Inspiration is Everywhere

When we need a boost of energy, a new creative source, or a motivational push, we turn to traditional sources of inspiration, like famous quotes, museum exhibits, or self-help books. Inspiration is everywhere though, when we least expect it and when we need it most.

After a few days of skiing in Stowe, the Mansfield gondola finally opened up, unlocking more trails for me to practice on. I arrived at the top, grabbed my skis from outside the gondola, and stopped when I saw this sign. As a Project Manager, the word PLAN always catches my eye, so I stopped to read this safety sign.

Make a plan.

When skiing down a mountain, it is always good to have a plan. You don't want to end up on terrain that is too challenging to handle. You review the map in advance and have a plan for how to ski down.

Making a plan is always a good way to tackle anything you are working on. If you want to clean out your closets, make a plan first before you empty everything on the floor only to realize you are having people over that night and your place is now a mess. If you want to clean out your google drive before the new year, make a plan for the steps you will take to get your drive looking neat. If you want to take a big trip in the spring, make a plan for how you will start your research and book your flights.

Look before you leap.

With the new year coming, some of us are ready to take big leaps. We want to tackle those dreams with fresh energy, with no fear! But before you leap, look at your surroundings. "Know landings are clear" - is such great advice. Clear the way for your own landing.

Easy style it.

"Start small and work your way up" (or really down when you are skiing) rings true. Even though I am a Project Manager, meant to be the Queen of breaking things down into manageable to-dos, I too am guilty of an overly ambitious list of projects to tackle that are not formatted in a truly manageable way. I need to "easy style it" and found a small starting point.

Respect gets respect.

I'll never forget someone asking me "how do you get the engineers to like you?" I guess the Product Management team did not have a good relationship with the engineers. When I started, I was friends with all of the engineers. Heck - I later married one of them! Sure, I am relatively personable but the reason why I am successful as a Project Manager is that I respect people, respect what they do, and respect that I don't know what I don't know. Show people respect and you will get respect in return.

With 2025 around the corner, and lofty goals on the horizon, keep your eyes open for inspiration. It's here. It's there. It's everywhere. You don't have to try to hard to find it - just easy style it.