INSPIRATION: ONLY THE START

"An idea ran back and forward in his head like a blind man, knocking over the solid furniture."

F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 – 1940) American author

One quote under the heading of "inspiration".

I wager the starting point for what ultimately become successful startups.

But only the starting point. 

After must come a lot of difficult and arduous planning followed by careful execution.

Otherwise, like the blind man, nothing accomplished other than chaos.

MUCH MORE THAN SIMPLY DREAMING IT

"Human life is driven forward by its dim apprehension of notions too general for its existing language."

Alfred North Whitehead

Late 19th/early 20th century English mathematician

Business too.

Every idea now recognized as successful began life as just a notion in someone's mind.

But you have to do something with it to create value.

Profit Or Loss?

"Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius."

Benjamin Disraeli

19th century British politician

The qualifying "sometimes" makes the difference.

If your situation is truly desperate, as in life or death, you will either be inspired to find a solution, or perish in the process.

Thank You Steve, RIP

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. ... Stay hungry. Stay foolish."

Steve Jobs

Into Each Life A Little Rain Must Fall Is A Good Thing

". . . a little tumult now and then is an agreeable quickener of sensation . . ."

Lord Byron

Late 18th century, early 19th century British poet

If everything in your business life today was as it was yesterday, why would you ever expect it to be different tomorrow?

Free To Think, Required To Plan

"Surely there is grandeur in the realm of thought, knowing at least you are without a chain."

Robert Green Ingersoll

19th century American politician

So be free to think and envision whatever you wish.  

Great advice because without unfettered imagination, how will we ever progress to what could be from what is?

But once you know where that is (what could be), it's time to create the plan that is absolutely essential to get you there, and unlike the picture in this post, there are no road signs telling you where to go.

The Art of Visionary Management

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see."

Edgar Degas
19th century French artist

" . . . what you make others see."

Yesterday's quote from Jack Welch said that it is the leader's responsibility to communicate vision that others can then act upon.

How you do that is itself art rather than a science you learn in graduate school.

What do you think?