As business people. We know the value of a dollar. But sometimes, what captivates us most are the things we can’t put a number on. The things we can’t weigh, measure or log into an accounting spreadsheet. Lately, I’ve been thinking about the value of inspiration, and where to find it, in business and in life.
Inspiration Can Come From Anywhere
Inspiration isn’t like mentorship. It’s not always the case, but conventional wisdom says mentorship has to come from someone more experienced or typically older than you. But inspiration isn’t like that. How many of us have been inspired by someone younger than us undertaking a gigantic battle? Or someone who overcame so much just to build a normal life? If you’re open and empathetic toward people and their stories, you can discover inspiration anywhere.
But why does inspiration matter for entrepreneurs?
Inspiration Keeps You Going When Nothing Else Can
Only .31% of people will ever take the initiative to start a business, and only a small fraction of those people will be successful. Every single day, people are declaring bankruptcy or giving up on their dreams. Those are stories we will never hear. Maybe only their closest friends or a few strangers at a bar will be the only people who hear their story.
Why did the fire die? Every successful person has failures behind them. But they kept going. Beyond their reason, beyond their sense, they kept going. I believe that when you’ve lost almost everything else, inspiration is the one thing that can keep you going. That can get you to pick yourself up and try again. And that’s the one thing you can’t beat. That’s the one thing you can’t replace. That’s the one decision, to try again, that’s always yours, and will always be yours. And you can make that decision an unlimited number of times so long as you draw breath.
Inspiration Is What Creates Entrepreneurs
My journey as an entrepreneur began when I described to a mentor the type of life I would like to have. I saw his creative freedom and his control over his own schedule, and that inspired me. I guarantee that someone is looking at you and wishing they had what you have. The more you build, the more that will be true. You’re an inspiration, and you don’t even know it.
Inspiration Is A Way To Give Back
In a way, you owe the world your story. You owe it the laughter, tears, tragedy and victory of your story. Maybe not the whole world all at once, but when you overcome, no matter how big or small the victory, you give back. You’re giving back because it lets other people know they can overcome, too.
You Never Know How Far It Will Travel
Returning to my earlier point about inspiration coming from anywhere, you never know how far it will travel. You never know who is watching or what positive choices they will make based on how you conduct yourself. After all, the world is full of examples of people who have a message or story that travels on long after they are dead. We never know how far we can go or what we will mean to other people. So take heart, be brave, be inspired and keep going. People you don’t even know are rooting for you to win.
