Life as Experiment: Keep Trying New Things

“I don’t know what I want.” I hear this all the time. From smart, ambitious, thoughtful people. From people who “should know by now”. 

Here’s the truth I’ve learned as a coach and through my own life: 

You don’t figure out what you want by thinking harder or by finding a better process. You figure it out by trying things.

Keanu Reeves is all of us. Confused.

As Millenials, we were taught to think of life in predictable milestones - college graduation, a safe job in 1 career path, marriage, kids, white picket fence.  Life and careers just aren’t that simple anymore.  There is no rulebook, or at least the rules keep changing.  We used to learn how to create strategic plans, operational plans, 5-year plans, etc. etc. - this type of thinking just isn’t as useful in the world we’re living in.  

The future is changing too fast. The only way to stay ahead—or even stay afloat—is to become an experimenter.  We have to act and adapt in the moment.

Life is not a blueprint. It’s a lab.

Think about how scientists work:

• They start with a hypothesis.

• They test.

• They observe if the hypothesis is confirmed or not.

• They adjust and try again.

You can do the same with your career, your relationships, your lifestyle, your identity.  My clients trying out a business or starting new habits weren’t wild, all-in risks. They were experiments. And every one of them learned something real, fast.

Meanwhile, people who waited to find the “perfect” answer or feel “ready” are still stuck in the same place—just older and more tired.  Sorry to be so blunt, but life is short.

What should I test?

Well, what is the "unknown"? If you’re curious about it, try it. It’s just as important you stay in the habit of trying new things, just as much as the things you try.

Try out new AI tools (have you heard of Zapier?). Launch a one-month project. Join a cohort. Shadow an executive at your company. Talk to people outside your bubble.

You don’t need a perfect answer. You need movement.

My Example

I'll say this again - my entire coaching career, and this business Potencia, has been an experiment. Back in 2022 when I knew my HR career was over, I knew it was the time to try something very different. I also knew I wanted to figure out a sweet spot of a career that is both fulfilling and financially lucrative.

• My hypothesis: That executive coaching is a great long-term career for me.

• Test Period: 1 year

• Test Setup: Do 1 coaching course and coach ~50 hours

• Questions:

  • Am I fulfilled by coaching others?

  • Am I naturally talented at coaching? Am I getting better?

  • Am I pulled towards coaching more?

This is not to mention that I am still wondering if running my own business is what I want long-term. Guess how I'm figuring that out? Testing!!

Curiosity is your compass. Action is your teacher.

The only wrong move is no move.  

So here’s your challenge:

This month, try one new thing you’re curious about. Don’t think of it as a decision. Think of it as a test.

You don’t need to be sure. You need to be in motion.

If you are curious to check out an experimentation tool, click here and reach out.

For Learning and WIth Love,

Chris

Supporting Articles & References

1. “Designing Your Life” by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans – Stanford professors argue that life design is best done through prototyping and experimentation.

2. Harvard Business Review (2021) – “Why Experimentation Works in a Crisis” by Stefan Thomke and Jim Manzi. Explores why companies need rapid experimentation to thrive in uncertain times.

3. McKinsey & Co. (2023) – “The Committed Innovator: How experimentation powers growth”. Demonstrates how leading companies embed experimentation into strategy.

4. Psychology Today (2022) – “The Case for Trying Something New” by Meg Selig. A psychological take on novelty, curiosity, and self-discovery.

5. The Affirmationist (2025) – “The Power of Small Bets: How Micro-Actions Lead to Monumental Change.”