Getting in the Groove: Inspiration
“Inspiration is like fresh fruit or milk: It has an expiration date.”
Jason Fried, REWORK
It’s Monday, so time for another installment in Getting in the Groove.
REWORK concludes with the message that if we work when inspired to work, we will be twice as productive as when we are forced to work or have to get something done. I was reminded of this when I mentioned the quote from Pat Flynn in the previous post (Talk is Cheap. Really Cheap). Pat’s message was encouraging people to stop reading and start doing. That may work for some, but most of us probably don’t like taking directions like that.
Eliminating distractions is useful when you are in the mood to work. But if you are not inspired to work, it does not do you any good.
I started to develop my own worth ethic program in my post, Pause/Erase: Discovering Your Zone. Here is the one step:
When you find yourself taking a pause, erase that item and move on. Before you erase, pause and remember, then erase.
Every time we take a time-out from a task it is a sign that we are not truly inspired to complete it. It is why we tend to check our email, Facebook, Twitter, go for coffee, etc. instead of focusing on what we should be doing. It is important to distinguish what we should be doing from what we want to be doing.
Without the want, there is no do.
The challenge is how to inspire yourself to get started doing things rather then distracting yourself or doing something that is half-assed.
Everyone will have a different procedure how they do this, and when they do it. It is similar to the approach that Jason Fried talked about in how people need a place, a time, a movement (and I add an auditory environment) in order to work. We all need a similar environment to build that inspiration level within ourselves.
For me, a walk while listening to music is generally how I get my ideas flowing and find the drive to create something. If I can’t walk, I generally will just listen to music by myself and quietly read a book full of quotes. Little sound bites are more motivating than long essays in a lot of ways.
Here are some other ways to get you going:
Murray describes several ways as to How to Wake Up Productive and Start the Riot. One of his best suggestions? Go with the flow.
Steve Scott has a roundup of inspirational posts that he collected a few weeks ago: Follow the Yellow Brick Road: A Guide to Inspiration, Motivation, and Melting a Witch.
DailyOM has a collection of posts to inspire you regardless of whether it is for self improvement, relationships, or healthy living.
Lori Painter is one of my new favourite bloggers who has a whole site devoted to inspiration. Detoxing My Life to Find a Vision is a good starting point for her site.
And, finally, Ashley of The Middle Finger Project shares a story that will inspire us all. Argentina + An 11 Year Old Boy + Greatest Business Asset of All. The “greatest business asset of all” is a characteristic that we should all aim to rediscover within ourselves. It is also something we should respect over other characteristics found in people. One of her key quotes:
What will become of the writer, the artist, the story-teller, the designer, the dreamer and the entrepreneur desperately longing to build a business from their craft, but too proud to risk rejection?
Rejection is a major fear of ours that freezes our inspiration and creation. In order to overcome it, we have to continually motivate and inspire ourselves to create.
If you find yourself stuck in the office with no motivation to keep working on the project you are working on, do not be afraid to step aside and try to regain that inspiration to work. The key is to keep those distractions to a minimum – they are meant to inspire you to keep working, not have the work be the distraction from your leisure activities.
As Seth Godin says, seek out the inspiration instead of waiting for it to find you:
One approach to innovation and brainstorming is to wait for the muse to appear, to hope that it alights on your shoulder, to be ready to write down whatever comes to you.
The other is to seek it out, will it to appear, train it to arrive on time and on command.
One approach to innovation and brainstorming is to wait for the muse to appear, to hope that it alights on your shoulder, to be ready to write down whatever comes to you.
The other is to seek it out, will it to appear, train it to arrive on time and on command.
By James McCullough
- More at
Feb 16, 2011 @ 18:52:00
James, I loved this man. The way you go about listing everyone (some GREAT writers btw) and add your thoughts is a very relaxing and easy to read style. Personally, I’m enchanted with Godin’s statement:
The other is to seek it out, will it to appear, train it to arrive on time and on command.
With every day of new experience, I’m learning this quote to be more and more true—the idea of ‘willing’ inspiration is a reality.
Marcus
Feb 16, 2011 @ 20:00:00
I’m trying to develop a style for my writing that is accessible for people to read easily without feeling the need to skip ahead or skim the post to get all the information out of it. I want to be a place people read for personal enjoyment, so I’m glad that you found the writing to be relaxing.
Seth Godin is a fountain of inspiration. I want to write about other great authors, but he has had such an impact on me (and continues to do so through his blog) that it’s difficult to avoid not using him. It is a great quote by him and something I want to post to my fridge door.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughts!
Feb 17, 2011 @ 23:30:00
I can see where you’re coming from, James, but I don’t like it
Well, I like what you said about rejection, but don’t agree with the rest.
You said, “Every time we take a time-out from a task it is a sign that we are not truly inspired to complete it.”
I think this *can* be the case (and often is), but I definitely wouldn’t say “every time.” I’m in the middle of writing a massive (several thousand words) blog post, but it’s taken me several days. I can’t sit still in one place for 10 hours without taking a break, even if it’s doing something I love. My body needs a break and my mind needs a break.
Feb 17, 2011 @ 23:38:00
It may be my choice of wording, but I said “task” not “project.” Tasks for me are completed within an hour or two, whereas projects are built up of multiple tasks.
I find that if I start writing a blog post and get distracted by something (could be anything: my daughter coming up to me, noise out in the hallway, etc), I find that it’s difficult to get back to work. It’s even worse if that distraction was by my own choice (looking at a text, Facebook, Twitter). If I’m compelled to pull my focus away from a task for even a second, I’m probably not in the right mindset to finish it.
There are exceptions to the rules (like a phone call from a SO), but it’s the rule I live by.
Thanks for stopping by, Tristan!
Feb 22, 2011 @ 06:17:00
I’ve sort of surrounded myself with the magic of life lately. No matter how afraid I am, how many horrible stories I hear….
I’m BLAZINGLY happy, and floating on cloudnine. I know I have the skills to pay the bills, and in 5 days, I work for no man, or woman but me. How liberating! Exhilarating!
How is it possible to not take each moment of glorious life and thrill to its sublime essence? If I could bottle this and pour it down the masses’ throats, I would truly be the harbinger of world peace.
Namaste, new friend, #soulsib, and polymath. I too, enjoy multiple pursuits, hence the difficulty being pinned to person, place, timespace….
Feb 22, 2011 @ 09:47:00
There is a real power in being around and in touch with the right kinds of people. I sometimes find myself being around people who bring my energy levels down and it is difficult to move beyond them. I have learned from my mistakes in the past. I now focus on finding the positive spirits in the world.
I have the urge to travel and explore, as well, but it is not possible for me at this time. I travel through reading the words of others, like yourself. I can’t wait to read more about your upcoming journey.