The starting point of all
learning and growth.
What gives meaning to
ideas, goals, and ambition.
The continuous development and improvement of ourselves.
The curious minds behind CLUES
Ruben Plasmeijer
Founder & Curious Owner
Ruben is a curious mind with a strong passion for exploring the world, one step at a time.
It's how he realised that the world is much more interesting when you look at it with a new set of eyes, every single time.
Profile on Skool
Jessica Correa
Curiosity Support
Jessica is a spiritual healer from Peru and the best support any Curious Builder could wish for.
When she is not working on the the Violet Power, you can find Jessica in the jungle of Peru, with family or friends!
Profile on Skool
Luna
Curiosity Officer
Luna is our official curiosity officer. She integrates curiosity in life like no one else.
Every single day, Luna reminds us us of the importance of curiosity, creativitiy, and play in our lives.
Profile on Skool
The story behind CLUES
As a five year-old boy I was introduced to the traditional educational system. Little did I know that I was actually part of what I now refer to as factory model schools. Meeting the expectations of others, passing exams and performing based on a predetermined curriculum became the norm for the next twenty years of my life. With the aim for me to eventually come out of the factory well-behaved and conditioned, just like everyone else.
After eight years of primary school, it was now time for another five, six, perhaps even seven years of schooling in high school.
Confusion and a lack of motivation describe this period in my life best. I still do not understand how we are expected to (be able to) make "our own" choices after being told what is right and wrong in the first twenty years of our lives.
In which box do I fit best according to society? Which labels will I receive based on my performance? What are my options if I pass exams with "good" grades? And what happens if I don't, does it really matter?
After showing everyone that I was capable of something by (finally) passing all exams, it was now time to make up my mind about the next step.
Am I going to university? Or do I want to start working? And if I do, what does life look like with without a degree?
These questions were relevant as a teenager, and they still are, because the most common answers to these questions are… QUESTIONABLE!
I did go to university in the end and I got a bachelor degree but seriously…
The first twenty years of my life have been successful… That is, in the eyes of society. I had shown my ability to follow predetermined steps, to check a few generic boxes, and because of it I am now considered ready to start participating and do my part.
So the next steps are:
Find a job and make a career? Have a family and make sure that your children are getting the same if not a better education, and so on, and so on.
Despite having thought about that during the entire period I participated in traditional educational programs (~20 years), something felt off about that idea. Perhaps it's because it was never my idea to begin with as it's basically planted in our little brains when we are too young to realize that questioning EVERYTHING is one of the greatest innate abilities to have.
I am glad I started doing this (again) just in time…
Right after graduating, I was not that curious about the field I graduated in anymore. Even though I could now officially call myself an engineer, my curiosity took me elsewhere.
I travelled to India and my willingness to learn and explore was reawakened, just like that. Ever since that moment, I try to remind myself how important it is to make our own decisions in life and to think well about the meaning of those choices.
Not because we should do this or that, but simply because it's what our curiosity is guiding us to. Your curiosity is your inner compass and it's always on, you just need to make sure you know how to listen to (and act on) it!
CLUES
After travelling around the world for about five years, having lived and worked together with hundreds of people from all over the world, it was time to slow down a bit. My partner and I moved in together in the Netherlands, where it all started for me.
But something had changed. Everything I used to consider normal turned out to be only one version of normal. This realization (as part of a much bigger journey) has resulted in the idea to stop living curiosity by myself and to share it with as many other individuals as possible.
I realized that the Curiosity in my Life had contributed so much to Understanding myself and the world, that encouraging others to Evolve and Succeed by doing the same became the most obvious thing to do.
With CLUES, we are (re-)awakening and (re-)integrating curiosity in our lives the way it was always meant to be part of us. Not as a nice to have but much more naturally, as a way of living.
We've built the CLUES community to make this happen, and it's only the first step in a much bigger vision of (re-)integrating more curiosity in our lives.
We've built the CLUES Network for all community builders on the Skool platform to start growing together. To be curious together, to learn from and with each other, with a strong focus on collaborative growth.
Even when you consider certain communities as your competition. There is always so much more to a person and a community than it seems at first. Everyone's story is different. Everyone's reasons to do what they are doing are different.
Being curious about those very stories and reasons is the first step to connect with each other. With those connections, you start growing.
STOP building alone. Start Building Together.
"What stands out about CLUES is that curiosity isn’t treated as a buzzword, but as a way of living. The community stays active and engaging without pressure, if you’re away for a few days, you don’t return feeling behind or judged; you simply slot back in."
Edgar Brincat
"This is such a fun and lively community. We get curious about all kinds of stuff. And bonus we get to know each other on a whole different level."
Jill Hart
Mary Nunaley
See more reviews
Better conversations
Curiosity improves the quality of communication:
Asking better questions
Starting open dialogues
Different perspectives matter
What this means on Skool:
—> Comments turn into meaningful conversations
—> Members want to participate, they feel included
—> Everyone is learning from and with each other
Resilience & Mindset
Curiosity contributes to developing a growth mindset
The willingness to learn
Being open to uncertainty
Adaptability is key
What this means on Skool:
—> Challenges are discussed instead of avoided
—> Supporting each other with struggles and challenges
—> The most important lessons are related to setbacks.
Natural engagement
Curiosity naturally leads to participation and interaction
Intrinsic motivation
Participate without pressure
Interaction is consistent
What this means on Skool:
—> Engagement is not the goal, it's the result of participation
—> Genuine interaction, members care about each other
—> No posting for the sake of posting and "more content"
Sustainable energy
Curiosity comes from within, it's based on your interests
Focusing on what matters
Presence over pressure
Long-term focus
What this means on Skool:
—> Members keep coming back to the community
—> The energy is based on wanting to, not having to.
—> The community is alive and keeps evolving
