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Inspiration Without Action is Wasted Time

posted on February 7, 2009

A lot of things inspire me. A story from Clarence Smith Jr., a photo from Scott Church or a song from Tom Acousti.

Two nights ago as I watched the live TED Prize webcast I was filled with inspiration. Here were people doing amazing things and who know their passions and do everything in life to fill each day with it. I sat in my office watching the updates from last year and the awarding of this years wishes and I couldn’t help being filled with inspiration.

High Over ArizonaI refused to let it run away. One of last year’s awards went to the creation of Once Upon a School which allows you to search by zip code and find volunteer opportunities at schools near you. I couldn’t find anything at my children’s school, but a few towns over they were looking for people to come in and speak to high schoolers about business and entrepreneurship. I filled out the form and volunteered my help. I’m looking forward to hearing back from them.

This morning I woke up with an urge to write this post. As I laid there deciding if it was time to get up I began thinking about how many times I was inspired and then did nothing with that energy. It is a gift to be filled with inspiration and I’m as guilty as the next person about wasting that gift sometimes.

Many times when you are filled with inspiration you can’t do something immediately with it. I know that. Your in the office. Out with the kids. Cooking dinner. Who knows. But, the point is to capture the energy and channel it to a time when you can use it.

I’ve begun taking voice notes with Evernote whenever something hits me. Thinking that you’ll remember that great little idea or nugget of hope is not reality. Since my iPhone is always with me I can record something whenever I want. I also no longer think about taking photos. Instead I take them. I talked about it here, but now when I think “that would make a good photo” I actually take it instead of just thinking about it. I don’t want to waste the inspiration, no matter how small it is.

So, the next time something inspires you don’t waste it. Take that energy and channel it to something. We all get inspired in different ways and by different people so what you do with it is up to you. Just don’t waste it!

What inspires you? More importantly what do you do to make sure you don’t waste that inspiration?

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Categories: Rambles
  • http://www.therestaurantmentor.com Robert Dominguez, The Restaurant Mentor

    Great Post CC! It is almost like you were reading my mind. Yesterday I was trying to figure out ways to make sure that I do not forget all the crazy ideas that flow through my head. I am going to try Evernote (let you know how it works for me). Maybe that will be the tool I was lacking.

    You are right about inspiration being a gift! I know a lot of people that think I am crazy because I get so excited about things that they think are unimportant. I have asked them what inspires them, and most of the time they can’t answer. Then I share with them some of the things that inspire me. And then they get excited, and many times take the idea to a level I would have never thought about. Inspiration is a gift, and sometimes it is a gift that was meant for more than just you. Find those people! CC Chapman just did!

    Thanks CC Chapman!

  • Cass

    Hey there!
    I just came across this quote yesterday and promised to start living it more each and every day that I am lucky enough to continue on. I wanted to pass it along as I think it fits PERFECTLY with this post!!

    “Aspire to Inspire before you Expire”

  • Paul Shadwell

    Actually your post has inspired me and I had to take action and tell you so. Thankyou!

  • http://www.southplattewebdesign.com Bill

    What a great post to start my morning blog reading with! Thank-you, and you are absolutely correct – too many times inspiration will hit, an idea will happen or a simple thought of something great. All of that is great, fine and dandy, but if we never ACT upon the inspiration, idea or thought and put ACTION and MOTION behind them, nothing will ever come of it.

  • http://www.edienoyola.blogspot.com/ Edie Noyola

    You are correct, inspiration is a gift. I think most of us reject inspiration not because we do not see it but because of the obligation it comes with it. I feel that as time goes by and we become more connected to our spirit, it becomes almost impossible not to react to inspiration. When we do act upon it the feeling of completion can be so overwhelming. Thank you for your gift!

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  • http://www.jamiesanford.com Jamie Sanford

    I get ideas at night when I’m trying to sleep. It’s better than the problem I used to have, which was a racing mind, at least it’s slightly productive now. I generally am pretty good at committing to memory, but I’ve also taken to grabbing my phone and emailing myself as well.

    Speaking of inspiration, I just took a peek at your Flickr, and you have wonderful DoF on portraits. Do you have a setting for portraits that you stick to? My constant issue is that I get one part of the face sharp and the rest is slightly blurrier.

  • http://penguinprint.blogspot.com/ Jane P.

    The beauty of our world inspires me. Throughout my travels across the 7 continents, the one constant I find in each place is the curious dichotomy of grandeur and humility. The fallen tree branch half buried in the gold of autumn leaves is no less wondrous than the endless chaos of a Cairo souk; the silence of a world asleep at 4am is no less profound than the love a mother bestows upon her child. I travel for the sights and the stories, and for the inspiring moments embedded in every corner of the Earth.

    How do I try to avoid wasting that inspiration? Steve Prefontaine’s quote is always handy, “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift”. And as the train conductor in the Polar Express says, “One thing about trains– it doesn’t really matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on board.” In other words, we just have to get up and do it instead of overthinking that inspiration into oblivion.

  • http://www.researchrockstar.com Kathryn Korostoff

    Thanks for the evernote tip! I just started using it–fantastic!

    Love your podcast too.
    [greetings from a metrowest neighbor]