The world as we know it has not always been this way. In some ways, for the better, in other ways, not so much. Now you might think this is an obvious observation, but how much of our systems do we really understand? How much of our world as it is now do we believe has simply “always been this way”? For starters, the boom and bust cycle of the economy that we experience has not always been this way, despite what you may think. (More on that in a moment.) So why does it matter? Well, an understanding of where we come from can help us decide how best to proceed. Collectively, as humans, history helps us learn from our mistakes, and it can reveal mistakes we may not have been aware of. This is why it’s so important to be curious. If you don’t know how or why something works, curiosity can be the driving force that enables you to learn and grow. And yes, you can certainly apply your new knowledge to your personal choices, too. That’s the beauty of being a lifelong-learner. If you want something really interesting to sink your teeth into, watch my conversation with Wyne Jett, posted below. We talk about his book, “The Fruits of Graft.” In his book, he explores why and how our economic system is the way it is, and you might be surprised at what you learn.