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Stop Apologising for Your Curiosity. STOP IT!
You’re Not Annoying. You’re Curious. Own It.
The small preface of “silly question, but…” before you make an enquiry might seem harmless.
Polite, even.What it actually is, however, is a quiet act of self-doubt.
It’s a subtle way of telling yourself that your curiosity isn’t valid.
It’s as if you’re apologising for burdening others with your curiosity.Human curiosity is not an annoyance.
It is the driving force behind some of the most pioneering discoveries in history.“Why does the apple fall?”
“What if matter is made of invisible particles”
“Are doctors are spreading disease with dirty hands?”
Because we now are well acquainted with the consequences these questions gave rise to, it can be easy today to underestimate how absurd they seemed at the time.
When Newton, Boltzmann, and Semmelweis asked these important questions they were ridiculed by their contempories, but they didn’t let that stop them.
They asked the questions, and those questions gave rise to some of the most important inventions and discoveries in human history.
So don’t you worry about what “the people” think.
Don’t allow their opinion of you to eclipse your quest for knowledge.Often, it’s not even their opinion — it’s merely your perception of their opinion.
Maybe they really had the same question.
Maybe your question sparks their curiosity.
or maybe they do think your question really is silly.It doesn’t matter.
Statistically, your next “silly” question probably won’t revolutionise the world — and that’s perfectly fine.
The real win is that you’ve deepened your own understanding.
And maybe you’ll even help others deepen theirs.
“There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.”
I grew up reading about Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, and other symbols of the struggle against oppression.
Naturally, at some point in my childhood, I came across Nelson Mandela’s inaugural speech.Part of that speech —oft-quoted— was actually taken from a passage by Marianne Williamson.
I may not connect with the piece as a whole because of my beliefs, but the quote above has always resonated with me.
For a long time, I allowed others’ perceptions to cause me to shrink
I allowed them to regulate my speech and second-guess my own thoughts.
But this shrinking doesn’t serve the world.Why do you feel the need to belittle yourself?
Why do you feel compelled to qualify your own question as lacking common sense or judgement (Google the meaning of “silly.”)There is nothing enlightened about that.
“Say it with your chest”. Speak with strength and conviction, be bold and be clear. Project your confidence on to the world.
Let them think you are silly if they must.
Let them be annoyed if they must.
Let them feel insecure if they must.But
“You shall not fold your wings that you may pass through doors… You shall not … fear to breathe lest walls should crack and fall down” — Khalil Gibran
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The Silent Hours of Productivity
I feel the most productive early in the morning, particularly right after Fajr (dawn prayer) when everything is still and peaceful. There’s a unique kind of silence at that time, where the distractions of the day haven’t started yet and the world feels like it’s still asleep. My mind feels clearer, sharper, and full of energy, making it much easier to focus.
I often find that the work I complete during these early hours would take me much longer to do later in the day when noise, interruptions, and fatigue start creeping in.
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UK Construction Productivity: An Industry in Crisis or a Catalyst for Change?
The UK construction industry has stagnated over the past 50 years in terms of labour productivity. The figures are stark. While other sectors have made notable strides in the same timeframe in terms of output per worker, construction has failed to achieve similar momentum. Perhaps even more concerning is the performance of multi-factor productivity (MFP), which takes into account not only labour but also capital and other inputs. In construction, MFP has exhibited a clear downward trend over the past few decades.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there is a close relationship between labour productivity and MFP. In theory, labour productivity can rise even if MFP falls, if more capital or intermediate inputs are being used inefficiently. This is precisely what we are seeing in the construction sector — modest labour output increases, driven by longer hours or increased material input, but less being achieved per unit of total input.
As I have discussed here, the construction industry’s performance appears even more dismal when compared to productivity trends across the economy as a whole. Whereas sectors such as manufacturing, professional services, and IT have seen steady gains in productivity, construction has not only remained stagnant, but declined.
What’s Driving This Decline?
There are multiple factors that contribute to this persistent underperformance in construction productivity:
- Fragmentation and Lack of Standardisation: Every industry has fragmentation to some extent as a function of a market, however, the project based nature of construction increases the scale, intensity and effect of this fragmentation. This creates inefficiencies, redundancies, and coordination problems.
- Slow Technology Adoption: Compared to other industries, construction has been slow to adopt automation, robotics, and digital project management tools. Where other sectors have reaped the benefits of Industry 4.0, construction continues to rely on outdated methods and manual labour. There are of course some very good reasons for this which I plan to discuss in another article, but acknowledgement does not change the reality
- Skills Shortage: The UK construction industry has long suffered from skills shortages, especially among younger workers and in specialised trades. This issue has been exacerbated by Brexit and an ageing workforce, leading to increased costs and delays.
- Inefficient Procurement Models: The way construction contracts are awarded and managed often promotes adversarial relationships, focuses on lowest cost rather than best value, and fails to incentivise innovation or long-term performance.
