I will always remember every detail of our conversation.

I was sitting at our kitchen table, cramming for a high school exam of some sort, when the topic turned to my post-graduation plans. I was a sophomore, not a senior, but I loved talking about what lied ahead for me. With every cell in my body, I knew I was going to be New York City’s next big fashion designer. My dad was equally aware of my ambitions, but didn’t share quite the same enthusiasm when it came to my plans.

He wanted what every great Midwestern father wants for his oldest daughter: for me to pick a sensible career that would ensure stability and success.

The conversation that afternoon would mimic many we’d had before it.

“I’m not saying you couldn’t do it,” he said. “It’s just, well, hundreds – maybe even thousands – of people try to make it in fashion. What happens if you don’t get that one spot that you’re all gunning for?”

“Well someone has to have it, don’t they?” I replied. “Why can’t it be me?”

“It could be…but the odds are really stacked against you. I’m not trying to kill your dreams here, Jill – I’m just trying to be realistic.”

“Dad. What are you wearing right now?”

He slowly looked down at his crisp khakis and slightly crumpled polo, then looked back up at me.

“Pants, Dad. You’re wearing pants. Everyone has to wear clothing – every day. I’ll have a job!”

And with that the conversation ended. Well, at least until the next week.

Flash forward to present day and another conversation with my dad that I’ll never forget.

This time, it was me who thought I needed to be realistic. I had called my dad to tell him our second startup still wasn’t doing as well financially as we thought it would. That is was proving harder to turn a profit doing something we really believed in than it had been when we were providing a straightforward service to businesses, like we have with POP! – our first company.

This time the conversation went a bit differently.

“I’m just trying to be an adult here, Dad,” I said, choking back tears. “I can only live off my savings for so long – and that road is coming to an end. It’s looking like Jenn and I may have to go back and get full-time jobs. It won’t be the end of DreamChamps…we just have to find a way to make a living until things pick up.”

His reply shocked me.

“And there are no other options?” he asked. “You’ve tried everything? You just can’t give up now. You’ve put so much of yourself into this – and it’s going to work. I believe in you and what you girls are doing. You just need to keep believing in yourself. Don’t give up.”

I had no words. Only tears. And he sat silently on the other end as I got them all out.

My dad – the man who has always encouraged me to take the practical road, though he supported me in whatever decision I made – was actually pushing me to make the riskier decision. To take one more leap of faith. To ultimately practice what we’ve been preaching to others, when I didn’t have it in me to preach it to myself anymore. His approval and support of our DreamChamps mission meant more to me than he will ever know.

So, thank you, Dad.

Thank you for encouraging me to push harder and give DreamChamps all my blood, sweat and tears for a few more months.

For taking all my phone calls, no matter what the hour or my mood.

For unexpectedly mailing me $20 Barnes and Noble gift cards, just because you know it will put a smile on my face.

For helping me discover the natural gifts I’ve been given. I’m proud to have inherited many from you.

For inspiring me to always give back to others – whether it means giving money, time, support or love.

For teaching me that the people you surround yourself with is what matters most at the end of the day.

For encouraging me to “take a break” and go “have some fun” every once and a while.

For always listening, no matter how silly the problem seems. And for sharing such incredible advice.

Most of all, thank you for being you. You’re the most incredible father a girl could ask for.

All my love,

Jill

My Dad, me and my brother Dan enjoying one of our favorite pastimes – a Twins game.

Today we’re excited to share a guest post from Kyle Rutkin. Kyle is the author of This Is Your Heart in Love. You can read more of his work at kylerutkin.com. Interested in submitting a guest post of your own? Send us an email at pursuingourpassion@gmail.com.

***

Five Reasons To Write A Manifesto

You have seen them all over the place, on blogs, on Amazon – there are even websites dedicated to publishing them. According to Wikipedia, the definition of Manifesto is this: a public declaration of principles or intentions.

So why should you write one?

1) It Puts Your Beliefs Down On Paper

In this overwhelming world of YouTube links and status updates, it’s hard to figure out where you stand anymore. Am I an activist because I like the J. Kony 2012 fan page or even a progressive vegan because I tweet about animal rights groups? The truth is, it’s hard to define what your intentions and principles are in this crazy world of 140 characters. Writing a manifesto will make you narrow down your core principles and help define the ideal world that you want to live in. Even if you don’t feel ready to be a leader of a tribe, writing a manifesto will help channel your energy into a mission that you believe in, and give you a jumping point for future goals and endeavors.

