A weekly newsletter with science-based insights on creativity, mindful productivity, better thinking and lifelong learning.
Ness Labs: What Type of Experimentalist Are You? 🧑🔬
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February 21st, 2025 Hello friends,
Two weeks left until the book launch! Tickets are sold out for NYC and London, with a few still available for Austin. I’m on my way to Boston where I’ve been invited to record a podcast. This morning, as I was journaling before heading to the airport, an amazing realization hit me: whatever the outcome of the launch, I’m incredibly lucky to share these ideas with the world. I had to learn how to read and write (my grandma never did), grow up in a country where curiosity was allowed, learn how to speak English, and live at a time when the internet allowed me to reach curious minds around the world. An agent and then a publisher thought these ideas were worth sharing. And during that entire time, nothing serious prevented me from finishing the project. How lucky is that? When I think about that string of events, the anxiety disappears, and all I feel is gratitude. So this week, I want to say thank you for being on this journey with me. And to get you into an experimental mindset ahead of the launch, we’ll explore what type of experimentalist you might be. Enjoy the read, Anne-Laure. P.S. There’s a big, exciting announcement coming your way – it will be time-sensitive so keep an eye on your inbox for my email next week!
🧑🔬 What Type of Experimentalist Are You?How do you respond to uncertainty? Do you jump straight into action, carefully analyze the situation first, or perhaps spend time imagining all the potential outcomes? We all face new challenges, but each of us tends to navigate these experiences differently, in ways that can reveal fascinating insights about our relationship with uncertainty, change, and growth. In my book Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World, I explore how an experimental mindset can transform not just what we achieve, but how we experience the journey itself – and how that journey is different for everyone. At the heart of personal experimentation are four distinct phases that work together to create meaningful change. They all work together, but every experimentalist tends to have one phase that feels like a more natural starting point. 1. Pact. This is the imagination phase where you choose the hypothesis you want to test. In this phase, you question your goal and embrace the unknown as a playground for personal growth. Experimentalists who are more comfortable in that phase tend to excel at seeing possibilities others miss. They often have multiple ideas brewing simultaneously. However, they sometimes struggle with following through if they don’t consciously develop strategies to move from imagination to action. 2. Act. This is the action phase where you actually conduct the experiment and collect data. If you’re more comfortable in this phase, you’ll tend to thrive in hands-on execution and maintaining momentum. You’re basically the person who gets things done. But this can also mean you might sometimes rush through the planning phase, skip important reflection opportunities that could deepen your learning, or ignore early signs or burnout because you’re too focused on making progress. 3. React. This is the metacognition phase where you analyze results, iterate, and reflect. In this phase, you create growth loops to continuously learn and improve. Those who excel here are great at extracting insights from experiences and using metacognitive tools to navigate uncertainty. Knowledge workers tend to be quite comfortable with this phase because analytical thinking and reflection are highly valued in their professional settings. However, they might sometimes get caught in analysis paralysis, overthinking things which can delay action. 3. Impact. This is the contribution phase where you use what you’ve learned to contribute to something bigger than yourself. That’s the phase a lot of ambitious people tend to focus on: we want to make our mark and create lasting change. In contrast, if you approach impact with an experimental mindset, you recognize that the “lone genius” is a myth and that we grow better by sharing our learning journey. You know the value of unlocking social flow, learning in public, and engaging in generative work that benefits your communities in the here and now, versus focusing on the elusive concept of long-term legacy. Now, which phase of the experimental cycle resonates most with you? Ask yourself:
While it’s normal to have a preferred phase, being able to move fluidly across all four phases is key to becoming a well-rounded experimentalist. By embracing all four phases of the experimental cycle, you can become the lead scientist of your life. Rather than being constrained by rigid goals or paralyzed by uncertainty, you can develop the flexibility to adapt, learn, and grow through whatever life brings your way. So, what will be your first tiny experiment? 👀 Into the Mind of...
COURTNEY CARVER
Each week I ask a curious mind about their habits, routines, and rituals. This week I'm excited to feature Courtney Carver, creator of Be More with Less and author of the new book Gentle – out this week, make sure to grab your copy!
One daily practice you can't do without? I started practicing Transcendental Meditation in 2019. Even though I meditated before that, TM has become a non-negotiable daily practice because I enjoy it so much. One idea that keeps you up at night? I think way too much about life without a smartphone and then I make up lots of excuses about why I couldn't live without it. Even though I take regular breaks from my phone and the interest, it's probably time for a longer break. One anchor ritual to reconnect with yourself? When I'm scattered or feeling overwhelmed, I put my hands on my heart, one hand over the other and breathe in and out. I've been doing this simple ritual for almost 20 years and it immediately brings me back to me. 🛠️ Brain Picks• Design your own nervous system AI Coach. Join Jonny Miller for an experimental live session exploring how to write your own ‘life codex’ that allows you to design your own AI-powered nervous system coach. Join live on Feb 25. • ILYS offers a unique writing experience that silences perfectionism, breaks through resistance, and unleashes raw, unfiltered creativity. Whether you're journaling for clarity or crafting your next big idea, ILYS guides you past doubt and into effortless flow. Try it now to rediscover the joy of pure expression. 🤝 Brain TrustIf you enjoy the newsletter, you'll love our community of curious minds growing together through interactive workshops and safe discussion spaces.
• Reimagine your relationship with technology. Join Gosia Fricze for a one-hour workshop where you will explore how technology impacts your life and strategies for using it as a tool for growth instead of distraction. All of these and future events are included in the price of the annual membership ($49), as well as access to our courses, recordings of all our previous sessions, and a growing collection of case studies. Until next week, take care! P.S. I love this interview we did with Big Think and I think you'll enjoy it too! |
Ness Labs by Anne-Laure Le Cunff
A weekly newsletter with science-based insights on creativity, mindful productivity, better thinking and lifelong learning.
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