Time and Space = Inspiration

I remember reading a quote years ago that validated what I have experienced as an entrepreneur. The gist is that creativity not hard work is what moves the needle.

And to be creative, you need time and space. It’s highly polar to how productivity works where you sit your butt in your seat and grind.

I am a big picture, strategic person. When I spend time grinding, though I can do it, I have this nagging feeling in the back of my mind about how little contribution I am making compared to pushing on clarity, creativity and inspiration. I have to be careful. It’s not always my best use of time.

Purposefully making time and space for inspiration has to be a priority for me and anyone that wants to make a larger impact. And, if you are like me, you can be seduced by being busy, which paradoxically can be a form of laziness. Instead of doing the hard work of creating vision that is clear, you can meddle with mundane tasks that incrementally move the needle.

It’s a disservice to your customers, employees, family and anyone that depends on your leadership.

So, here’s my thought about discipline and usefulness lately:

I have to create more time and space.

I have to do things I love that open up clarity – walking, snowboarding, tennis, golfing, travel and having fires.

This requires valuing time and space. I know when I do this, I get more inspiration. I get clarity. I get vision.

This isn’t a post for everyone. It’s for me. Right now, many people simply need to grind and push.

I’m just in a place where I need to push for bigger vision and clarity. I am coming out of pain, trauma, grinding and sadness. Persevering and productivity has tools I know well.

Visioning is counterintuitive.

I have done it many times for more clear chapters of my life, but the need for time and space is critical now so I don’t fall in the trap of simply doing things that don’t matter or working hard towards misery rather than aspiration and usefulness.

Let’s roll.