2) It Helps You Define Your Brand to Your Followers

When people go to your website or even your Twitter account, assumptions are made. Sometimes people will follow you because of a loose association or because they “kinda” think they know what you stand for. The key isn’t to have loose associations, but dedicated followers and readers who are down for your cause – and the only way people will follow you is if they know where you’re going. No one wants to jump on a bus that doesn’t have a route. A manifesto will give your readers and followers a roadmap that is far more engaging and intriguing than any tagline can offer.

3) It Defeats The Publishing Hurdle

It’s hard to release a piece of work to the world. Not only is it freakin’ nerve-wracking to imagine someone trashing what you’ve written, but the general idea of writing a book that people ACTUALLY read can cause anxiety. A manifesto is the perfect starting point. It can be short, easily published on a PDF file or Kindle, and it doesn’t need to be edited and redone for two or three years before releasing. The key is to work on it every day, a 1,000-word commitment. That’s it – 1,000 words a day, for two to three weeks and boom, you’ve got something ready for publication that can help bring awareness to your ideas and brand.

4) It Helps Spread Ideas

Obviously producing a manifesto won’t be like a video that spreads on Facebook like a wildfire. However, if you have a well-written manifesto with an idea that people can believe in, your ideas will reach people. The key to a manifesto is being personal. Really tell people what you stand for – your story, heartache, passion, dreams and goals. No one wants to read a 50-page manifesto about organizing meetings unless that’s really your passion. Speak from the heart, don’t write what you think people WANT to hear. Be authentic and true, and the rest will come.

5) It Does It All – But Don’t Charge $10 To Read It

I know, it took a lot of work to write it. But the manifesto was written to spread your ideas. If you charge $10 to spread your idea, nothing will spread. Can you imagine charging money to watch a YouTube video or to share it with friends? Eventually, you will be able to charge for your work, but until then it’s important to let as MANY people as you can find out what you stand for and follow you if it’s a good fit. I guarantee a few loyal followers who are excited to see what’s next for you will come from your efforts.

The good thing about short manifestos is their ability to be easily consumed and shared. If your message resonates with somebody and the material is easily accessible, why wouldn’t they blast it to likeminded individuals? Be bold, speak from the heart, publish your ideas and don’t be scared to lead a tribe.

***

Big thanks again to Kyle for contributing such great insight!

Have you ever thought about your manifesto? What would you include?

Dream Bigger,

Forgive me for going metaphorical on you in this post. It’s just that last week, I witnessed something pretty amazing that got me thinking a lot about the way “life” is right now, and I had to share.

I’ve seen sun showers before, but never one quite like what we had in Chicago late Friday afternoon. One minute, Bobby and I were out on a run, marveling at the warm weather and clear sky. The next, water was dropping on our heads. My first instinct was that it was somebody throwing water off the balcony of our apartment building. I literally said, “ugh!” and raced inside.

Moments later, I realized it was actually pouring. The sun was still shining, but it was raining cats and dogs. Then something even more amazing happened: lightning lit up the sky, and a crack of thunder soon followed.

All this while the sky was still a pale, perfect blue.

I was giddy with excitement. I don’t necessarily love storms – in fact, they terrify me – but something about this one felt safe. As eerie as it was, I couldn’t stop watching. I even recorded a video (unfortunately missing most of the action) and sent it to family and friends.

And then I realized that the sun shower was a metaphor for my life.

There are a lot of bright spots. I have wonderful family and friends, an amazing husband and a lot of career and personal opportunities that I never would have imagined when I graduated from college.

But like anybody else, there are also moments where the lightning and thunder interrupt the tranquility with chaos, and lately I’ve been feeling as though the storm is a constant presence. I stress about the future of our businesses, as well as personal matters such as why I can’t seem to put words to the page of my novel (because I’m not talented enough, I tell myself) or whether “so and so” is mad at me (because I am constantly paranoid and trying to please people).

Even though everything is still sunny overall, there is a storm brewing beneath the surface.

What I need to remind myself of is that, just like the sun shower, there is beauty in it.

There is beauty in uncertainty, doubt and fear. We need these three things in order to fully appreciate when we’ve reached the points of certainty, trust and courage.