- Regulatory and Planning Delays: Bureaucratic processes related to planning approvals, health and safety compliance, and environmental assessments often slow projects down and introduce unpredictability in timelines.
- Economic Cyclicality: The construction industry is highly susceptible to economic fluctuations. Recessions, rising interest rates, and government policy shifts frequently halt or slow building activity, making it difficult to invest in long-term productivity improvements.
Recent Trends and Updates
In more recent data from the ONS Construction Output Bulletin (Dec 2024), the industry experienced a modest 0.4% increase in annual output for 2024 — marking the fourth consecutive year of growth. However, this growth was entirely attributed to an 8.5% increase in repair and maintenance work. New work, which generally signals expansion and investment, actually fell by 5.3%, indicating a lack of forward momentum.
New orders — a key leading indicator of future construction activity — declined by 2.4% in Q4 2024 compared to the previous quarter. This drop was particularly acute in infrastructure (–23.5%) and private industrial projects (–19.7%).
These statistics suggest that while the sector may appear to be recovering on the surface, the underlying composition of activity is skewed toward short-term maintenance rather than long-term expansion and investment. Moreover, the fall in new orders suggests that this trend may worsen in the coming quarters unless there is decisive intervention.
The Economic Cost of Inaction
The consequences of this sustained stagnation in productivity are very real:
- Higher construction costs, making homes and infrastructure more expensive to build and maintain.
- Delays in national infrastructure delivery, which can impact transport, energy, and digital connectivity.
- Reduced competitiveness of the UK’s construction firms in global markets.
- Lower economic resilience, as productivity is a core component of GDP growth and wage increases.
Without improving productivity, the UK risks falling behind other developed economies in infrastructure delivery — a key enabler of future growth.
What Can Be Done?
To break out of this cycle, several reforms and innovations should be prioritised:
- Modern Methods of Construction (MMC): Prefabrication, modular construction, and off-site manufacturing can speed up delivery, reduce waste, and improve quality.
- Digital Transformation: Embracing tools such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital twins, AI-driven planning, and real-time site analytics can dramatically increase project efficiency.
- Upskilling and Apprenticeships: Investing in the next generation of skilled workers through better apprenticeships, retraining programmes, and education can address the labour shortage.
- Procurement Reform: Moving toward collaborative contracts, outcome-based procurement, and integrated project delivery models can foster better alignment between stakeholders.
- Policy and Regulatory Innovation: Simplifying planning processes, streamlining approvals, and incentivising sustainable practices can unlock much-needed efficiency.
Final Thoughts
The UK construction industry stands at a crossroads. After decades of underperformance, the sector has both the need and the opportunity to transform. With the right combination of technology, policy, and cultural change, construction can become not only more productive but also more sustainable, resilient, and globally competitive.
But without bold moves, the sector may remain stuck in a low-productivity trap — dragging down the economy with it.
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The Risk of Silence, The Power of Speaking
I once spoke up in a meeting when I was an apprentice. I was therefore most junior person in the room. The topic was a design that, to me, raised a red flag in terms of safety.
I hesitated. I felt that challenging the plan might not land well — especially coming from an apprentice. But I took the risk. I asked questions. I explained what I saw.
To my surprise, it sparked a real discussion. A few days later, the plan was revised — not because I had all the answers, but because raising the issue early helped avoid potential problems.
That moment taught me that sometimes the riskiest thing isn’t speaking up — it’s staying quiet when something doesn’t sit right.
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Where Action Should Have Lived
Daily writing promptWrite about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently?Back when I first started thinking about getting into tech, I hesitated. I had the itch, the curiosity, and even the means — but I kept telling myself it wasn’t the right time. I convinced myself I needed one more course, one more certification, one more “sign” that I was ready.
Looking back, the only thing I truly lacked was action.
If I could rewind, I’d start small but start immediately. I would’ve built daily habits that turned my curiosity into progress. It is the experience, not perfection, that moves you forward
Now I know: progress comes from doing, not just thinking.
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Silence, sweat, scribing and study
Unwinding, for me, isn’t about escaping the day but about processing it. Letting the dust settle so I can see clearly again.
Some days, that means quiet. No noise, no screens, no scrolling. Just sitting with a hot drink and staring out the window. Letting my thoughts catch up with me.
Other days, it’s about movement. A gym session, squats, deadlifts, and bench pressing — that’s therapy with endorphins. Physical fatigue sometimes clears out mental clutter better than rest.
Then there’s writing. Often just for me, but sometimes for others. A few thoughts zetttelkastened or more recently with this blog, few lines of a blog post. Writing helps turn chaos into structure.
Lastly, there’s learning. Sometimes the best way to reset is to shift gears. I’ll dive into a podcast, a lecture, or a book. AI, Economics or Languages are usual companions.
So how do I unwind?
