Inspiration vs Perspiration: Debating the Ingredients of Success

Thomas Edison said, “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.”

Rudyard Kipling wrote, “When your Daemon (spirit, inspiration) is in charge, do not try to think consciously. Drift, wait, and obey.“?

King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish.

Thomas Jefferson, one of the most inspired and inspiring leaders of the American Revolution wrote, "I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it."

Who is right? Which is more essential to genius? Which is more vital to success, Inspiration or perspiration?

The greater the Inspiration, the less the Perspiration

As a writer, I believe in the power of inspiration. When I am moved to write, when something stirs in me, words pour like water from my being. When, as lately I have been, I am less inspired, writing becomes an arduous task.

A friend asked, "How do you come up with a story? How do you craft the plot and create the characters?"

I don't know. It is not a science, so I do not get too deep into letting another writer, even a successful or famous one, tell me how to do it. I have read much on the subject from many, and find the answers as varied as the authors.

I answered my friend, "I let the story tell me as much as I tell it."

Inspiration. Perhaps this is only true in the arts but I do not think so.

Take soldiering, for example.

In the Army University Press , Master Sergeant Michael Brosch wrote, "A Soldier can spend his or her entire military career never finding that one truly inspiring mentor whose leadership style is both inspirational and motivating. However, military personnel with the good fortune of working under these inspiring leaders often attribute their personal success to these transformational leaders."

At the Battle of Thermopylae, a regimen of 300 Spartans held back a force of 100,000 Persians long enough to buy other Greek city-states time to rally forces and form a plan. Inspired by the freedom they held dear, these men fought as valiantly as any in history.

Over 100,000 Persian warriors stand ready at the western end of Thermopylae, but King Leonidas and his Greek warriors are not the slightest bit intimidated by their chances. These 5,000 Greek soldiers have been brutally trained since the age of seven for this. They will die fighting for Greece, even when their country has no hope left. As Herodotus, a Greek historian who lived through the Greco-Persian wars, states, “[The Spartans] are the equal of any men when they fight as individuals; fighting together as a collective, they surpass all other men.” Rumors allege that the kings of both sides exchanged brusque messages before the battle. Xerxes demanded of Leonidas to “Hand over your arms!” but Leonidas sent back a brief but famous comeback: “Molōn labe” (“Come and get ’em yourself!”). ~~Patricia DePalma, Spartan.com Patricia DePalma, Spartan.com

In the American Revolution, an untrained, ill-supplied, often disillusioned by extreme hardship that included poor dress, worn-out shoes (or none at all), rampant camp diseases, harsh winters, spare supplies, and little to eat defeated what the world thought the greatest military force on earth. The mighty British Empire was forced to concede the independence of the United States of America (which was hardly united and not even a country yet).

A rabble in arms, flushed with success and insolence. ~British General Burgoyne(1722-1792) to Lord Rochfort, 1775, describing American troops before Boston

They were inspired by inspirational leaders who made great, sweeping speeches about liberty and backed it up by pledging their lives and welfare to the cause.

The inspiration would have been nothing without the sweat and grind of the men in arms. If they were unwilling to make supreme sacrifices, to do the hard thing, freedom would remain a dream, and the birth of a great nation would be replaced by words like "rebellion" and "insurrection," featuring hanged leaders and punished colonies.

What about Inspiration in Business Leadership?

“As long as you’re going to be thinking anyway, think big.” —Donald Trump, former President of the United States and founder of the Trump Organization

“Risk more than others think is safe. Dream more than others think is practical.” —Howard Schultz, Starbucks CEO

“High expectations are the key to everything.” —Sam Walton, Walmart founder

You can do business without great inspiration but can you do great business without any inspiration? Once inspired, it becomes your privilege to inspire others. It is not your duty; it is your privilege. You do not have to be an inspirational leader. Perhaps that is not you at all. You may have the vision but find it hard to cast it. Someone in your organization must naturally assume that role. If they do, and they are committed to you and your vision, free and empower them to inspire.

We talk much about the importance of "culture" in the workplace. Culture is three things:

1. It is intentional. If you do not define yourself, others will define you. That is seldom positive.
2. It is organic. In medicine, to study an infection, they will take a "culture" and let it grow to find its true nature. You can't fake culture. You can lie about it. You can overpromise and underdeliver on it. You can market from it. But you can't fake it. It will reveal itself and may find its way to places like glassdoor.com in unflattering terms. Granted, some employees are sour pusses, many are lazy, and still others are selfish liars who will say and write bad reviews rather than have a good look at themselves. But if your team is inspired, they will support your vision, trumpet your cause, and contribute to your success.
3. It is endemic. Culture becomes the truth of the organization. You can say, "This is us."

Culture starts with leadership.

“Every time you state what you want or believe, you’re the first to hear it. It’s a message to both you and others about what you think is possible. Don’t put a ceiling on yourself”?—Oprah Winfrey, Harpo Productions, OWN founder

Perspiration is just as important as inspiration

Regardless of how inspired I am by a theme or a character, that book or article will not write itself.

Walter "Red" Smith, the Pulitzer Prize-winning sportswriter was asked if writing a weekly column was difficult. He replied, "Why, no. You simply sit down at the typewriter, open your veins, and bleed.”

Anything done at a high level requires hard work - rising earlier than others, staying later, working more diligently, digging in on a task until it is one.

Bill Gates said, "I never took a day off in my twenties, not one."

Google co-founder Larry Page said, "Always deliver more than is expected."

Inspiration vs Perspiration? No! Inspiration + Perspiration

Inspiration and Perspiration are not adversaries; they are teammates. They are the two sides of success coinage. Inspiration without perspiration is daydreaming. Perspiration without inspiration is like spinning your wheels when you're stuck in the mud. You will exert a ton of energy and get exactly nowhere.

Inspiration without perspiration is impotent. Perspiration without inspiration is just pungent. ~Me

When my daughter Ashley was about five years old, she had an old bed with a heavy wooden headboard and a wooden footboard. She lost a toy under the bed and because the sideboards were so low, could not scoot under it to retrieve it. She was on the far side of the bed with her back to the wall and her feet on the sideboard, pushing with all her strength to move the bed. She did not see me come into the room. From the opposite side, I grabbed the bed and pulled it. When it moved, I heard her exclaim, "Wow!"

She didn't know she had such strength.

That is how inspiration empowers perspiration. The inspired do more than they thought they could.

What about you? Which is more important to you? Why? Drop your insights or experiences in the comments.