The Astronaut, the Boxer, the Princess, and the Movie Producer

Brian Grazer is one of the most successful producers in Hollywood. His movies, from Apollo 13 to A Beautiful Mind, have grossed billions and won countless awards. You’d imagine his daily schedule to be packed with script readings and high-stakes lunches with A-list stars.

But that’s not his entire schedule. For 40 years, Grazer has religiously carved out time for a meeting that has nothing to do with making movies and everything to do with fueling his brain. He calls them "Curiosity Conversations."

Every two weeks, Grazer meets with someone outside the entertainment industry. Instead of script supervisors and movie stars, Grazer sits down with astrophysicists and CIA Directors. These conversations have brought him face to face with Princess Diana, Muahmmad Ali, and astronaut Jim Lovell. 

His first, informal curiosity conversation was a 90 minute chat with one of his former undergraduate professors. 

“In that hour and a half, I learned much more than I ever learned in college.” - Brian Grazer

The meeting inspired Brian to make “Curiosity Conversations” a recurring part of his educational journey. He reaches out to renowned experts in topics like art, technology, politics, religion. Anything, but entertainment.

He’s not calculating an ROI for the time spent in these meetings. It would be hard to calculate the ROI of a 90 minute chat with a particle physicist or magician David Blaine.

The ROI is perspective.

By aggressively stepping outside his bubble, he ensures that his worldview, and his mind, never stagnate.

These meetings are never movie pitches, but Brian’s chat with astronaut Jim Lovell inspired him to make Apollo 13. When he met with the Wu-Tang Clan’s Ol’ Dirty Bastard, he became enthralled by hip-hop culture, and eventually created 8 Mile with Eminem.

Most of us live in professional silos. Working with and learning from colleagues in similar roles, who read the same newsletters, and attend the same conferences. We become experts in our narrow fields, but strangers to the wider world.

You don’t need an Oscar-winner’s rolodex to replicate this strategy. You’d be surprised at who might respond to your LinkedIn message for a quick Zoom chat or what chef from one of your favorite restaurants would love to grab a coffee. Curiosity is the key.