How do you find inspiration? Do you listen to uplifting music, look to a particular inspirational leader, or think aspirationally about the future?
Inspiration is that little emotional "charge" that can give us a kick in the pants to help us thrive at work and in life. Inspiration tells us "Yes, this is something to reach for." Painters often find inspiration in nature or in a particular beautiful human being, their muse. Can we have a muse for leadership?
I am greatly inspired by the stories of leaders and entrepreneurs who have climbed from obscurity to greatness. At the moment I'm reading "Pour Your Heart Into It" by Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee. Reading about his early struggles which include taking huge personal risks, his hopes and fears clashing on a regular basis, and his many small successes all make me feel charged up to work harder and better than before. I think there is something in me which looks at those huge success stories in the business world and says "Ah, they were human too. They struggled too. They went through much of what I am experiencing now. So why can't I be just as successful?"
A leader doesn't have to be the CEO of Starbucks to impress me however. I also look to my friends and mentors in the local consulting community, those who have been in the business for 10 or 20 or even 30 years, and I smile to see at how far they've come. They also inspire me.
And my family, especially my husband, also inspire me. His support of me is consistent and unconditional, and I want to knock his socks off by surpassing the world's expectations for what one emerging consultant-entrepreneur can do.
So my friends - what inspires you? The next time you come up against a barrier or feel too tired to go on, what is going to give you strength to push on to your next success point? Think it over. Make a list. And then keep that list close to your heart. There is good stuff in there.
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