On the way home from Rome I finished reading this MIND BLOWING book called “Rework”, recommended from our friends over at Soul City Church. To be really honest, I am not a big reader. My mind usually gets really distracted and I start dreaming of creative ideas that get me carried away to another land. But this book really kept my attention and helped me view my business in a different way. It was cool to see that some of the things they mentioned in the book, I am already doing. And others I was enlightened beyond belief. I will definitely fill you in more on some of the amazing things they touch on in this book. But the last page had my name written all over it. It was titled:
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INSPIRATION IS PERISHABLE
We all have ideas, ideas are immortal. They last forever. What doesn’t last forever is inspiration. Inspiration is like fresh fruit or milk: It has an expiration date. If you want to do something, you’ve got to do it now. You can’t put it on the shelf and wait two months to get around to it. You can’t just say you will do it later. Later you won’t be pumped up about it anymore.
If you are inspired on Friday, swear off the weekend and dive into the project. When you are high on inspiration you can get 2 weeks of work done in 24 hours. Inspiration is a time machine in that way. Inspiration is a magical thing, a productivity multiplier, a motivator, But it won’t wait for you. Inspiration is a now thing. If it grabs you, grab it right back and put it to work.
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This is the way in which I live my life. It can be a bad thing too. Sometimes I seriously forget to eat lunch and I even begin to think that going to the bathroom is a waste of time. haha. Brian, my husband, threatens that he will start to make me keep an idea box, where I have to put my ideas into a box and wait it out… so I can actually get the things I am supposed to get done first. Then hopefully the inspiration and will fade off on a few ideas and only leave a few projects that have some inspiration left. haha. I am seriously considering this.
I have definitely experienced the 2 week to 24 hour projects. Those are my favorite. Those are the projects where you feel like you are literally flying. Anyway… I know this concept has been talked about before. But hopefully it can be a sweet reminder to make sure you are spending your time and energy doing what you love to do.
Have you experienced this magical time machine before? If so, what was it? There are some really RAD creative people that read this blog. It would be cool to all share about any particular ground breaking moments or butt kicking projects.
August 5th, 2010 at 9:05 am
Neat little reminder! I’m a photographer, and if I work on photos from a shoot right away while the work is still fresh, I’m excited to see the photos/work on them/do a good job with them. If I leave the images from a shoot lying around for a while, the inspiration dies down and after some time, I don’t even want to touch them. Then the job gets dragged out. Thanks, I just emailed that excerpt to my fiance!
August 5th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Julia,
Oh my gosh!! I feel the same way when I shoot photos. Absolutely!! Just bust the edits out right away.
August 5th, 2010 at 11:10 am
Wow, today is a day of perfect timing! I was just discussing this exact same topic last night with a friend and she told me I just have to do it, no more putting off my inspiration – I must see it come together! I think I should go pick up this book!
August 5th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Lesley!! YES!! DO it. You will love it.
August 5th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
I shot an elopement a week or so ago, and it was seriously the nicest day ever! I was on such an inspiration-high when I got home I could have edited the ENTIRE thing, and sent it to them the next day! I didn’t, and I find that the last few photos take the LONGEST to get around to! I’m almost done though, and the itch to put them on my blog is pushing me to GET IT DONE!
I am interested to check out that book now – I love to read! Thanks Promise! 
August 5th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
I’m the same way with editing as well! If I put it off, it’s also a good indicator that I didn’t feel too great about that shoot. Oh, and I totally get the whole “no time to pee” feeling, haha. It’s so funny you said that; I can relate! I’ll skip lunch too if I am in the moment. I guess that’s what happens when you do what you love!
As for when inspiration strikes, mine always seems to happen late at night, so I end up pulling all-nighters. Sometimes I just can’t sleep until it’s done.
August 5th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
I agree with Julia’s comment. After a photo shoot, if I hesitate, I lose the feeling of inspiration. GREAT blog post Promise.
August 5th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Promise! Thanks for sharing, and now I totally want to read this book, and I’m SO not a book person!
August 5th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
I can relate completely. I’m a hairstylist, hair accessories creator and a mom. The last part makes it more complicated to jump on the inspiration when it hits because of the many hats a mom wears. Although the kids are a great instrument for creativity. No predictability here. Some inspirations can be persistent, even beyond a week. Which is a great indicator to me that I’ve got a good thing brewing, even if I cant wrap my head around or get my hands on it for a bit.
August 6th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Fully relate. Biggest example, 2 years ago, putting in an entire new kitchen, ripped out down to studs and sub floor, yada yada. My wife left, took all the kids. Did the whole thing in 9 days.
I did feel like I was flying. Ate at weird hours as fast as I could, sleeped a few hours…maybe each night…morning? Anyways. Inspiration did it.
You can get so much done!
August 6th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Thanks for sharing this Promise. I am an idea machine.. my Brian just knows that I will probably have a new idea every time I see him. I can’t wait to see more photos of your trip to Rome!
August 6th, 2010 at 11:37 am
This is such a good post. Thanks for sharing Promise!
August 6th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Thanks so much for sharing that quote. I copied and printed it out to remind me on a daily basis. Inspiration is such a hard thing to balance. I’m inspired so many times during a day I’d never get my “normal chores” done if I always started doing things that come to my mind. But I do need to be more proactive when the inspiration moves me.
August 7th, 2010 at 8:32 am
julia…i’m so glad you said that! it’s the SAME way i feel and i was thinking i was alone. shew!
August 7th, 2010 at 11:31 am
i don’t think my first post went through….but i’m SOOOO glad i’m not the only one that feels that way about editing!!! if i don’t do it straight away…like sort and do a few THAT NIGHT…i start to lose that lovin’ feelin.
August 9th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
oh wow, yes!
i was working on a branding project for an assignment that I was given about 3 months to complete. i did some of the work in the first month or so but then got bored and left it for ages. the week before the assignment was due i found some inspirational graphic design online and got so inspired and reworked everything i’d already done – basically starting again from scratch! i was so inspired i just wanted to go and go and go and go! it was the most incredible feeling ever, and i produced some of the best work i’ve ever done.
i found during that time that absolutely nothing can compensate for passion in whatever it is that your doing!
August 11th, 2010 at 8:21 am
Promise, this is so true! I just get sick of my projects if I leave them out. I have to do them right when I’m crazy about them, or not at all.
The funny thing is, though, that I never get sick of the final product. It continues to inspire me long after the initial fire has died off!
Thanks for this….
August 11th, 2010 at 11:37 am
I’m obsessed with this book too… i read it in like 15 minutes I couldn’t put it down. I did a review for it for GWG a couple months back. So much common sense going on here…
August 18th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
This book was awesome, i read it while flying from europe to singapore! it made my entire flight enjoyable
Try this book if you liked rework – http://the99percent.com/book
August 20th, 2010 at 9:25 am
=) I’m reading this book! (Slowly but surely, anyway!)
August 25th, 2010 at 5:03 am
the 2-24 projects I agree are the best
August 26th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
“begin to think that going to the bathroom is a waste of time”
oh-em-gee, I thought I was the only one!