They serve as reminders that we must continue working toward the end goal. Feeling uncertain, doubtful or fearful of your ability to achieve? That is the moment where you must continue to push your hardest.

As hokey as it sounds, it’s meteorologically proven there could be a rainbow on the other side.

Life is like a sun shower. Slightly unnerving, but still beautiful amidst the storm – and still hopeful.

How do you motivate yourself to keep going on “stormy” days?

Dream Bigger,

Jenn and I got really lucky in finding each other. We’ve been told by numerous entrepreneurs that partnerships are hard. While we are the ying to each other’s yang, we know a good match is hard to find, which is why we’ve always made our relationship a priority. I can say with all honesty that we’ve never once had a screaming match. Or anything close to it for that matter. We see eye-to-eye on most things, and where we don’t, we’ve easily come to compromises that work for us both.

Amazing, right?

It absolutely is for the most part.

That said, we had a HUGE breakthrough a couple weeks ago. One that will forever change the course of our business and help it immensely moving forward.

It took us a while to admit it to ourselves – and an 30 enormous seconds of bravery to say it out loud – but we realized that as business partners, we’ve been holding each other back. And worse, we’ve been holding ourselves back, so as to not rock the boat of our perfect partnership.

You see, we’ve had a such a good thing going for such a long time that we’ve been scared to ruffle each others feathers. We’ve both been scared to shine personally – afraid that we’d overshadow the other. That things wouldn’t seem “equal” or “fair.” In a nutshell, we’ve been downplaying our personal skills in an attempt to make sure we each held equal responsibilities in every aspect of the business.

As I’m sure you can see, this was a huge problem.

Yes, we’re both from Minnesota, so sure you could chalk this mistake up to our propensity toward “niceness.” You can even criticize how we’ve been running our business – reasoning that we’ve been doing things all wrong. Maybe you’re right. Maybe we have been when it comes to DreamChamps. But any entrepreneur would tell you that when something works, you keep doing it. And sharing all the responsibilities, workloads, burdens and successes equally for POP! Social Media worked for us like a charm. There were no fights, no power struggles, no self-serving decisions made. By sharing everything we built a support system and trust unlike any other.

We figured the same system would work for DreamChamps.

The reality is, it doesn’t.

At least not effectively.

Running a consulting business is much different than running a consumer-based startup. It takes different focuses, skillsets and drives. It means zeroing in on everyone’s assets and making sure they’re charging with them – shining as brightly in those areas as they possibly can.

Some roles are going to be more glamourous than others. Some aspects are going to receive more recognition and time in the spotlight. This is the reality.

What’s important is understanding recognition and what each founder (and employee for that matter) needs to feel important and appreciated. This is different for everyone – and few people actually know what they truly need – but it’s something to focus on and talk about.

We did, and it’s made a world of difference.

So where are we now, you ask? Happily tackling separate roles.

Jenn’s leading our online community. She’s responsible for all our written DreamChamps content, whether it be on Facebook, Twitter, the blog or elsewhere online. She’s in charge of connecting with and growing our user base – making sure we’re inspiring, educating and leading our Tribe on all things job happiness related. Jenn will also be leading the charge for all press outreach, focusing especially on student-run campus newspapers. Just between us, there may or may not also be a book proposal in the works… Trust me when I say, there isn’t a better person for this role. Jenn’s kind of a big deal when it comes to writing.

With Jenn tackling our online charge, I’ll be leading the offline one – namely when it comes to sales. It’s no secret that I love to talk and socialize, which this new role puts to good use. I’m now in charge of researching and outreaching new potential DreamChamps companies, while also connecting with businesses who are interested in consulting on company culture, GenY in the workplace, and/or employee happiness. Speaking and teaching will also be a large part of my new role, both at conferences and through our Job Happiness classes. Personally, I think it’s a position that fits me well – one I’m already very happy in!

Already, we’ve seen the benefits of dividing and conquering, including:

• The need for less daily check-ins, which allows us to focus more on the work we’re actually doing. With less crossover in roles, we can now skip the weekly delegating of tasks and just move forward on the projects we know are on our plate.
• The freedom to set personal goals and challenge ourselves on a daily basis. While we definitely set goals previously, there is something invigorating about owning certain pieces of the company and knowing that its success lies strictly on your shoulders. This renewed sense of responsibility has recharged us both.
• The happiness that comes along with doing work you excel at and love. All jobs involve some monotonous tasks, but being able to focus on projects that utilize your strengths is one of the most fulfilling aspects of any work experience.

