Be Inspired

FOUR QUESTIONS TO CONNECT WITH WHAT INSPIRES YOU

Some time ago I read that if two people are up for a job promotion, with one of the candidates being slightly more qualified, and the other candidate more enthusiastic, 80% of the time the more enthusiastic person gets the promotion.

I could never quite label it as such, but during my time in corporate America, this is what I witnessed. As I spoke with clients, and current, and former colleagues, the majority all seem to agree that this is true.

I wanted to learn a little more about why this may be and started with a bit of research into the word enthusiasm, whose greek origins mean the God within. Some of the older defintions of enthusiasm are to be inspired. A little more obvious, the defintion of inspired is the spirit within or to breathe life into. The words have very similar meanings.

Everyone loves to be around inspiring people, and it stands to reason the most inspiring people are inspired by something or someone themselves.   Inspiring people are energizing, creative, and often just being around them elicits a sense of urgency about being one’s best, fulfilling your purpose, using your talents.

This notion of feeling inspired was a catalyst in my becoming a coach.  I didn’t want to settle for just okay, cool, or good.  I know I am in the right profession because I feel inspired ever day to be a better coach,  I , to expand my knowledge, so I can help people get out of their professional suffering and find their own inspiration.  It is a natural energy that comes to me, not one that I have to force.   This doesn’t mean it is without challenges, however, I hardly ever feel like I am working.  Tuesday or Saturday, it’s all the same to me.

When one embarks on the path of seeking work they feel passionate about or that has meaning, it is easy to approach it as if it is a secret the universe is keeping from you. It is much simpler than that, here are some tips questions and thoughts to open it up for you.

First, for simplicity’s sake, let’s talk about inspired as when you feel most alive.  When it feels like energy is surging through you, and you want to be your best.

Who is a person living or dead,  that when you read about or come in contact with, you start to think and feel you want to be your best,  or want to go out in the world and do great things?

Most people recognize the profundity of coming across inspiring people.   Some of the most inspiring people I have encountered, I never even met in person.  I have read or watched a story about them, came across something they created or had been told about them. In some cases they have been activists, entertainers, writers, coaches, entrepreneurs, young, old, male, females, from all races.   I am sure there are many more for me to meet.

One quality they all seem to share is that they are committed to something bigger than themselves, which manifest in many different ways.  At times it has been a musician, actor, or other entertainer, who clearly has made the committment to practicing their craft, which is evident by their masterful performance.  I have been inspired by reading something, it could be the author, subject, or excellence of the writing that inspires.  Social and community activists that have risked their lives, and safety for causes they believe in are very inspiring.

What are the topics that inspire you? This is not about altruism, it is not about judgement, there is no right answer.  I am constantly inspired by other entrepreneurs and business people for their courage, determination and creativity.  Their ability to take an idea, and manifest a business out of nothing.  I have always always loved personal development, and spiritual topics.  It was the recognition I could get paid for working with these subjects, that clinched my decision to become a coach.

What are the activities that when you are engaged in them, you feel most alive? When is it that you feel truly connected with the present moment?  Are you playing an instrument? Writing? Sharing? Teaching? Talking? Painting? Healing? Comforting? Nurturing? Walking? Exercising? Cooking?

Writing this piece about inspiration and inspiring people is inspiring for me.  The notion, that it might serve as one small step in a journey that helps someone else find their inspiration gets my juices flowing.  What could be a better mission, than helping individuals discover and connect with their own inspiration?  After all the world definitely could use more inspired people.

Where do you feel your best? Is it in a museum? Which museum?  Is it in nature, the woods, beach, or snow capped mountains?  Is it the bustling energy of a major city, or the cracking of ocean waves? Go wherever it is you feel most inspired, and think about what/who else inspires you?

It’s easy to understand why enthusiastic people get hired.   Inspiration is the fuel for greatness, it is energy and committment that cannot be bought.  It is contagious you cannot force yourself or someone else to be inspired, but you can inspire them.

