Inspiration – Olympic Gold

I hope you are all enjoying the 2010 Winter Olympics as much as I am.  The courage and tenacity of the athletes and organizers is undeniable.

Can you imagine having to envision and then design the opening ceremonies for Vancouver after the incredible production from China?  Even the most experienced creative minds would be overwhelmed with that responsibility. Can you imagine speeding down an icy track at over 90 miles per hour just to see if maybe you could go faster?   Talk about inspiration!

I had the pleasure, this week , to meet with three special business owners who are going after Olympic gold in the small business world.  One is a gentleman who has been in business for over 40 years and is ready to expand.  The other two have been operating for  a little over a year and have found new ways to add value to their current operations.

First, I realized how lucky I am to be in a business that allows me to take the journey along with so many courageous individuals.  Can you imagine working day after day for 40 years and then having what it takes to move your business to the next level when most of us would be thinking about retirement?  Can you imagine spending every waking moment to get your business up and running, wearing too many hats, and still taking time to think outside the box to add more value to what you are already accomplishing?

Second, I was a witness, again, to the significance of fostering our innate creativity.  Those people who allow creativity to flow, who are not afraid to take the leap, who don’t worry about social “norms”, have tapped into that missing link and are successful in both their personal and their professional lives.

Finally, while my business partner is taking some time to focus on a new baby girl, and while the winter weather is driving me just a bit crazy, I am challenging myself to take creativity to new levels with the belief that I too, can attain Olympic gold!!!

Inspiration for Entrepreneurs – Generation Z

I have a confession to make.  I am continually inspired by those who are part of the Z generation!

Over the last few years, we’ve been bombarded with information about the rapid growth of technology and the effect it’s having on society, especially, our children.

When I first started to comprehend the infinite opportunities made possible because of technology, I was overwhelmed.  But, I knew if I wanted to stay in the game or perhaps even dare to win the game, it was time to accept the inevitable; research, take classes, and even more frightening, learn from my children!

While trying furiously to understand all the new lingo, I kept running across articles about how this generation feels “entitled” and may not understand the concept of “hard work.”  However, now that texting, Facebook, Twitter, and Linked In are part of my daily to-do list, I have to confess that much of my inspiration comes from this amazing and talented group of individuals.  Case in point:  As professional business coaches, we spend time with our clients discussing the ability to multi-task, the ability to work smarter as opposed to harder, and the importance of knowing customers’ wants and needs.  As I watch young people text, search the net for a school or work project, listen to music and talk to the friend sitting next to them, I’d say they’ve got multi-tasking and working smarter down to a science.

This generation knows the importance of thinking outside the box.  They readily learn and adapt and can collect information at amazing speed.  At a time when the future is uncertain and digital information learned today will be obsolete in 18 months, the hope, creativeness, and courage of this generation is absolutely inspiring.

I challenge all of your generation X-ers, like myself, to spend some time gaining knowledge and inspiration from those who are shaping our future.

Ingenuity Unleashed – Inspiration, Creativity, Opportunity, Innovation

What drives inspiration?  Where does it come from?  Why do some people seem inspired, while others are not?  This is a question that we are often asked.  Inspiration comes from PASSION.  Think about those times you have been angry with a decision, those times you have been emotionally touched by an issue, or those times you could not ignore an injustice.  In those moments, we take action, we make decisions.  Is that not what inspiration is all about?