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.

Look Out for Inspiration and Remember the Passion

After doing a job for several years, it's easy for the mind to stagnate. It's more difficult to come up with new ideas, more difficult to find inspiration and ways to branch out.

For example, as a web designer, I have been writing web content for years. Why is it that it was just recently that I discovered I could add writing web content as a service in addition to web design? If someone already has a functioning site, maybe all they need is the right content! I can do that! I have done that!

By realizing that I could be paid for writing, I have now branched out to other forms of writing. Writing was always my first passion, why did it take all this time for me to pursue it? It doesn't matter. I am doing it now.

Try to find your passion, no matter how much time has passed.