How To Find Inspiration

Facing a blank page, a lack of creativity and a deadline for a blog, I always ask myself how to find inspiration. This leads to the following questions: “What is going on for me right now? Is it interesting for anyone else? What am I learning, discovering, being inspired by that could assist others?”

The reality is, at the moment, the #1 thing on my agenda is that I need to develop brand new content, never heard before, that will leave the audience inspired, for the TEDx conference in Sydney. And I seem to have a creativity block elsewhere until I get it done… hence I now have to blog about it.

And I seem to have a creativity block elsewhere until I get it done… hence I now have to blog about it.

I’ve been briefed to deliver an original thought, concept or idea that will leave the audience touched, moved and inspired. The bar is set very high, and as a result, I am challenged. There is no winging it – I only have 18 MINUTES. I speak all the time, it is what I love to do. I share what I have learned on my entrepreneurial journey, what I’ve learned about both customer and employee engagement, but this needs to be new.

I speak all the time because it is what I love to do. I share what I have learned on my entrepreneurial journey, what I’ve learned about both customer and employee engagement – but this needs to be new.

So I began to explore some ideas.

I’ve been told that the reason I resonate with audiences is because of my passion and belief in what I am speaking about. You can never fake it as a speaker. Authenticity, vulnerability and being able to ‘tell one on yourself’ delivers the value to those listening.

I presented some of my TEDx content ideas to the team. They responded: “Yes – women on boards is a very topical subject which you are passionate about – sounds fine.”

Part of the brief is that you cannot speak about your business, which didn’t help.

Anyway, I caught up with Verne Harnish last week when he was in town for the growth summit. I shared my dilemma with him. He listened politely and said ‘yes that is an interesting issue – but it wont be viral – it’s not what is driving your existence, it’s not what makes you get up every morning. Think about why you are so passionate about what you do every day. That is the key. And please don’t be boring.’

Everyone needs a mentor who will tell you how it is, and this was exactly what I needed.

I know what drives me, I know why I do what I do. I know that I will keep going at the pace I go until finally I know that gifting in Australia is changed forever.

Seth Goden spoke about this from his book at TED, as did Malcom Gladwell. So whilst I will not be speaking on RedBalloon – can’t be seen to be promoting – I will be talking about why I have this urgent, unfulfilled need to finish the job I started nearly ten years ago – simply by making someone’s day.