I've been thinking lately more than a little about inspiration and by assoication, passion. What is it that drives people to be creative, or inventive, or innovative?
In doing so, I've come to the conclusion that it's a combination of both nature and nurture. Let me explain, and then show you what I mean; give a man a fish, and all that.
I am by nature a curious person. I will consume as much as I can about any subject that grabs my interest. That said, my attention never stays in one place terribly long; a few months often at best. At a previous job, I was referred to as "Ask Steve", reflecting my ability, like the old Ask Jeeves web site (now just plan Ask), to answer any question put to me. Or at the very least, rapidly come up with a source for the answer.
I think people who, like me, are curious by nature, find inspiration in the world around them as their neverending thirst for information and knowledge seeks to be quenched. With my Dad a teacher, my godfather a university professor, and my Mum an encourager of seeking knowledge, I grew up in an environment that nurtured my curiousity. I am forever grateful for this, for I now have a life where I have achieved many things, but know I have so much more to achieve.
And I know that these things are possible, with just a little inspiration and passion.
Like JP Rangaswami, I am a voracious consumer of the fabulous TED Talks. Today, on a flight from Melbourne home to Canberra I watched Ben Dunlap's (read his TED Bio, too) amazing talk. It is about nothing and everything - people, places, attitudes, overcoming great adversity. He is an amazing speaker, perhaps the most riveting of the TED Talks I have seen. This is a man for whom passion and inspiration seems to come naturally.
Watch Ben Dunlap's presentation. You won't be sorry.
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Tagged: innovation, inspiration, passion, ted
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