In silence, in sweat, in scribing and in study. -
Master your mind: Zettelkasten with Obsidian
For much of history (especially before the printing press) information was limited. Now in the digital age, information is abundant and wisdom is limited. We don’t need more information —we need better thinking. That’s where the Zettelkasten method comes in, paired with Obsidian, it becomes a powerful system for lifelong learning, writing, and creative exploration.
What is the Zettelkasten Method?
Zettelkasten, German for “slip box” (slip as in a slip of paper) was developed by sociologist Niklas Luhmann in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
- Zettel = a slip of paper or note
- Kasten = box
So, a Zettelkasten is literally a box full of notes.
At its core, it’s a method for capturing individual ideas – zettels – and linking them together to form an evolving network of thoughts. Instead of storing notes in hierarchical folders, Zettelkasten treats each idea as a node that connects to others, creating a living web of knowledge.
The power of this system isn’t just in capturing information—it’s in connecting it. That’s what turns information into insight.
Why Obsidian is Perfect for Zettelkasten
Obsidian is a note-taking app built on local Markdown files. It prioritizes privacy, speed, and customisability. But most importantly for Zettelkasten enthusiasts, it embraces the core tenets of networked thinking:
1. Atomic Notes
Obsidian encourages small, focused notes. Each idea gets its own file. This aligns perfectly with Zettelkasten’s philosophy of “one idea per note.”
2. Bidirectional Linking
Typing
[[Note Title]]instantly creates a link between notes. Obsidian also shows “backlinks,” so you can see which notes reference the current one. This mimics how human memory works: associatively.3. Graph View
The graph view in Obsidian offers a visual representation of your knowledge network. Over time, patterns emerge. Clusters form. You start seeing connections you hadn’t considered. It’s ideas made visible.
4. Plain Text & Portability
Your notes are stored as simple Markdown files. That means they’re future-proof, readable in any text editor, and not locked into any proprietary system. You truly own your second brain.
5. Templates & Tags
You can create templates for different types of notes: fleeting ideas, literature notes, permanent zettels. Tags add another layer of discoverability. Plugins can enhance this further, but Obsidian works beautifully right out of the box.
How to Start a Zettelkasten Workflow in Obsidian
Step 1: Create a Vault
This is your workspace. Name it something meaningful. “Zettelkasten” is fine, but “Thinking Lab” or “Second Brain” might feel more personal. Mine is called “Mind Mountain”
Step 2: Capture Atomic Notes
Each note should express a single idea. Keep it short. Give it a clear title. Example:
The Difference Between Information and Knowledge.Step 3: Link Notes Thoughtfully
Use
[[ ]]to create links as you write. Ask yourself: Where have I seen this idea before? Over time, these links become the nervous system of your knowledge base.Step 4: Review Regularly
Revisit notes. Add new links. Combine ideas. Your Zettelkasten is never static—it evolves as you do.
Step 5: Use Graph View to Explore
Zoom out and observe the clusters forming. Are you circling around a theme? Is a new idea emerging from connected notes? That’s when connections reveal new directions. Now you have the idea for your blog post or book.
Final thoughts
Using the Zettelkasten method in Obsidian is not just about organizing notes—it’s about building a thinking system. You’re not archiving information. You’re cultivating knowledge.
Over time, this network becomes a trusted ally. It supports your writing. It fuels your creativity. It reminds you of what you know—and what questions you still need to ask.
Obsidian doesn’t just store your ideas. It helps you shape them.
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, I just really love obsidian.
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The Social Media Sword
Social media, for me, is a tool. A sword, of the double edged variety. In the right hands, it can carve out opportunities, connect worlds, and amplify voices. In the wrong hands, it can waste time, spread misinformation, and perpetuate comparison-culture. So I’ve learned to treat it with intention.
I use social media primarily in three ways:
- To Share and Learn Ideas
Platforms like LinkedIn and Medium are where I share thoughts that I hope outlive the scroll. Whether it’s lessons from Construction, reflections on Tech, or punchy business insights – I post to contribute. But I also follow people who teach me – thinkers, builders, and quiet geniuses. - To Document, Not Perform
I used to fall into the trap of posting for the likes (dopamine hits are real), but now, I document for myself – for memory, for growth, for clarity. If I share something on my blog or X, it’s because I hope it adds something. - To Connect With Real People
Networking, collabs, spontaneous chats with someone halfway across the world who read a post and resonated. Even two decades since I first joined social media with my MySpace account, that part still feels like a miracle.
This is my social media motto:
“If it’s not moving me forward, it’s holding me back – it’s time to sign out”
- To Share and Learn Ideas
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Steady Underneath
“Foundations”
I keep thinking about foundations lately. Not just the ones poured into the ground with rebar and concrete, but the kind that hold up everything else in life. The habits, the principles, the quiet decisions that nobody sees but that everything else rests on.
In construction, if the foundation’s misaligned by just a few millimetres, the whole structure can collapse. Life feels the same way sometimes.
