#135: Anne-Laure Le Cunff — The Science of Creativity: Using Tiny Experiments to Unlock Growth, Learning, and Better Writing
Mar 8, 2025
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In this captivating discussion, Anne-Laure Le Cunff, a former Google digital health lead turned neuroscientist and founder of Ness Labs, shares her journey in creativity and writing. She discusses using tiny experiments to break free from traditional career paths, shifting her focus to writing in public, and growing her newsletter to over 100K subscribers. Anne-Laure delves into the psychology of procrastination as a tool for self-discovery and emphasizes flexible ambition over rigid goals, inviting listeners to embrace curiosity in their creative journeys.
Redefining success involves adopting a personalized and experimental mindset to alleviate feelings of inadequacy and social comparison.
Embracing a flexible approach to goal setting allows individuals to view their ambitions as hypotheses, fostering adaptability in the creative process.
Learning in public promotes accountability and community engagement, redefining mastery as a nonlinear journey filled with exploration and growth.
Deep dives
The Challenge of Social Comparison
Climbing the social ladder can lead to anxiety and feelings of inadequacy when comparing oneself to peers. Individuals often question their own progress and success by observing those around them who seem to be advancing more quickly or achieving more significant milestones. This social comparison fosters a detrimental mindset, where perceived failures can overshadow legitimate accomplishments, creating unnecessary pressure. The podcast emphasizes the importance of redefining success to alleviate these harmful feelings, encouraging listeners to adopt a more personal and experimental approach to their ambitions.
Rethinking Goal Setting
Traditional goal setting often hinges on linear paths and predefined outcomes, which can limit one’s potential and flexibility. The podcast discusses how people frequently overestimate their ability to predict future desires or needs, leading to frustration when expected outcomes aren’t achieved. Instead of adhering to fixed goals, followers are encouraged to embrace a mindset of experimentation, viewing goals as flexible hypotheses. This approach allows for adaptability and encourages individuals to appreciate the learning process, reducing the burden associated with rigid expectations.
Embracing Learning in Public
Learning in public entails sharing experiences and progress with others, even before becoming an expert in a particular field. This practice promotes accountability, fosters community, and opens doors to valuable connections and support from others who share similar journeys. It also redefines the process of learning itself by acknowledging that the path to mastery is not linear but rather filled with exploration and growth. The podcast highlights how this approach reduces the fear of judgment, allowing creatives to engage with their work more freely and authentically.
The Importance of Curiosity in Experiments
Curiosity is vital when embarking on experiments, as it fuels the desire to explore new ideas and formats. Rather than fixating on predetermined outcomes, individuals should embrace the process as a learning opportunity, gathering data and insights along the way. The podcast emphasizes the significance of defining experiments with clear and manageable actions, making the creative process more sustainable and enjoyable. By allowing curiosity to guide their experiments, writers and creatives can uncover unexpected pathways and enrich their understanding of their craft.
Navigating Procrastination as a Tool
Procrastination is framed not as a personal flaw, but as a communicative signal from one’s mind, indicating that something is amiss. The podcast advocates for a constructive dialogue with procrastination, encouraging individuals to explore the underlying reasons for their avoidance behavior. By approaching procrastination with curiosity rather than judgment, individuals can gain insights into their creative processes and identify potential adjustments needed to regain momentum. This revaluation can lead to improved productivity and a healthier relationship with one’s work.
Writer, neuroscientist, and Ness Labs founder Anne-Laure Le Cunff shares insights on redefining success, writing in public, and using tiny experiments to fuel creativity. She talks about growing her newsletter from 0 to 100K+, transitioning from writing articles to a book, and the neuroscience behind sustainable ambition.
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ABOUT ANNE-LAURE LE CUNFF:
Anne-Laure Le Cunff is the founder of Ness Labs and author of Tiny Experiments. A former Google digital health lead turned award-winning neuroscientist, her research explores curiosity, lifelong learning, and mental adaptability. Her work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Forbes, and WIRED.