# Create Better Local Content by Being Interested Source: https://whatismaven.com/create-better-local-content-by-being-interested/ Published: 2025-10-20 Updated: 2025-11-09 Author: Amara Andrew --- Leonardo da Vinci is famous for his paintings. The Mona Lisa. The Last Supper. Masterpieces that defined the Renaissance. But painting was just one of his interests. He studied anatomy by dissecting corpses. He designed flying machines. He observed water flow. He investigated botany, geology, and mathematics. **He was interested in everything.** And that’s exactly why his paintings were so revolutionary. ## How “Unrelated” Interests Made Da Vinci’s Work Better All of these areas of study helped him create better paintings. His study of anatomy made his figures more realistic. His understanding of optics influenced how he painted light. His observations of nature made his detail even more amazing. **All those “unrelated” interests fed directly into the thing he’s most known for.** Da Vinci didn’t compartmentalize his curiosities. He let them all inform each other, creating connections that no one else could see. ## The Problem with Single-Focus Expertise If you only focus on your business, you end up seeing the world in one way. You develop tunnel vision. You think in the same patterns. You approach problems with the same solutions everyone else in your industry uses. **You become good at what you do, but you don’t become exceptional.** Because exceptional doesn’t come from doing the same thing as everyone else, just slightly better. Exceptional comes from bringing perspectives and insights that others don’t have. ## What Happens When You Let Yourself Be Curious When you let yourself be curious about all kinds of things (even things that seem totally unrelated), you develop a much richer perspective. **You make connections other people don’t see.** The history buff who runs a real estate business starts telling neighborhood stories that make properties come alive in ways listing features never could. The business consultant who loves cooking starts using kitchen metaphors and processes that make complex strategies suddenly clear. The financial advisor who studies psychology understands client behavior in ways that purely numbers-focused advisors miss completely. **Your “random” interests give you a unique lens that makes your primary work more interesting and more effective.** ## My Own Version of This For years, I worried I was too scattered. Art history, content creation, local community building, travel. What does any of it have to do with each other? But then I realized the variety is the point. **The history research makes me better at storytelling.** I understand narrative arc, what makes stories stick, how to find the compelling angle in seemingly mundane facts. **The travel gives me perspective on what makes communities unique.** I can spot patterns across different places and identify what truly makes a location special versus what’s just generic “local” marketing. **The random curiosities make the work more interesting.** Both for me and for the audience because I’m bringing perspectives and references that no one else in my field is using. ## The Science Behind Why This Works There’s actual research backing this up. Studies on creativity and innovation consistently show that the most creative people aren’t specialists who know everything about one narrow field. **They’re generalists who know a little about a lot of different areas.** It’s called “conceptual blending.” Your brain makes new connections by combining ideas from different domains. The more diverse your knowledge base, the more potential connections you can make. **Steve Jobs famously credited a calligraphy class he took in college** with influencing the beautiful typography of the first Mac. That “useless” artistic interest directly contributed to Apple’s design philosophy and competitive advantage. ## Why You Should Stop Feeling Guilty If you’ve been feeling guilty about having interests outside your work, stop. That random hobby? That weird fascination you have that has nothing to do with your business? **It’s probably making you better at your work in ways you don’t even realize yet.** The accountant who studies stand-up comedy learns timing and delivery that makes their client presentations more engaging. The lawyer who collects vintage vinyl records develops an ear for authenticity and quality that translates to how they evaluate evidence. The dentist who’s obsessed with architecture starts thinking about how spaces make people feel, completely transforming how they design their practice. **These aren’t distractions from their “real” work. They’re competitive advantages.** ## How to Apply This to Your Content Your varied interests give you unique content angles that no one else has. **Instead of creating generic “5 tips for…” content that every other business in your space is creating**, you can bring fresh perspectives: The realtor who loves history can create neighborhood content that tells the story of how areas developed over time. The financial advisor who’s into fitness can draw parallels between building wealth and building physical health. The marketing consultant who studies ancient philosophy can frame modern strategies using timeless principles. **This is content that’s impossible for competitors to replicate** because it comes from your unique combination of interests and experiences. ## Permission to Explore Widely You don’t need to become an expert in everything. You don’t need to deeply study ten different fields. **Just give yourself permission to be curious about whatever interests you,** even if it seems completely unrelated to your work. Read books outside your industry. Take classes that have nothing to do with your job. Explore hobbies just because they’re fun. **The connections will emerge naturally.** You don’t have to force them. Your brain will start making links between your various interests and your work without you consciously trying. ## Your Challenge This Week Spend time on one interest that has nothing to do with your business. No justification required. No forcing it to relate to your work. Just engage with something you find genuinely interesting for its own sake. Then notice what happens over the next few weeks. Notice if ideas start emerging. Notice if you start seeing your work differently. Notice if you make connections you wouldn’t have made otherwise. **The goal isn’t to immediately apply everything to your business. The goal is to enrich your perspective and see where it leads.** ## FAQ About Cultivating Varied Interests **How do I find time for other interests when my business is so demanding?**\ Start small. Even 30 minutes a week engaging with a different interest can make a difference. It’s not about massive time investment. **What if my interests really are completely unrelated to my work?**\ They probably aren’t as unrelated as you think. But even if they are, they’re still enriching your perspective and making you more interesting. **Should I share these interests in my business content?**\ Sometimes. When it feels natural and adds value. But the benefit isn’t just in sharing them. It’s in how they shape your thinking. **What if people think I’m unfocused or not serious about my business?**\ The most interesting and successful people are rarely single-focused. Depth in one area plus breadth across many areas is a powerful combination. ## The Bottom Line Da Vinci didn’t just paint. He explored everything that interested him. **And that’s what made him Leonardo da Vinci.** Your business doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The more widely you explore, the more unique perspectives you bring to your work. Stop compartmentalizing your interests. **Start letting them all inform each other.** That’s where the magic happens.