Inspirations
Much of what leads to great business solutions comes from inspiration found outside of the work environment. Here are some ways I find inspiration to help you tackle big challenges and make your best decisions:
Brownies. A dense, dark chocolate brownie for a late afternoon snack. No nuts. No frosting. Just a decadent, rich, full-on taste sensation. My husband has his own secret recipe for the best ones I’ve ever had. They are incredible!
Running. Because I eat brownies, I run. Actually, running is thinking time for me. Bliss is when, in the middle of a run, my brain floats out of my body and I’m completely unaware of the present. There really is a runner’s high.
Heidi Swanson. Nobody does ‘food porn’ better than her natural foods books, website and blog. If you want to eat right AND feel indulgent at the same time, get to know her work.
Houzz.com. The first thing I ever wanted to be when I was growing up was an architect. I am still mesmerized by good design and this site feeds my addiction – I spend a lot of time there every week.
Visual Explorer. A fantastic resource from the Center for Creative Leadership. If you want to get people talking about an important issue and they might not have the right words on the tip of their tongue, this is your go-to resource. Not cheap – and worth every penny.
Books. Words inspire me. Reading is both a relaxing escape and an inspiration for new learning. I love it when those qualities collide. Here are some reads that really stand out. Find me on Goodreads.com to see the full gamut of my reading. True confessions: I’m 100% e-reader – for books, magazines, and papers. Digitally converted guy here.
- Fiction:
- A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
- The entire Chief Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
- We Are Called To Rise by Laura McBride
- The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez
- Non Fiction:
- Return on Character by Fred Kiel
- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
- The Five Love Languages by David Chapman
- Harvard Business Review daily blog. Ok, so it’s not a book, but what a great bundle of provocative thinking. Rarely do I go more than a day without finding something that resonates for me. Free to subscribers of the magazine.