Hopefully our perspective will get you thinking about the work partnerships in your life, whether it be with a business partner, co-worker or boss. Sometimes a little honesty can go a long way in strengthening a bond and creating a better work atmosphere for everyone involved.

Dream Bigger,

Last Thursday, March 1, marks two years of blogging at Pursuing Our Passion.

This Sunday, March 11, will mark 731 days of POP! Social Media.

Two years. 731 days. No matter how you think of it, we think it’s pretty incredible.

We began this journey with one primary goal:

Our mission is to help you see that your dreams can be a reality, not just a possibility. By doing what some people deem impossible, we hope to remove the fear and anxiety associated with starting a small business, showing you that it’s never too late – or too early – to pursue what you’re passionate about.

From there, things took off at a rapid pace, and we haven’t regretted a day since.

We’ve been praised. We’ve been humbled. We’ve been successful. We’ve failed miserably.

We’ve learned when to say yes and, more importantly, how to say no.

We’ve stopped apologizing for the services we lack, and started focusing on finding clients and companies who see the value in what we do. As our good friend Matt Chevy says, trying to do it all leaves you doing nothing at all. Stick to what you’re good at, and if what you’re good at no longer applies in the marketplace, find ways to adapt. It’s a lesson that feels like common sense, but we’ll be the first to admit that it’s taken us 731 days to fully appreciate it.

Going along with that, we’ve learned our time is worth a lot more than we once thought. When trying to balance two businesses and still maintain some semblance of a life – something that has always been important to us – you learn how to prioritize pretty quickly. Every hour of the day should be used to its fullest advantage. We’re still working on mastering this, but we’re getting there.

We could go on and on – after all, we still have roughly 727 day’s worth of lessons to share. But for now, we’d just like to say thank you to all of you who have showed us support on this two-year journey. It has changed our lives, and we hope that by continuing to share pieces of our story with you, we may one day inspire you to make a life-changing decision, too.

Just think of all the lessons still waiting to be learned.

Thank you.

Dream Bigger,

What risk will you take to change your life, your community…your world for the better?

That is the question Victor Saad is challenging the world with this leap year.

It’s never going to be the “right time” to take a leap. So why not take one with a community of people all risking something together? A group who will be supporting each other along the journey.

Get started by visiting http://leapyearproject.org.

Happy leap day. It’s time to change your life for the better.

Dream Bigger,

The inspiration for this post comes from my friend Gliding Calm, who often chats about being an introvert on her blog. Thank you, GC, for all you do to educate others on this topic!

Last week I re-pinned a picture from Gliding Calm’s blog to Pinterest:

Never in a million years was I prepared for what came next. 213 likes. 16 comments. And the big one for me: 503 repins. Five hundred and three people resonated with a single image enough to share it – and one that did not have to do with the stereotypical pins of food, fashion and inspirational quotes. It was by far my most popular pin to date. Yet though the numbers are what originally caught my attention, it was the commentary that inspired me to write this post.

“Hear hear.” “SO true!” “Yes!!!” “I’m an introvert and I agree with every one of these.” “Love it!” “This is good advice.” “Thank you.” “Wonderful. So well said. So me!!” “I need to write this on my forehead.” “Ohhhh dear…this is so me…” 

And it’s so ME, too. Which is why I think it is more important than ever to say that introverts are an incredibly vital part of society in a society that places a high value on extroversion – and they are successful entrepreneurs, too.

Oh and for the record, there is a difference between introversion and shyness. The basic distinction among introverts and extroverts comes down to stimulation. As author Susan Cain writes, “Introverts prefer quiet, minimally stimulating environments, while extroverts need higher levels of stimulation to feel their best.”

Growing up, I was constantly teased for being “quiet.” I learned early on that the popular kids, the ones with the most friends and the greatest amount of respect at school, were those who were always energetic and outgoing. In class I received straight As, but it was a constant struggle to get that participation grade. It wasn’t because I didn’t know the answer, but rather because it took me longer to find the right words, and I preferred to let the other kids chime in first. Outside of class, at a party or social function with a lot of people, it never failed that I would be pegged as “the quiet one.”

