Life is a Laboratory

I’m thrilled (and a little nervous!) to share that my new book, Future Skills 2030: Mastering the 4th Industrial Revolution, is now officially live on Amazon.

This book has been years in the making — sparked by a comment at my son’s secondary (high) school graduation back in 2017:

“Many of these students will go on to work in jobs that haven’t even been invented yet.”

That moment stayed with me. It got me thinking deeply about the future of work — not just for young people, but for all of us.

Then, in 2018, I applied for a lecturer’s position and was asked to prepare a presentation on entrepreneurship and the 4th Industrial Revolution. I threw myself into the topic — researching, thinking, reflecting. I didn’t get the job.

At the time, it felt like a setback. But looking back, that rejection was a turning point. It lit a fire. I realised I didn’t need permission or a job title to explore the questions that fascinated me. I could start where I was.

So I did.

I launched Future Skills 2030 as an online course in the spring of 2019. That course eventually grew into a global learning community. And now, it’s become this book.

🧠 What’s Inside Future Skills 2030?

This book is a practical guide for navigating work, learning, and life in an age of accelerating change. Whether you’re a student trying to choose a career, a mid-career professional rethinking your path, or simply someone who wants to stay relevant in a rapidly shifting world — this book is for you.

Inside, we’ll explore:

🔧 The must-have skills for the future of work
🤖 How AI, automation, and climate change are transforming industries
🌱 Lifelong learning, resilience, and career adaptability
🌍 Real-world stories, practical strategies, and mindset shifts
💡 And why your unique mix of curiosity, creativity, and courage matters more than ever

📚 Why I Wrote This Book

I’ve spent the last decade helping people build future-ready skills — from rural development to online education, from beekeeping to blockchain. My own journey has been far from linear — and that’s the point. The world no longer rewards just staying the course. It rewards the curious, the agile, the adaptable.

This book is both a map and a message: you can thrive in the future — but you’ll need to approach it with a lab mindset. Experiment. Tinker. Learn. Repeat.

📦 Where to Get It

Future Skills 2030 is available now on Amazon in Kindle and paperback formats:

👉 Get the book here

🙏 Can I Ask a Favour?

If you do pick up a copy, I’d be incredibly grateful if you left a quick review on Amazon. It helps other readers discover the book — and keeps me going as I continue this journey of sharing ideas and learning out loud.

💬 Let’s Talk

If you’ve read the book — or have questions about the future of work, learning, or life design — I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a comment below, or connect via the contact form.

Thank you for being part of this experiment. As always:
Life is a laboratory. Let’s keep learning.

— Tom Carroll

Welcome to 2025! The dawn of a new year always brings with it a sense of hope, possibility, and the drive to make meaningful changes. At Life is a Laboratory, we view each year—and indeed each day—as a fresh experiment. What if we used this year as an opportunity to cultivate curiosity and unlock our creative potential? This post is all about making curiosity and creativity central to our lives in 2025.

Curiosity: The Catalyst for Transformation

Curiosity isn’t just a fleeting feeling; it’s a mindset, a tool that can transform how we navigate the world. From the great scientific breakthroughs of the past to the personal “aha” moments that change our perspectives, curiosity has always been at the heart of progress. It pushes us to question the status quo, explore new possibilities, and step out of our comfort zones.

But curiosity isn’t reserved for scientists or innovators. It’s for everyone. When we dare to ask questions like, “What if?” and “How might we?” we begin to see the world—and our potential—through an entirely new lens.

10 Questions to Spark Your Year

To help you kickstart your own experiments in curiosity, here are ten thought-provoking questions. Use them to guide your reflections, inspire your actions, or simply spark your imagination:

What if I challenged one limiting belief every month this year?
How might we make creativity a daily habit, even with a busy schedule?
What if I explored one new skill or hobby each quarter?
How might we use technology to foster deeper human connections?
What if I treated failures as data in my life experiment?
How might I redesign my workspace to inspire innovation?
What if I sought out perspectives that challenge my own?
How might we integrate playfulness into problem-solving?
What if I set aside 10 minutes each day to nurture curiosity?
How might we approach life’s challenges as opportunities for growth?

Pick one or two questions that resonate with you and reflect on them. Better yet, write your own! The beauty of curiosity is that there are no wrong answers—only new pathways to explore.

Your Life as a Laboratory

Imagine your life as a laboratory where every decision, habit, or challenge is an experiment. Sometimes experiments succeed, and other times they fail spectacularly. But every outcome teaches us something valuable.

This year, I’ve committed to dedicating just 10 minutes a day to nurturing creativity. I jot down “What if?” and “How might we?” questions in a notebook, letting my imagination roam freely. These moments of reflection have not only sparked new ideas but have also deepened my ability to think outside the box in both my personal and professional life.

You don’t need elaborate tools or a perfect setup to start experimenting. Begin with what you have, where you are. Treat failures as valuable data and small wins as proof of progress.

Curiosity as a Daily Practice

Incorporating curiosity into your daily life doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few simple ways to begin:

Engage with Different Perspectives: Read a book or listen to a podcast outside your usual interests. Broaden your horizon.

Ask Better Questions: Instead of focusing on what’s wrong, ask, “What could be better?” or “What’s possible?”

Try Something New: Experiment with a new recipe, hobby, or way of working. Variety fuels creativity.

Observe and Reflect: Take a moment each day to observe your surroundings. What surprises you? What intrigues you?

Share Your Curiosity Journey

Curiosity is even more powerful when shared. I’d love to hear about your journey: What questions are you exploring? What experiments are you trying? Share your favorite “What if?” and “How might we?” questions in the comments below or on social media. Use the hashtag #Curious2025 so we can build a community of experimenters and lifelong learners.

As we navigate the unknowns of 2025, let’s embrace curiosity as our guiding light. Let’s ask questions, try new things, and celebrate the magic of discovery. After all, life is a laboratory, and the experiments we run today will shape the futures we create tomorrow.

Happy New Year, and here’s to a curious and creative 2025!

Thomas Carroll, PhD

Co. Laois, Ireland, January 2025

PS Are you curious about curiosity?

If you’re ready to dive deeper into the art of curiosity and lifelong learning, check out my course, Curiosity Unleashed: Master Lifelong Learning. This course is designed to help you harness your natural curiosity, develop a growth mindset, and turn learning into a lifelong adventure. Whether you want to spark creativity, solve complex problems, or simply add more wonder to your daily life, this course will give you the tools to thrive.

Please check out the course here: Curiosity Unleashed: Master Lifelong Learning – New Year offer of $12.99 (Offer Expires 6th February 2025).