Finding inspiration

Last week I spoke at a conference in Las Vegas. It’s the third time that I have spoken there, but the first time that I’ve spoken on a stage previously inhabited by people who I look to for inspiration, in this case, David Bowie.

Inspiration is an interesting thing. Often we feel inspired when we least expect it. A message we needed to hear at that precise moment, feedback that makes us reflect or a demonstration of kindness or courage that reinforces our belief in humanity.

In my experience there are two ways to ‘get’ inspiration. The first relates to my speech last week, this is active inspiration.

I’ll be honest, Bowie was just a little before my time. I remember seeing him on Top of the Pops (a weekly music TV show in the UK) and thinking he was utterly bonkers! Yet, when I pursued public speaking as a career, the people that I studied were the ones who entertained as well as informed. Bowie was one such person.

He was a master at committing fully to a room. He never half-delivered Ziggy Stardust, he gave it everything that he could, every time.

He created productive tension. Not in an overly uncomfortable way. However, he challenged norms and wasn’t afraid to call out problems that needed to be solved.

He reinvented. He didn’t stand still or repeat music, stylistically. He recognised that comfort breeds staleness, and audiences hate an artist on autopilot.

He surprised himself. He didn't know what an album would become until he was making it. He was deeply curious about his work and open to influence in the moment.

His approach continues to inspire me to this day and I look to build these approaches into my work.

The other way to ‘get’ inspiration is through curiosity.

Curiosity means never judging in advance what something or someone can be. It’s to be open to new ideas, thinking or to challenge a pre-conceived idea that you may have.

This can be found in listening to a speech, reading a blog, learning from those around you or even watching TV or people! Inspiration can be found in words or deeds and the smallest moments often have the greatest impact.

We all need a little inspiration in our lives now and then and once you’re open to finding it, you’ll see it everywhere.