I felt like I should have a big scarlet “Q” taped to my chest.

Fortunately in my case, I also learned early on that I was an introvert, and I liked it that way. I didn’t need to be popular or have a lot of friends. I know that might sound pathetic to some, but it’s true. I have always been at my happiest when I have a core group of 2-4 friends who hang out on a regular basis. And believe it or not, it is also when I’m at my loudest. No close friend or family member of mine would ever call me “quiet,” that’s for sure.

When I graduated from high school, the teasing ceased. As many people find out, college is the place where you get to be who you are and leave all the drama behind. Then I graduated and entered my first job at The Agency. For the most part, there were few to no comments on my quietness. That is, except for the person whose opinion I valued most: my boss.

“You should talk more. I don’t know if anyone’s ever told you this, but you’re kind of quiet.”

The latter statement was meant to be taken as sarcasm. Needless to say, I wasn’t laughing.

I did my work to the best of my ability. I spoke up in meetings when I had something to say, not just for the sake of speaking. My colleagues and peers appreciated my contribution to the team, but the person in charge still saw my introversion as a character flaw.

Well, we all know what happened next. I happened to meet my polar opposite – a talkative, high-energy co-worker with big ideas. At that point in my life, she should have been my worst nightmare.

She proved me wrong.

Jill celebrated who I was, rather than pushing me to be someone I wasn’t. She understood that my mind worked differently and not only saw it as a positive, but as the perfect balance in a business partner.

And I owe the past two wonderful years of my life to the fact that she never once told me I was “too quiet.” Her confidence gave me the confidence to become an entrepreneur, take a leap and never look back.

Introverts are an incredibly vital part of society in a society that places a high value on extroversion – and they are successful entrepreneurs, too.

Susan Cain recently published a book called “Quiet: The Power of Introverts.” In it, she discusses a lot of the issues that introverts face in an extroverted society. She also recently did an interview with Scientific American that is worth reading from start to finish.

Here is one of my favorite quotes from the article:

“Many introverts feel there’s something wrong with them, and try to pass as extroverts. But whenever you try to pass as something you’re not, you lose a part of yourself along the way.”

This post is for my fellow introverts. It’s my plea to you: don’t try to pass for someone you’re not. Embrace who you are and use that knowledge to find a job, a friend, a significant other, etc. that builds you up, rather than tears you down.

Are you an introvert?

At the risk of sounding, er, hypocritical, I encourage you to speak up with your thoughts.

Never give up on who you are. If you ask me, it’s society that needs to quiet down.

Dream Bigger,

Last Sunday, February 12, officially marked the two-year anniversary of the day we quit our jobs at The Agency. Yes, two years ago. Not three. Or four. Or even five or six.

Some days it feels like we’ve been entrepreneurs forever. We’ve had so many ups and downs over the past two years that it often feels like we’ve been at it for much longer than we actually have. That said, the experience we’ve gained is beyond anything we could have imagined.

The opportunities. The learnings. The friendships. The failures. They’ve all made us who we are today.

And we can’t imagine life without any of them.

While this anniversary was a great opportunity for us to reflect back, it has also brought its own lesson.

We’ve been REALLY hard on ourselves lately about the stagnant growth of DreamChamps since its launch a few months ago. We’ve been kicking ourselves for not pursuing more sales, filming more video posts, reaching more people – basically, for not growing the idea to where we want it to be.

Stopping to think about how much can change in two years really put things into perspective.

Two years ago, we nervously walked into an office we hated, shaking in our (fashionable) boots over the thought of quitting. Flash forward to today, and we’ve not only built one successful business, but have also launched a second – one that truly captures everything we’re passionate about.

Imagine what great things we can make happen over the next two years.

What cities we can reach.

What great companies we can expose.

What lives we can change.

We haven’t failed. This is just the beginning. And like all great things, it’s going to take time.

We just have to keep believing.

Two years ago, it took us 30 seconds of extraordinary courage to quit a job that we were miserable at. That 30 seconds of bravery kickstarted a momentum that changed our lives.

What area of your life needs 30 seconds of extraordinary bravery?

Figure it out, rise to the challenge and make it happen.

We promise it will be worth it.

