What’s the one common thing that all great leaders in the world have? Curiosity.

The hunger, the desire, the passion to always be learning. Make no mistake about it, all successful entrepreneurs are passionately curious. In fact many of those entrepreneurs would say being curious is more important than simply being intelligent. Whereas intelligent people have the talent of being able to process and remember information better, they suffer a handicap when it comes to applying that information.

Studies have found that curious people don’t just want to understand how a problem came about, they want to know why it exists in the first place. They’re problem-solvers, taking every bit of information given to them and finding a solution, even if it means thinking outside the box.

Curiosity is the desire to learn more, to experience more, and to feel more. The passionately curious hate routine and are always looking for new experiences. Which goes to explain why, throughout history, world-changing individuals have always been curious people.

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein.

But don’t fret if the above doesn’t sound like you. Unlike intelligence, curiosity can be nurtured and developed.

Here are six ways to develop your curiosity and kickstart your entrepreneurial journey:

1. Always ask questions

The key to developing curiosity is to be always asking questions.

Some people might be afraid of looking ignorant, but you have to remember that being curious and being ignorant are two completely different things. The ignorant believe they have the right answer, even when it’s wrong.

Accept the fact that you don’t know everything. After all, the whole point of being curious is to fill the gaps in your knowledge.

2. Never be satisfied with the answers

The right questions are almost never open-and-shut cases. If you’re asking questions where the answer ends in either “yes” or “no,” then you’re asking the wrong questions.

You need to be asking questions that begin with “how,” “what,” “when,” “where,” and “why.” Not just to other people but to yourself as well. Always challenge yourself and be introspective.

Be satisfied with more than just scratching the surface, don’t be afraid to dig deep. Who knows what you’ll learn. Even when things seem to be going well, curiosity means always reevaluating solutions you’ve found in the past.

3. Be distracted

Don’t be afraid to let your mind wander when it needs to.

Your brain needs a diverse diet if you want to keep motivated and passionate about your work. Going at 100 percent, all the time, is a surefire way to just end up burned out and unfulfilled. So let yourself be distracted every now and then.

If this sounds dangerously close to procrastination then don’t fret, set a structured approach where you set aside an hour and do nothing but poke around on whatever it is you want to explore. The rule of thumb is: If you’re learning something new then it’s not procrastination.

4. Read constantly

You need to always be reading if you want to nurture your curiosity.

It’s no secret that the majority of successful people in the world have extensive personal libraries. Books provide an exclusive gateway to a whole world of knowledge that you may have never even considered!

Challenge yourself by reading books in genres that you may not normally be interested in. Challenge the way you think by opening yourself up to someone else’s world and ideas.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss

5. Learn a new skill

If you’ve ever wanted to learn a new language, or how to dance, or just about any new skill, then you definitely should. Feed that part of you that craves new experience.

Multiple studies have proven time and time again that learning a new skill, regardless of what it is, will positively affect your brain. Learning a new skill, especially one that requires any sort of physical movement, improves your cognitive ability, your ability to learn, your memory and a whole host of other benefits, depending on the skill.

Plus you’ll never know when that new skill you’re learning could come in handy for yourself or your business.

6. Don’t be afraid to fail

A key part of what sets curious people apart from others is that they’re less likely to fear failure.

It might feel uncomfortable, but you shouldn’t ever be afraid to try something new because you’re afraid that you might fail. If you’re determined to stay on the path you’re currently on, then never try anything new. But if you want to be different and find true success then you simply must leave your comfort zone.

Curious people look forward to failure because in failure you learn something new. That knowledge you learn through failure could very well be the thing that keeps you going and drives you to ultimate success.

How will you start developing your curiosity? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!