Expose yourself to as much as possible. Attend conferences no one else is attending. Read books no one else is reading. Talk to people no one else is talking to.

I really focused on three things in high school - my company, basketball and my school work.

If you really understand something, you can: 1) explain it using a clear metaphor and 2) explain the strongest counter-argument to the idea.

I'm just the smallest dot in a big map of human history.

The internet tends to make smart people smarter and dumb people dumber.

I don't want to be normal. I want to be something else.

Taking on short term risk can involve switching jobs, joining new groups / associations in the area, launching a personal blog, running an experiment within your existing job. These are some practical ways to inject volatility into your life, and thus some risk.