
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Quick Reference
| Element | Good Example | Bad Example | |---------|--------------|-------------| | Question | "Which 2 of these 9 topics resonate most?" | "What should I talk about?" | | Audience | 10 friends (5 experts + 5 who know you) | 1 mentor | | Format | Low friction (2 choices max) | Open-ended essay | | Follow-up | Share what you decided and why | Ghost them |
Common Mistakes
- Vague questions → Ask specific, structured questions
- Single advisor → Curate 8-12 people with diverse perspectives
- No follow-up → Always close the loop; thank advisors
Real-World Example
Ada Chen Rekhi used this to select podcast interview topics: emailed 10-11 friends a list of 9 topics, asked them to pick their top 2, synthesized patterns, and closed the loop.
Source: Ada Chen Rekhi (Notejoy, LinkedIn, SurveyMonkey) via Lenny's Podcast