Inspiration

Those closest to me, and some of those a little further away could tell you a few key things about me.
    1. I'm terrible with money. The more I earn, the more ways I find to spend it unnecessarily.
    2. I like using fairly complicated words when occasion calls for it and I tend to develop insightful phrases at every given opportunity.
    3. I'm incredibly opinionated, expressive, challenging and generally unmanageable. Decidedly unapologetic too.

I touched on my last blog about having people in my life that I find inspirational and that I'm quite lucky in the sense that I have them in abundance. After a lengthy conversation with a friend of mine about her career prospects, ambitions and goals; I found myself immersed in the topic of inspiration and ultimately decided that I'd share my thoughts.

What does 'inspiration' mean to you?

As part of my developing role at work, the question was put to me; 'What are your ambitions, how much will they cost you and what will you do to succeed?', followed by a simple spreadsheet prompting a response to what I want to have and what I want to do. The general feedback I had from others that had completed the same spreadsheet was an uplift in motivation and a sudden passion to begin performing to their maximum potential. Money is obviously a significant motivator, but somehow, I don't think it had the desired affect when I sat down to consider the possibilities.

In turn, this made me consider what it is that drives people to get out of bed, to go to work, to envision their future and to consistently develop themselves as people in order to get where they want to be and own everything they've ever dreamed of. Perhaps in my opening paragraph I should have listed number 4 to highlight my cynicism, but in reality, I don't think the two are strictly hand in hand.

I find it hard to define myself between the boundaries of optimism, pessimism and realism. I think I'm guilty of falling into all three categories dependant on how I'm feeling and what it is I'm contemplating at the time. When it comes to ambition however, I very much think I fall into what I'd consider the middle category, realism. Truth is, I have no real drive to spend endless hours immersed in scenic locations or to be photographed next to historic landmarks. It doesn't mean they're not things I wouldn't enjoy, because undoubtedly I would - but naturally, I could live without them.

My short term goals predominantly focus on clearing my debt, somewhat minimal yet also needless. It only exists due to excessive expenditure and poor money management, so ultimately, I have to refocus my finances and learn to make better financial decisions. Decisions that I should really stick to, because I've created multiple spreadsheets tracking my out-goings, prioritising my payments and precisely where I should be distributing my income. Unfortunately I'm heading towards the age in which I should be suitably independent; I know this, and I've probably known it for a few years now, yet I've failed to acknowledge it.

Following that, I want to be in a position to buy myself a new car, overhaul my wardrobe (far too many Burton tags still in there for my liking) and then reconsider my options going forward. In truth, my long term ambitions are probably relatively straightforward; marriage, kids, a comfortable home in a good area and so on. If that makes me distinctly average? So be it. I don't think there's ever been a price on happiness.

To be inspired is great, to inspire is incredible

Referring back to the discussion that got me onto this trail of thought...

The friend in question is already in a stable, well paid career, a happy relationship and looking to buy her second home. She asked my opinion given my recent position in recruitment regarding a change of career, possibly as a 'career break' but essentially without sacrificing her current salary, with interests in management, law and teaching - three fields in which she has little experience of and no formal qualifications in. Typically, you'd assume the barriers to entry are far too prominent to overcome, but I think this can be challenged. We're fortunate enough to be in the midst of a technological era in which social networking opens opportunities that wouldn't be available to us even ten years ago, possibly less. "If opportunity doesn't come knocking, build a door" - this couldn't be any more relevant than it is today. We live in a world in which we have opportunities to contact people across the world in any given industry.

Following this, she also expressed an interest in psychotherapy and hypnotism, to which a course was available for a reasonable yet not excessive fee. Doing this would give the opportunity to work for herself, and realistically? The financial rewards are limitless. Again, social media and 'viral' internet material opens the world to a whole host of clientèle to work with to the extent that selling anything is far more possible than it ever has been. In closing, I left her with the same sentiment that I'll end this blog with:

If you're passionate about it, you'd be silly not to do it.

If you were to do it and fail, you can at least be proud for chasing your dreams.

If you never even started, you'll forever rue what could have been.

I know which option I'd rather not have to live with.

I hope if you've taken the time to read this you'll at least consider what inspires you and how far you can explore your own potential.