Spotlight
Sailing the seas of success
How inspiration
charts the course
By Izak Smit , PPS Group CEO
In pursuing success , inspiration is the elusive elixir that fuels our endeavours and propels us towards greatness . It is the intangible force igniting our passion , fuelling our determination and moulding our actions into impactful results . Without inspiration , even the most skilled individuals can find themselves adrift in a sea of mediocrity .
In the previous edition of The Professional , we pondered the topic of success .
In my article Redefining the definition of success , I wrote that when we find purpose in our professional endeavours , a medical doctor ’ s healing will be wider than the immediate symptom , an engineer ’ s design will unlock efficiencies beyond the problem to be solved , a business leader ’ s impact will be further than the company ’ s bottom line , a teacher ’ s lessons will not be limited to the classroom .
If our hearts are not invested in what we pursue , irrespective of skill , the ultimate results will eventually reveal this lack of inspiration .
The Oxford English Dictionary defines the verb “ inspire ” as “ to give someone the desire , confidence or enthusiasm to do something well ”. When someone encounters something , it is that spark or trigger that stirs a desire to create or achieve something special .
A closer look at the word shows that it is constructed of two words : “ in ” and “ spire ”. “ In ” is , of course , to enter , and “ spire ” comes from the word spirit , which has life , power , fire , force , enthusiasm and energy as synonyms . Hence , when we get inspired , it means , in essence , that a power , energy , a spirit or enthusiasm enters us , resulting in a strong urge or motivation .
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