Looking for a little work inspiration?
I recently watched a great Ted Talk from 2012 by Scott Dinsmore on How to Find the Work you Love. He posed this question: “What’s the work you can’t not do?”
My personal search for work inspiration
For about a year I have been contemplating making a career change. After 10 years writing content for higher education I was ready to find a little more work-life balance. My goal – work part time so I can live more. So starting July 1, that’s the new plan. I can’t wait to spend more time with my family and friends and slow down long enough to live in and enjoy the moment. I am also on the hunt to be inspired by what I do, whether it is work for pay or the work of living and helping others.
Anyway, I am definitely not alone in this search for balance, meaning, inspiration in our work. It is a common topic of conversation with my friends and family.
Finding inspiration
In the video he quotes Jim Rohn:
“You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.”
He went on to say we should “find someone who is killing it at …” and hang out with them. He talked about helping people in a meaningful way. He also suggested keeping a of journal of things that inspire me. So, today, he is it. He inspired me to pay attention to:
- My strengths
- My values
- My experiences
Don’t over think it
My plan is simple. Don’t over think it. It is actually more like a lack of a plan than a real plan. And after years of writing content and managing web projects full time, this will take some getting use to. Some days I will work on freelance writing projects, meet deadlines and dive deep into putting out some great content. Other days I may hit the road with my camera and a notepad looking for inspiration. The closer I get to June 30, the more excited I get.
Inspiring others
Ironically, a few years after recording this Ted Talk, Scott Dinsmore died while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. More than 4.5 million people have viewed it and no doubt found inspiration like I did. It reminds me that we all need to make every day count.
Can’t wait to see what is next!