Dream Bigger,

It’s no surprise that we advocate goal setting on this blog. Heck, I love declaring my hopes and dreams because I know that writing things down makes me that much more likely to succeed. I might not succeed in everything, but by listing them for the whole world – well, our corner of it anyway – to see, it gives me extra accountability and the drive to try my very best.

Unfortunately, despite my positive thinking, I haven’t been very successful lately.

The problem is, I’m not very patient. And lack of patience, for me, is very unproductive.

Striving to secure a new client? Somehow, my impatience with the process of obtaining said client makes it so there are hundreds of other “to-dos” before sending that pitch email or scheduling that sales call. I have a blog to write (ahem), tweets to respond to and tax forms to fill out. Ironically, none of these make me any money. In fact, that last one usually loses me money (darn you, withholding).

Starting a 90 day fitness challenge? I am all about that first week, following my plan to a “T” and never skipping a workout. Then, the dreaded impatience sets in. I don’t want to wait 90 days for results, I want them now. And ironically, “I want them now” translates into me no longer following the plan to a “T” and skipping a workout here and there.

Have a goal of writing 1,000 words per day? I try and try and succeed, for a while. Then, that same dreaded impatience sets in. I want this novel finished now but unfortunately, do not possess the magic skills necessary to make it appear before my eyes. So what do I do? Find excuses not to write.

Does this sound at all familiar? Why do we do this to ourselves?

I can sum up the answer in three words: fear of failure.

If we don’t secure a new client, it’s not because they didn’t want us, it’s because we didn’t seek them out. Heaven forbid we put ourselves on the line and face rejection. How embarrassing that would be.

If I don’t meet my shape-up goals in 90 days, I can say, “oh, well, I didn’t follow the exact workout,” rather than having worked my butt off (literally) and failing to see my desired results. How embarrassing that would be.

If I don’t finish my novel by the end of XYZ month, I can blame it on the holidays, family obligations and work rather than finishing my first draft only to have everyone I know think it’s terrible. How embarrassing that would be.

For some crazy reason, my mind has determined that having excuses sounds a lot better than pure failure. I’m slowly realizing that nothing could be further from the truth.

And I’m also – slowly – getting back on track.

At the beginning of February, I embarked on a #FebPhotoADay challenge. You can read more about that here. Although it’s a very small “goal” in the grand scheme of things I hope to achieve this year, I am killing it so far. I have successfully taken and posted a photo a day to my Facebook, Twitter and blog – and I am using my creative juices in way that feels immensely satisfying.

It’s one small step toward accomplishment each day, and I know that when this month is over, I’ll look back on the challenge with a smile, proud of every single image.

There are times where I’m tempted to look ahead and envision what I’ll be snapping a picture of on February 29. But then I remind myself that this is not productive. I work to remember how I feel at the beginning of each day – renewed and ready to take what the next item on the list has to give me.

I’m being patient. And living one day at a time.

Now that’s what I call positive thinking, and it feels amazing.

Have you ever felt impatient while working on a goal? How did you deal with it?

Dream Bigger,

When we first connected with Lauren Levine back in November, we discussed the truth to Jill’s post on wanting to be treated like an adult at work. Since then, I’ve been an avid reader of her blog, Life with Lauren, which showcases her talent and passion for writing while discussing topics that are interesting to all of us: friendships, relationships and ways to create a new identity for yourself once you’ve graduated from college, among others.

I was thrilled when Lauren offered to write a guest post for us, aimed to discuss the ways she finds inspiration every day. It’s no surprise she’s right on the mark, and you’re going to love her advice!

10 Easy Ways to Feel More Inspired

There is nothing worse than sitting in front of a blank Word document just waiting for a good idea to come your way. That bright screen is full of possibility, but it’s so hard to get started. Even if you’re not a writer you know that “blank screen” feeling. You want to create something, you know it’s somewhere in there, but you just can’t quite get inspired. The good thing about the “blank screen” feeling is that it usually doesn’t linger for long. You’ll be in a meeting or waiting for the elevator and suddenly a great idea will just come to you. But if you happen to be in need of a little inspiration, here are ten ways you can kickstart your creative urges and banish the blank screen forever.

