Inspiration is a critical first step in leadership. That is a foundational requirement and a fundamental truth. Inspiration requires that we trust that which we want to achieve is good and right. Trusting has to have that basis of validity. We don’t just trust “because”. There must be a supporting confirmation that enables us to trust. Believing wholeheartedly in a cause, individual leader or higher power are some of the ways we can have trust that inspires and drives us. Being inspired can create a passion within us that takes us to a place we rarely arrive at during the everyday and mundane activities and situations in life. Passion can become a motivator to turn inspiration into action or execution, which is the only way to turn inspiration into results.
How then do we ensure that inspiration gets results? There are several steps and actions that help achieve execution of an inspiration. Focus, planning, attainable goals, profitable measurements, realistic timelines, vision and appropriate and effective communication are all critical components to successful execution.
Four additional, important concepts to consider while formulating plans to execute out of inspiration are:
Discernment: judgment, understanding, insight and enlightenment.
Understanding where our inspiration is coming from and what our vision for success is, requires discernment. Without it we will either be led or we will lead ourselves astray. Deep-rooted purpose and intent begin with understanding, insight and enlightenment. When those three are accomplished we can then make sound judgment to act upon our inspiration and roll our ball of intent toward the goal line. So we first must have clear vision – coming from total knowledge – then we can act with integrity, focus and wisdom toward getting our job completed successfully. The point being, we should never (to use an old adage)” shoot from the hip”. We need to know before we go.
The second concept to consider has to do with bring our A game to the mission. Bringing our “best and first” really means putting forth our very best effort from our ability to our passion.
If we consider art, science and passion all part of the execution of our vision and not just our inspiration, we need to orchestrate everything together to the very best of our ability to attain the desired results and reach the targeted destination. Second best, good effort, sort of into it, and an attitude of “if it works out ok, if not, no big deal” are approaches and thoughts that simply do not make the grade and will not produce our best.
Not putting up with things in the past is a concept that stops me dead in my tracks. I, for one have lived in my past allot. Another old saying “the older I get, the better I was” seemed to be something that I enjoyed. I think it was Father’s Day when I decided the past was just that – the past.
Our past can teach us, but our past can also be a millstone around our neck. Speaking specifically about business, just for a moment, think about past mistakes. Now stop that process and look forward. Past mistakes should be learning lessons but not millstones. Failing forward is a critical stepping stone to succeeding. John Maxwell suggests that the difference between average and achieving people is how we deal with failure. I truly believe that. I don’t know about you, but I hate regrets. I hate looking back at mistakes I have made and warnings I failed to heed. Those should be lessons learned. What I also hate are those situations that my mind is attracted to like a magnet that embarrass me, dent my confidence and give my feelings of fear and insecurity. So what I do with those is “ditch them”!
Replacing chronic dissatisfaction with active gratitude is a matter of attitude and more – it is attitude in motion.
There is a fine line between healthy and unhealthy dissatisfaction. Unhealthy dissatisfaction is really just having a negative attitude that does not include the element of thankfulness. It is constantly seeing the glass half empty and continuing to empty it. It is in essence taking on the role of victim and seeing the world and all its wonder as something created and existing for someone else and not ourselves, as if we are being singled out and short-changed in the transaction. An attitude lacking thankfulness can be as burdensome as a haunting past or a debilitating disease. Moreover, it can affect those around us in a similar, unhealthy, negative manner.
Conversely, an attitude of gratitude provides a great foundation on which to build success. Positive attitude put into motion is taking inspiration and executing on it. If I am positive about my job, my company, my co-workers and my customers, I will likely be inspired to do well. Then, if I take my inspiration and put it into action, I can help make a good situation a great one.
Always remember, Inspiration without Execution is still ONLY Inspiration. It takes an attitude of gratitude to inspire us to put our shoulder to the plow and give it our first and best efforts and to leave our past burdens, negative learning, experiences and detrimental attitudes behind. Combined with sound judgment and wisdom we can discern a plan and develop a path of execution to continuously move us along the way toward greatness.