When I think of the people who most inspire and amaze me, I think of those who are living life to the fullest, chasing their dreams and are out in the world doing something that I consider to be different or unique from regular everyday life.
They're not the people catching the 8:30am tube to Bank, wired off three black coffees, on their way to work in the finance sector, hair slicked back, suit pressed, iPhone, tablet and laptop all working overtime on the thirty minute commute*.
Most of the people who inspire me are people I know personally, or have been lucky enough to meet over the course of my 29 years .... The marine biologist who has lived in Madagascar and Thailand (to name a few) and sailed all over the globe; another marine biologist who lived in Myanmar (Burma), her work constantly under threat by local terrorist groups; the South African conservationists living in remote parts of KwaZulu-Natal; the BASE jumper living out of a backpack and going wherever the wind takes him; the talented photographer who is constantly on the move - hopping from one continent to the next with only her camera for company; the young sailor who chases the summer weather around the globe and has achieved more at age 20 than most 50-year-olds I know; and my own aunty and uncle who have cycled across Malawi, trekked through Nepal and kayaked around Tonga - to name just a few adventures.
These people are my source of constant inspiration (and the reason I am thankful for social media: so that I am able to keep up with the amazing things they are doing).
When I was asked, at work, to write a blog post titled "Top Tips for Entrepreneurs" I really didn't expect to find anything inspirational relating to what I want to do. But a quick Google search for some resources brought up an article written by three-term mayor of New York City, Mike Bloomberg, offering his advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Now I don't know old mate Bloomberg from Adam, I don't know what he stands for and I don't know if he's considered a good guy or a bit of a jerk, but as I read through his article it offered me more inspiration than I thought possible. Here's why....
Mike Bloomberg's Top 5 Tips for Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur (or whatever else you want to be):
1. Take risks
Life is too short to spend your time avoiding failure. If you can picture yourself doing whatever it is you want to do, then why not go for it?
2. Make your own luck
Luck plays a huge part in success - but the harder you work, the luckier you get. (I liken this to the Law of Attraction where the basic principle is that like attracts like, or, positive attracts positive). Whatever you choose to do, always work hard at it. Hard work creates opportunities.
3. Be persistent
Persistence pays off. Practise makes perfect.
4. Never stop learning
Whatever you choose to do, be a lifelong student of that subject. The world is full of people who say 'no', because they have stopped learning and stopped trying new things. They will give you a million reasons why something can't be, or shouldn't be, done. Don't listen to them or be deterred by them - and certainly don't ever become one of them.
5. Give back
You are ultimately responsible for your success and failure, but you only truly succeed if you share the reward with others. Giving back might be as simple as sharing your knowledge about a particular skill or showing someone a new place that they might not have otherwise known about.
All this talk of inspiration and inspiring people reminded me of my favourite YouTube video, one that evokes so much motivation in me that it makes it hard to sit in front of this screen typing and makes me want to run outside and assure myself that I am truly ALIVE and living, not just existing.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I do - it is truly beautiful and full of amazing footage!
Mike Bloomberg's Top 5 Tips for Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur (or whatever else you want to be):
1. Take risks
Life is too short to spend your time avoiding failure. If you can picture yourself doing whatever it is you want to do, then why not go for it?
2. Make your own luck
Luck plays a huge part in success - but the harder you work, the luckier you get. (I liken this to the Law of Attraction where the basic principle is that like attracts like, or, positive attracts positive). Whatever you choose to do, always work hard at it. Hard work creates opportunities.
3. Be persistent
Persistence pays off. Practise makes perfect.
4. Never stop learning
Whatever you choose to do, be a lifelong student of that subject. The world is full of people who say 'no', because they have stopped learning and stopped trying new things. They will give you a million reasons why something can't be, or shouldn't be, done. Don't listen to them or be deterred by them - and certainly don't ever become one of them.
5. Give back
You are ultimately responsible for your success and failure, but you only truly succeed if you share the reward with others. Giving back might be as simple as sharing your knowledge about a particular skill or showing someone a new place that they might not have otherwise known about.
All this talk of inspiration and inspiring people reminded me of my favourite YouTube video, one that evokes so much motivation in me that it makes it hard to sit in front of this screen typing and makes me want to run outside and assure myself that I am truly ALIVE and living, not just existing.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I do - it is truly beautiful and full of amazing footage!
*Disclaimer: I mean no offence to anyone who claims this life to be their own. More power to you - especially if you're doing what you love. It's just not my jam and certainly not something I aspire to. In fact, that sounds like my worst nightmare. But, ahh, good luck with that.
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