THE LAST WORD ON… INSPIRATION

CREATIVES NEED A STEADY SOURCE OF INSPIRATION… AND BUSINESS OWNERS NEED THAT SPARK, TOO. SO, WHAT DO YOU DO THEN THE WELL RUNS DRY?

Kari Shea for Unsplash

To thrive and progress, we all need some fuel for our fires, be they creative or business-focused. In other words, we all have need of some inspiration. But sometimes, that light dims, and we’re left searching in the dark.

To reignite the spark, Damien Potts, owner of Purdey Hairdresser, advises to stay mindful of your achievements and what is still left to do both personally and professionally. “Remember that where you are now is likely where you wanted to be five years ago. You got here by taking opportunities to grow your skills. So, booking a hands-on course now can give you a real boost,” he says. On a personal level, write a gratitude list, he adds. “On it list all the things you are grateful for in your life. Being in a rut is just a sign that something needs to change. Be grateful of the chance to go in a new direction.”

When uninspired, you feel like you’re stuck in the mud. Here Dr Aidan Bell, co-founder of EnviroBuild, believes you should cultivate continuous learning and curiosity via lifelong education and reconnecting with nature to “rejuvenate your creativity and inspire new ideas”.

Indeed, don’t underestimate the power of the great outdoors in helping you rediscover your inspiration, agrees performance and mindset coach, Anna Mosley. “Get out into nature and admire its complexity and beauty,” she advises. “The awe will zoom you out of the old problem, helping you to regain perspective, achieve a sense of calm and boost creativity.”

Everyone encounters bumps in the road – creatively and in business – but finding the inspiration to get over them matters most. Roy Shelton, chief executive of business solutions firm Connectus Group, argues that reaching out to others can be vital. “Seek out advice,” he suggests. “There are few problems or challenges that haven’t happened before, and you will soon find someone is likely to have experienced the same challenge. They could have crucial advice on how to move forward.”

There’s discovering the inspiration to overcome a hurdle, but there’s also the challenge of staying inspired for the long term. Linz Darlington, founder of Homehold, is a fan of taking a more digestible approach. “I break my growth plan up into sufficiently small chunks so that I can start, finish and implement one in half a day,” he says. “This means that in all but the most manic weeks, I can find time to do something – a change to the website, a few social media posts, or a blog article – that keeps one foot moving in front of the other!”