Today's post from business guru Seth Godin was made for 365-ers:
"Finding inspiration instead of it finding 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.
The first method plays into our fears. After all, if you're not inspired, it's not your fault if you don't ship, it's not your fault if you don't do anything remarkable--hey, I don't have any good ideas, you can't expect me to speak up if I don't have any good ideas...
The second method challenges the fear and announces that you've abandoned the resistance and instead prepared to ship. Your first idea might not be good, or even your second or your tenth, but once you dedicate yourself to this cycle, yes, in fact, you will ship and make a difference.
Simple example: start a blog and post once a day on how your favorite company can improve its products or its service. Do it every day for a month, one new, actionable idea each and every day. Within a few weeks, you'll notice the change in the way you find, process and ship ideas."
Haven't you seen how taking a picture every day has led to better pictures?
This make sense really. It's a matter of training your brain to process in a way that will work on demand.
I"ve been doing a daily gratitude status post on facebook. It's a year long project. Right now I'm on 268 and almost done. WOW! When I started I really didn't think I could do it but I have surpased what I expected and then some. ;-) Since I only write one small sentance every day I have to choose one thing. Some days I have so many it's hard to choose and other days I can't think of a thing to type and have to look really hard around me for something. On those days I ask myself why didn't I just write it down so I could post it later when I had nothing else on that day. I never do and I never remember what it was I wanted to remember. Oh well, it has forced me to look for something each day whether I like it or not. So, far I find something everyday to be thankful for. :-)
So, I understand how that concept of looking for inspiration works instead of waiting for an idea to pop in my head. I just need to keep training myself to look for something everyday.
Thank you so much for posting, Allison!! I couldn't agree more!! 365 is a wonderful challenge, because you have to post a picture EVERY day! Even you don't feel good, are not in the mood, have to much work to do, etc... i find it so motivational and inspirational! Choose to be happy, Choose to be inspired. The key is in you! :-)
Kevin Smith (director of Clerks, Mallrats etc) was tweeting on a similar subject a couple nights ago, trying to get the message across that if you don't like something, instead of whining about it, you should actively fix it, or create something you do like.
He summed it up with "Commentate less, create more" which I kinda like, and that's kinda inspiring me to get off my ass a bit, now.
I really appreciated reading this Allison. During the past year I have found myself looking at things in a totally different way, and a project like 365 motivates you even more. Looking at what other members capture spikes your own interest to look for things a new. You begin to shift your "photographic eye" to new heights. People say to me, I have never looked at things the way a photographer does, and then they ask, How do you learn that. I tell them it is something you learn by doing. You learn by taking many photos, looking at them, deleting them, looking at what others are doing, their styles, try some more shots, and then soon the ideas come. Inspiration begins to settle in. At times the inspiration seems to fade, but that's ok. Take the time to look around, explore, and before long something triggers it again. It is such a neat world for us photographers. And a project like this is such a great opportunity to grow.
Write a Reply
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
I"ve been doing a daily gratitude status post on facebook. It's a year long project. Right now I'm on 268 and almost done. WOW! When I started I really didn't think I could do it but I have surpased what I expected and then some. ;-) Since I only write one small sentance every day I have to choose one thing. Some days I have so many it's hard to choose and other days I can't think of a thing to type and have to look really hard around me for something. On those days I ask myself why didn't I just write it down so I could post it later when I had nothing else on that day. I never do and I never remember what it was I wanted to remember. Oh well, it has forced me to look for something each day whether I like it or not. So, far I find something everyday to be thankful for. :-)
So, I understand how that concept of looking for inspiration works instead of waiting for an idea to pop in my head. I just need to keep training myself to look for something everyday.
He summed it up with "Commentate less, create more" which I kinda like, and that's kinda inspiring me to get off my ass a bit, now.