To Inspire, Be Inspired

How do you inspire someone? How do you get your employee, or your friend, or your child excited to put in the hours, sweat it out, and do what it takes to accomplish something memorable?

I think a lot of people have this question. A google search for 'how to inspire' turns up 18,100,000 results, with the top one being a Business Week post on 'How to Inspire People like Obama'. It talks about rhetorical devices, body language, and vocal delivery. What this and so many other management articles about inspiration seem to miss is that in order to be inspiring, you must be inspired.

Obama is not inspiring to people because he phrases things in a particular way, or says things with the right tone of voice. Sure, those can help, but the reason Obama is so inspiring is because his message rings with belief and honesty. He is inspired by his vision, and so by sharing it, we become inspired.

There are other effects as well. When you are inspired by the message you are trying to convey, you become more eloquent and passionate in how you talk about that message. I have never written better than during the late days of the 2008 primary campaign, trying to bring myself and others across the finish line to make Obama the Democratic nominee. I was inspired by Obama, and by the heroic efforts of all of the other volunteers who were trying to get him elected, and due to that inspiration I was able to inspire others.

So if you want to succeed in inspiring people, believe in your message! Find a vision of the future that inspires you, that makes you hopeful, and start telling the story of that vision. And if you're not doing something you believe in, perhaps its time to start doing something else.

Lighting the way

Sitting inside, listening to the rain and reading about the tragic losses in the lives of the four men comprising Abraham Lincoln's Team of Rivals, I am struck by the tragedy of the performance we are playing.

We struggle and struggle to improve our lot, whether our goals are as controversial as marriage equality, or as simple as food on the table. Years of hard work, of scraping away for advantage, and without warning the pernicious hand of nature strikes and we lose our loved ones, our homes, or our lives.

Lighting our way through hard times are the candle of hope we carry within us, and the soft glowing lamp of compassion held out to us by those around us, ready to relight our hope when it flickers and threatens to die. The knowledge that someone out there cares, that we are not alone, is what pulls many through the darkest night, and onward towards day.

For those who have never had their candles blown upon by the cold winds of misfortune, who are you to judge those who have? For those who are blessed with the support of many, leading them forward, let them reach out a hand to help those who walk alone. A simple gesture of aid, food on the table, may do more to rekindle the spark of hope then the most eloquent tirade against injustice. Give what you can.