The Two Types of People

Every day, you make a choice: to stay curious or to stay comfortable.

It doesn’t matter if you’re 13, 25, 40, or 70; the choice remains the same. One leads to wisdom and one to pride.

A mentor of mine used to tell me, “There are two types of people: those who want to know more and those who want to defend what they already know.”

Recently, after a tennis match, I saw this play out in real time. My daughter Lucy, who is typically extremely coachable, was making the mistake of not moving her feet during her match. After it finished, my wife Amy went over to help, but before she could finish, she was interrupted by her, “I know, Mom. I know.”

She didn’t want to know more. She tried to defend what she already knew.

The following weekend, she was making the same mistake, but before Amy said anything to her after the match, she asked, “Mom, what could I have done better today?”

Same mistake, but a completely different mindset. The same incredible young woman. One defended, one learned.

That moment reminded me that curiosity and humility are the engines of growth. If that weren’t enough, it’s also incredibly attractive. People want to help curious people, not those who know it all.

The best leaders, teammates, executives, or students never believe they have arrived; they are arriving. They ask questions, seek feedback, and stay coachable. Because they know growth begins where certainty ends.

The people who peak stop learning and expanding.

So today, pay attention to which version of yourself shows up. Are you going to be the kind of person who wants to know more or the one who defends what they already know?

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