Desire + Inspiration = Highway to Success

One of the foremost philosophers of the 20th-century, a multi-faceted personality, Nobel Laureate Bertrand Russell, believed: “All human activity is prompted by desire.” Well, considering activity alone, we can safely accept the legitimacy of the above statement. However, the fulfillment of our desires, prompted by the right exercise, at a consistent pace, demands at least one other very crucial element viz. inspiration. But for the lack of this vital resource, we may not have the strongest will to move in the right direction. Even if we tried, against all the odds, chances of impending failure are more than fair. On the other hand, inspiration coming from someone more qualified, or even experienced in accomplishing similar tasks (if not identical) will provide us with the right stimulus to keep forging ahead. The result is action.

“A desire presupposes the possibility of action to achieve it; action presupposes a goal which is worth achieving.” – Ayn Rand, a very well known Russian-American novelist and playwright. Taking a more in-depth look at her statement, we find the chain of events that turn desire into achievement. Who can deny the fact that trees are born out of little seeds? But we also know the seed alone can accomplish nothing other than rotting somewhere. It needs soil, water, care, fertilizer, and of course, both shade and sunlight during different seasons. In much the same way, desire needs inspiration as a catalyst. It is this valuable resource that opens up our faculties to the possibility of making things happen.

Ms. Rand further elaborated her earlier statement by telling us: “A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.” Naturally, we are drawn to another element of human nature, i.e., “creative.” And this expression jolts my memory to bring up a valuable lesson that I learned a long time ago: “By believing passionately in something that still does not exist, we create it. The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired.” Author unknown!

So long as the inspirational catalyst powers our desire, it will keep gaining strength. The resulting process helps us identify the necessary ways and means to accomplish the same, whether it be material resources or human. The resulting urge to get started turns our desire into a ‘burning’ desire. “Burning desire to be or do something gives us staying power – a reason to get up every morning or to pick ourselves up and start in again after a disappointment,” says Marsha Sinetar, the American author better known for her book ‘Don’t Call Me Old I’m Just Awakening!‘ Of course, it is the same burning desire that puts us in front of the team we choose to assist us with the completion of our ‘desired’ task.

Assuming a position of leadership, no matter how insignificant, requires a few mandatory traits. When we must rely on teamwork to achieve the desired result, lack of one or more of these attributes can create a nightmare situation for us. You came up with the desire and inspiration followed suit. The team you put together shall find it reasonably easy to see the value within. The mirror-effect of ideas thus formed will cement a firm conviction to see it through. What you need from here onwards is the necessary power and energy. I will leave it up to my intelligent readers to do a more in-depth analysis and identify what all constitutes ‘power’ and ‘energy’-gain apropos the task at hand. A word of caution here, though: “It is difficult to inspire others to accomplish what you haven’t been willing to try.” – Author Unknown

Alas, gone are the days when the guy with the big, fat purse called all the shots. Collaborative spirit has slowly taken over as the buzz word.

The more you become a team player, the better the result of your efforts will come out.

Please allow me to reiterate the role of inspiration in this exercise once again. Of course, our initial desire acquired steam from the inspiration we got from someone else. Now, let us take the same catalyst and dole it out to all the TEAM (Together Everybody Achieves More) members. Guess what, you have multiplied the force behind your ‘burning’ desire. “A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader, whereas a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.” –Author Unknown

Those still unsure of the pivotal role ‘inspiration’ plays in life need to take a long, hard look at the wisdom of Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics. Her opinion on the real value of inspiration says it all: “A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go farther than a great idea that inspires no one.”

Thank You!