The Explore/Exploit Dilemma: Growing When You Feel Stuck
“When we’re kids, we explore to understand how the world works, how everything functions, and how to gain expertise. Then, as we gain that expertise, we begin to exploit it and utilize it. Here’s the challenge. If we exploit that expertise for too long, we get stuck in the rut of confidence. We become really good at this thing that we do. Our brain knows what’s going to happen when we do it. We can predict the outcomes.”
“There’s security and safety in that. We don’t like to deal in uncertainty, and the more uncertain things feel, the more narrow our view gets. Our world gets smaller and we clutch to the things that make us feel safe. This comes at the cost of our instinct to explore and be curious.”
Hearing performance expert Steve Magness talk about this on the Rich Roll Podcast was a powerful reminder. We all live in the tension between exploring and exploiting. But over time, we tend to lean more into exploiting—relying on what we know and believe to be true. The problem? That’s where limiting beliefs take hold. That’s where we get stuck. And that’s where growth stops.
Call-to-Action
We’re going right to the call-to-action this week, leading with our own version of curiosity. To break the explore/exploit tension and encourage our curiosity, here are three key questions to ask ourselves:
- Where have I become too comfortable? Identify the areas where you’re operating on autopilot. Comfort is often a sign that you’ve stopped exploring and are simply repeating what you already know.
- What’s something new I can experiment with? Curiosity thrives on experimentation. Whether it’s a new skill, perspective, or challenge, intentionally seeking out the unfamiliar keeps you from getting stuck in the rut of expertise.
- What if I’m wrong? This question forces you to challenge assumptions and break out of limiting beliefs. It opens the door to new insights, perspectives, and ways of thinking that you might not have considered.
These questions push us beyond the safety of what we know and back into the mindset of discovery… where real growth happens.
Who is Steve Magness?
Steve Magness is a world-renowned expert on performance, coaching elite athletes, executives, and teams to master both the mental and physical aspects of high performance. A former elite runner himself, Steve’s insights—shaped by his background in exercise physiology and mental performance—have been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Sports Illustrated, and beyond.
Steve’s books include:
Who is Rich Roll?
At age 40, and after years of struggling with drugs, alcohol, and unhealthy living, Rich dedicated his diet to plants and his body to purposeful action. Just two years later, he began clocking top finishes at Ultraman World Championships and leading a community of others looking to transform their lives. Today, Rich is a full-time wellness & plant-based nutrition advocate, popular public speaker, husband, father of 4 and inspiration to people worldwide as a transformative example of courageous and healthy living.
Rich’s content includes:
Ready for more?
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