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Renew Your Optimism, Renew Your Inspiration

Guest post by: Michael Hume

Article Overview: In the last few days I've had some inspiring discussions with clients and potential clients. I've learned that many people are "down" these days, overly-anxious about their work, their jobs, their careers. But I've also learned that there are excited, positive people out there anticipating (and working to create) a great future....

Renew Your Optimism, Renew Your Inspiration

Go Back To What Drew You To Your Work

In the last few days I've had some inspiring discussions with clients and potential clients. I've learned that many people are "down" these days, overly-anxious about their work, their jobs, their careers. But I've also learned that there are excited, positive people out there anticipating (and working to create) a great future.

What makes the difference? I think part of the answer is that some folks are better able than others to hang onto their personal sense of optimism, even when things are tough. But even the most generally-positive leaders sometimes need to renew their sense of optimism. You have no hope of inspiring others - of being an inspirational leader - unless you can stay inspired yourself. And nothing helps a person maintain their personal inspiration better than having a positive future to look forward to. Isn't that the definition of optimism?

Years ago, I had a sales manager who was fond of saying this: "do the things you have to do as if you love 'em, and do the things you love to do as if your life depended upon it." I struggled a little with that, but lately I've decided he was probably more wise than he appeared to be. And I've realized that a person who can truly accomplish those things - especially a person who can do the things they have to do as if they love 'em - is an inspired, optimistic person. Usually, in fact, it's a person who has found her way to a career that suits her well, especially fitting her personal values.

Renew your optimism. Ponder these questions: Why did you get into the line of work you're in? What kept you there? If you're a business owner, what made you get into business... and, what made you get into that specific business? What does your vision of the future look like: what do you hope, what do you fear, and what do you expect?

What's different today that makes you less optimistic about things than you were when you first started that job, or moved into that new office, or flipped that sign on the door to read "OPEN?"

Many of my clients realize that what's different today is - themselves. We all grow, and we all change, and often the changes are for the better. But if you've lost some of your youthful optimism in the interest of being more of a "grown up" in your career, is it worth it? Maybe you should remember what it felt like to take a confident risk, knowing you would work hard to make it pay off. Maybe you shoud recall the time when you couldn't fail, when you were bullet-proof. Maybe it's worth remembering the days when times were good, or they were tough, or whatever... but you didn't really know, because YOUR outcomes depended on your own choices and efforts, not on external factors you couldn't control (and still can't). Maybe you need to recall the version of you who never made excuses or griped about things like "the economy," but just set out on the adventure with talent and determination.

Renew your optimism, and you'll renew your inspiration, and then you'll be the inspirational leader you're capable of being. You're smarter now than you were back then, sure... but don't be too smart. You might just outsmart yourself.

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Article Tags: entrepreneurship, health wealth and happiness, inspirational leadership, personal responsibility



Related Forum Posts
Describe Your Inspiration/Motivation - I'd like to open up discussion with the group to identify how us entrepreneurs keep you goals insight without loosing Inspiration for what got you going initially. Being an Entrepreneur can be a lonely road at times and I'd like to dig up and have people describe the fire they hold inside. I'm hoping that through this exercise I can acknowledge and become aware of my fire that I'm having trouble verbalizing.
Re: What inspires you? - Inspiration is nothing it is what you called to do? Some work for money, some work for satisfaction, some work because they have priorities in life. It is the passion to do something for achievement or to show that you can do it by using one's talent. I know there are people who are doing great things with their limited skill sets. So, my view point about inspiration is to Dream Big and try to achieve it. I would rather add "Listen to your self". Listen to Inner guide and follow it. You will reach great heights. Robert
Re: What inspires you? - [quote="KH_Global":2o5p0kh7]Inspiration is nothing it is what you called to do? Some work for money, some work for satisfaction, some work because they have priorities in life. It is the passion to do something for achievement or to show that you can do it by using one's talent. I know there are people who are doing great things with their limited skill sets. So, my view point about inspiration is to Dream Big and try to achieve it. I would rather add "Listen to your self". Listen to Inner guide and follow it. You will reach great heights. Robert[/quote:2o5p0kh7] so true


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