“Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work. If you wait around for the clouds to part and a bolt of lightening to strike you in the brain, you are not going to make an awful lot of work. All the best ideas come out of the process; they come out of the work itself.”
Chuck Close
I first heard this quote listening to a podcast the other day and it really inspired me. Ironically enough, hearing this was that bolt of lightening strike to the brain. This rang really true with me. I often find myself in that “woe is me” mindset, sitting on my couch and feeling sorry for myself. Wishing I could do more, be better, have more discipline. I often say to myself, “If only…
…I had more time I’d workout, run & cycle more.”
…I had more money I’d buy and eat healthier food.”
…I had more time I’d work on my blog/website more.”
…I had more energy I’d give more of myself to my husband.”
…I wasn’t so old I’d learn how to dance.”
…I didn’t have to work, I’d travel more.”
…I wasn’t so tired more would get done around the house.”
…I had a personal cook and someone to clean the house.”
Inspiration is all around us. You can find it in social media, on tv, in documentaries, in podcasts, in your coworkers, it’s everywhere you look. But it’s what you do with that inspiration that separates the amateurs from the rest.
I listen to a number a podcasts. When I say “a number”, I mean that I listen to podcasts like it’s my job. I listen to a variety of them on entrepreneurship, leadership and personal development and each episode inspires me to do something or be something better. They are filled with actionable advice and I’ll have the best intentions, but that’s as far as it goes. Just inspiration and intentions left hanging there waiting to be acted upon. It’s almost as if all the great inspiration and ideas happen in my car, on my commute to work and back home. But once I step out of the magical solitude of my car, and walk into my house, all that inspiration, all those great ideas, all of those hopes and dreams are left out there in my car. Now I’m faced with the demands of being a wife and mom; cooking dinner, doing laundry, etc. You know what I’m talking about right? Because I’m pretty sure I’m not much different than a lot of other wives and mom’s out there.
So then, will I continue to be just an amateur? Or will I join the big boys and girls? I think it boils down to discipline, follow through and just doing the work. The more that discipline and follow through is practiced the more it because a habit, the less I’ll be an amateur.
What’s your “If only…”?
Where do you find your inspiration?
