How to Turn Inspiration into Action

If you’re looking for the road to stardom, tuning in to American Idol isn’t going to lead you there.  An AI season claims only one winner, and this year it was Kris Allen.  Let’s face it.  Shows like AI and So You Think You Can Dance can inspire you ─ up to a point, that is.  After the confetti falls, the theme song is over, and the credits roll, what’s your  next move?  Oh, I know.  You surf the channels to look for more inspiration.  Get real.  Surely, life is more exciting than that! 

Listen, brush off the confetti, forget the theme song and make your own plan for success.  It’s never too late to start.  Consider this:  If you made a film of your life, what would viewers see?  What will the film say about you, your accomplishments, personality, and the affect you have on the world?   Have you ever stopped a few minutes to consider who am I really? What makes me want to get up in the morning?

Like Allen, you have a dream or a passion, even if you don’t know what it is?  Your dreams are like a fleet of cruise ships that transport you to destiny.   Now that the confetti is gone, why not approach life with a bold, new thrust?  It’s time to get serious about your plan to reach destiny.  With the right tools, you could skip American Idol next year to celebrate your own success.  Here are some tips to move you in the right direction: 

Make a personal inventory.  First, divide a piece of paper into columns.  Insert one of these headings into each column: strengths, skills, talents (singing, drawing) and hobbies.  Fill in each column with one to two strong words to describe yourself.  Under strengths, for example, you might list trustworthy and personable.   Work quickly to fill in all the columns.  Don’t overanalyze the responses.  Remove repetitive words and fluff.  Next, write a two-sentence statement using the words under each heading.  For our sample words, you could write these statements:  People say they can trust me with their secrets.  Friends tell me that I have a way of making others, including strangers, feel welcome.

Next, make a list of events, programs, and achievements that you enjoyed and that were successful.  This exercise will help you center in on your passion.  Remember, your destiny is all about pursuing your passion.  If you enjoyed helping out at the last citywide  bike marathon for cancer, you may have a passion to bike, help people, set up events, or rally people to support a cause. 

Now that you know more about yourself, do some external research.  Go to the library, bookstore or the Internet to find out about others who share your interests and passions.  If you like to paint, read about all kinds of painters.  But don’t stop there, also read about other artists, such as writers, dancers, sculptors, and musicians from around the world.  Where and how did they grow up?  Who influenced and taught them?  Were they a clone or did they set new standards in their field?  Were they successful?  Why or why not?  More importantly, what can you learn from their experiences? 

It’s your turn now to choose your passion.  Decide what you love to do most.  You may change it a little along the way and that’s fine.  Find out what tools you need to get started.  If you don’t have the money, be creative.  Let’s say you love to ride bikes and want to race in marathons like Marco Pantini, then get a job at a bike shop.  Ask if you can get a discount on a great bike.  Perhaps your boss will give you a bike as a partial payment for working 40 hours.   A sweet deal like this one will get you on the road in no time. 

Finally, ask your friends, family, even local companies for support.  Everyone loves a go-getter.  You may not have millions of fans rooting for you, like Kris Allen, but there are business owners and enthusiasts willing to help a budding professional.  

But first things first: kick that TV remote to the side, grab a sheet of paper and get busy.  Next year’s Passion Award winner might be you!

written by Montina Hollins