Finding Inspiration

"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club."
-- Jack London

It's easy to fall into the trap of waiting. Waiting for inspiration, waiting for work to come to us, waiting, waiting, waiting for something to happen. The problem with waiting is that whatever we are waiting for may never find us. Isn't it better to go out and find it for yourself?

Inspiration can actually just happen. Those times come rarely during the course of our lives, though. Actively looking for inspiration can bring results much more often.

Business inspiration can come in any number of ways. Below are some methods for finding those sometimes illusive inspirational moments:

1. Brainstorm: Get a piece of paper and a pencil and write down whatever comes into your head. It may sound silly, seem impossible, or even stupid, it doesn't matter. A brainstorming session should be short, 15 minutes or less. After the session, put the paper away for at least 24 hours. You might surprised at what you came up with during that 15 minutes.

2. Look for inspiration: While running your errands, doing your grocery shopping, visiting the doctor - really look at everything around you. Don't take anything for granted.

3. Communicate: Talk with lots of different types of people, from other business professionals to family members. Don't forget the kids. Fresh ideas often come from those young minds.

Inspiration is out there. Sometimes we just have to open our minds to find it.