6 ms·

Why Inspiration Matters (my response to "Why Inspirational Talks Don't Work")

17 points by jasonshen 15y ago

cjwake 15y ago
Good to see you back at it! And nicely said.
Apocryphon 15y ago
I wonder if there can be a third side to this debate. How about Thomas Edison: "Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration."
dreamdu5t 15y ago
I think the OP misses the point. Inspirational talks don't work because inspiration is natural and emergent. Inspirational talks have often convinced me of an idea, but have never inspired me. Which is weird, because I have heard many speeches or talks that weren't inspirational talks, and yet they were inspirational! You have to inspire people, not give them reasons to be inspired. There's a big difference, and all of the inspirational talks I've been to were presented as the latter.
- jasonshen 15y ago
  My point is that when you hear stories of other people doing incredible things and feel that you can relate to them - it inspires you to be better, to act differently and to make changes in your life - in a natural and emergent way. Books like Born to Run, talks like The Last Lecture and movies like Miracle and Hoosiers are inspirational and that's not at all a bad thing. "Inspirational talks have often convinced me of an idea, but have never inspired me. Which is weird, because I have heard many speeches or talks that weren't inspirational talks, and yet they were inspirational!" I think we are splitting hairs. A talk that inspires is an "inspirational talk". Some talks inspire certain people and not others, just as some foods don't taste good to me and some web apps don't do what I need them to. Maybe you've just gone to the wrong inspirational talks.
Hisoka 15y ago
Inspiration can't trump genes, or biology. You need inspiration to work with your genes to produce positive action. If you hate your work, and hate working hard, inspiration won't work. It won't help you lose weight when you hate exercise, and hate eating healthy either.
alexshye 15y ago
I agree. I think what anyone needs for success or change (both personal and professional) is hope and grit. It takes hope to take the first steps in any positive direction. It takes both hope and grit to continue taking steps, even through tough times. Inspiration matters because it creates hope.

17 points by jasonshen 15y ago

Good to see you back at it! And nicely said.

I wonder if there can be a third side to this debate. How about Thomas Edison: "Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration."

dreamdu5t 15y ago

I think the OP misses the point. Inspirational talks don't work because inspiration is natural and emergent. Inspirational talks have often convinced me of an idea, but have never inspired me. Which is weird, because I have heard many speeches or talks that weren't inspirational talks, and yet they were inspirational! You have to inspire people, not give them reasons to be inspired. There's a big difference, and all of the inspirational talks I've been to were presented as the latter.

jasonshen 15y ago
My point is that when you hear stories of other people doing incredible things and feel that you can relate to them - it inspires you to be better, to act differently and to make changes in your life - in a natural and emergent way. Books like Born to Run, talks like The Last Lecture and movies like Miracle and Hoosiers are inspirational and that's not at all a bad thing. "Inspirational talks have often convinced me of an idea, but have never inspired me. Which is weird, because I have heard many speeches or talks that weren't inspirational talks, and yet they were inspirational!" I think we are splitting hairs. A talk that inspires is an "inspirational talk". Some talks inspire certain people and not others, just as some foods don't taste good to me and some web apps don't do what I need them to. Maybe you've just gone to the wrong inspirational talks.

Hisoka 15y ago

Inspiration can't trump genes, or biology. You need inspiration to work with your genes to produce positive action. If you hate your work, and hate working hard, inspiration won't work. It won't help you lose weight when you hate exercise, and hate eating healthy either.

alexshye 15y ago

I agree. I think what anyone needs for success or change (both personal and professional) is hope and grit. It takes hope to take the first steps in any positive direction. It takes both hope and grit to continue taking steps, even through tough times. Inspiration matters because it creates hope.