Keep an eye out, as we delve more into inspiration in moving forward, with more discussion, and profiles and interviews with truly inspiring people.

Please post who/what/where inspires you here.  We want to know.

Is your job stressful?

Citing an American Psychological Association(APA) study, Medical News Today reports three-fourths of Americans say they are stressed about work & money; one-third of Americans are living with extreme stress, and the most commonly cited source of stress— mentioned by 74 percent of respondents — was work.

If you are think you are one of these people with a high degree of stress and poor quality of life due to work, take notice! companies large and small are recognizing that happy & healthy employees affect the bottom line in a positive way.

This month the APA recognized five organizations for their comprehensive efforts to promote employee health and well-being while improving performance. Companies presented with the American Psychological Association’s 2008 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award (PHWA) were Arkansas Educational Television Network, Cooperativa de Seguros Múltiples de Puerto Rico, Nike Tennessee, Porter Keadle Moore (Georgia) and Westminster Savings Credit Union (British Columbia).

If you run a company or own a business and believe that it wouldn’t be practical for you to implement this, listen to what these organizations report: A turnover rate of 11 percent compared to the national average of 40 percent according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Surveys completed by employees of the winning organizations showed overall well-being and job satisfaction for employees to be significantly greater compared to national averages.

According to the APA report; at Westminster Savings Credit Union, high employee satisfaction and low turnover means that two thirds of WSCU’s openings are filled internally, lowering administrative costs. Increased productivity is another benefit for the organizations. In 2007, Nike Tennessee increased productivity by 51 percent, while reducing injury rates by almost 30 percent. And at Cooperativa de Seguros Múltiples, an insurance company in Puerto Rico, employee loyalty is high with a 15-year average length of service and a turnover rate of less than two percent.”

In a New York Times article published this week on the same subject, they point out that “48 percent of the employers in the survey said stress created by long hours and limited resources was affecting business performance, but only 5 percent said they were taking strong action to address those areas.”

The Times highlights some well know organizations that are showing initiative in this area as well. They include:

GlaxoSmithKline has program called “Team Resilience” which combines things like health assessments, discussion groups and follow-up evaluations to deal with workplace stress.

PricewaterhouseCoopers also addresses stress in multiple ways. For example, in annual surveys, employees asked for more coaching and opportunities to connect with more experienced colleagues — and got them.

On TalentManagement.com, Workplace Options, a provider of work-life employee benefits, reports that a recent poll of more than 700 working adults found 76 percent believe it is important that companies offer employees wellness programs to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The U.S. Surgeon General states that 50 percent of this year’s high-cost employees in terms of health care were not in that category last year, and more than 87 percent of health care claims costs are due to an individual’s lifestyle, according to a study by Indiana University. To combat these trends, it is important for companies to consider adopting wellness initiatives that incorporate coaching for maximum results.

Predominantly from the viewpoint of Corporate Wellness, Talent Mangement cites the benefits of coporate wellness programs and coaching. “According to recent studies, pairing personalized coaching with employee wellness initiatives leads to higher success rates.”

What i think is evident is that employers are starting to realize that a happy healthy employee performs better. In order to affect this employers are recognizing that they must look at the employee in terms of their whole life, and how they can help them maintain a quality life.

The Most Innovative Business Minds Of The Last Year

Fast Company published 18 of the most innovative business minds of the past year. There are some familiar names on the list and some new. Regardless of the industry you are in, chances are you will find someone on this list who inspires you.

Included is Timothy Ferris; Author of The Four Hour Work Week.

Ferriss is a Princeton University guest lecturer in High-Tech Entrepreneurship, the first American in history to hold a Guinness World Record in tango, a national Chinese kickboxing champion, and even a MTV breakdancer in Taiwan. But, what he’s most known for is his 80-20 principle, suggesting that people outsource everyday tasks. He adds, “I’m asking some important and long-avoided questions that make people uncomfortable.”
Follow this link for the other honorees;