channel inspiration

Who hasn’t thought about quitting their job, selling the house and moving to a tropical island?   Why is this such a compelling concept for so many of us?  Do we really think that by dropping out of everything, we will somehow achieve true happiness and become inspired to achieve our goals?  I don’t think so.

Inspiration can be a funny thing.  There is no real formula for it.  If you work in an ad agency, inspiration is supposed to be part of the job.  Clients come to agencies for inspiration in developing campaigns, commercials and building their brand…right?  But, no one really tells them how to do it.  Designers, writers, producers and, yes, even account people are always looking for ways to inspire themselves (or at least they should be).  They read books, stay up on current events, Google different topics, listen to music, go to concerts, talk to different people, visit zoos, attend art fairs, go on exotic vacations…or just take long walks in the park, along a beach, or in the woods.  Inspired people need to recharge their minds. You need to intertwine your dream job and dream life to produce fresh thinking and new possibilities.

So How Do I Get a Little Inspiration? 

One way is to listen to or watch inspiring speeches. There are many out there. I always take away something from each one of them.  One that I go back to from time to time is the Steve Jobs 2005 Stanford University commencement address.  One quote (among many) that sticks with me is “Stay hungry.  Stay foolish.”   My takeaway is that you simply need to first trust in yourself.  This is how Steve Jobs became one of the most influential men of our times. Below is a short passage:

“Sometimes when you’re trying to reach a goal, it’s impossible to connect the dots where you currently are. Somehow you just have to trust in yourself, and have faith that you will reach your dreams, despite not having the slightest clue or perfectly laid-out road to where you are going. You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in the future; you have to trust in something, whether it’s karma or destiny, but trusting yourself is the first step towards feeling inspired and having the motivation to move forward.”

Many years ago, a friend of mine worked with a slightly aging, award-winning creative director. Each day around lunchtime, this guy would head out to the local watering hole for a sandwich, maybe a beer and a few games of pinball. He would sometimes spend hours there. While playing pinball, he could come up with some amazing ideas.  Was it the sandwich? The beer? He always said that pinball helped him stretch his mind and get creative.  Not all of us like playing pinball. What helps inspire you?