1.) Jot your thoughts: My friend is a songwriter and he literally never goes anywhere without a mini tape recorder. That way if he comes up with a song lyric or melody he can just speak/sing it into the tape recorder and not run the risk of losing it. You can do the same thing with a notebook or even the “Notepad” section on your phone. Just have someplace where you put all of your ideas so you don’t have to rely on your memory. You never know what thought or phrase will end up becoming important for future projects.

2.) Give your mind a break: When you’ve had inspiration strike in the past, where did it happen? Probably in the shower or while you sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic, right? I had a great idea the other day as I was sitting waiting (and waiting and waiting) for my plane to take off. A traffic jam and your shower may seem unrelated but they actually have something in common: while you’re there your mind is free to wander. Your brain isn’t forced to remember things, (over)analyze something your boss said, or try to be creative in a non-creative mindset. When your brain is on overload it’s hard to get it to pump out something witty. But give yourself a chance to zone out and all of a sudden you’re full of fabulous thoughts. It’s kind of like that (annoying) advice your friends give you about meeting someone, “You’ll meet someone great! You just have to stop looking!” You’ll find inspiration as soon as you stop making your brain work too hard.

3.) Say goodbye to stress: When you’re stressed, you’re just trying to get through the day. It’s like survival mode. There’s no room for any type of thought other than, “This must get done. Now.” That’s why stress management is so important if you want to see an increase in inspiration. Practice yoga or meditation. Stay super-organized. There is nothing worse than having to scramble frantically through dozens of files just to get through your work day. Delegate tasks when possible. It’s also a good idea to write down your “to do” list for the next day before you go to sleep. That way you’re not lying awake thinking, “Okay, I absolutely can’t forget to call Susie tomorrow.” You can free up your mind for more inspired thinking.

4.) Stop judging yourself: As Sylvia Plath once said, “The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” If you want to get creativity going, put something out there without worrying about exactly how it looks or sounds. For example, if you’re a writer, write without worrying about punctuation or choice of words. You can go back and review that stuff later. If you’re a singer, just sing! If you’re constantly worried about making each note perfect you’ll feel stifled. It’s easy to be your own worst critic. Let yourself enjoy the process. Don’t worry about perfection right away.

5.) Find inspiration in anything: You don’t need a million dollar idea or a stroke of genius to write a great article, come up with a solid business plan, or sketch a beautiful illustration. Use your everyday life to inspire you. What makes you happy? What makes you mad? What would you like to change about the world? What do you want to know more about? What advice can you offer to other people? What do you hear people talking about? Use these questions to trigger ideas.

6.) Study others: What better way to feel inspired than to study others who are doing what you love? Read a blog about your passion. If you’re an artist, go to an art museum or local art show. If you’re a writer, read a book by a terrific author. If you’re a fashion designer, go to a fashion show. Observe others who are practicing your craft well. If you can connect with other people in your industry, that’s even better. Social media makes it easy to do this. Invite someone you admire out for coffee, send a tweet, connect on LinkedIn, put yourself out there.

7.) Make your space inspiring: Nothing squashes creativity more than a “blah” space. Boring white walls, a cluttered desk – these things don’t lend themselves to ground-breaking ideas. I used to hate spending time at my office at work and I couldn’t really figure out why. Then I realized it was because I’d inherited the space from someone who had left it in bad condition. The paint was peeling and I was left with a huge set of plastic shelves that looked like they should be holding American Girl dolls. The office did not exactly ooze professionalism or creativity. I quickly ordered some posters, printed some pictures, and got rid of the charming shelves. I’ve also created a mini “inspiration board” which is where I put pictures of people I admire and things I’d like to achieve. The board helps motivate me and makes me feel good when I need an extra boost of energy. Think about how your work space is making you feel. If it’s anything other than excited, it’s time to make some changes.

8.) Cut out negativity: Negativity does not lend itself to productivity. When was the last time you met someone who complains all the time but is also determined to make things happen for him/herself? Probably never. Even if you have a terrific attitude, the people around you have a sneaky way of rubbing off on you. Be picky about who you spend time with. Your friend who has a “crisis of the day” every day is probably wonderful but may be zapping your energy and optimism. You don’t need to cut her out of your life, but you also don’t need to spend an hour on the phone with her every time she calls.  Sure, many of the greatest artists of all time were tortured souls, but don’t you just feel like kicking ass and taking names when you’re surrounded by other happy people? No need to dwell on negative thoughts or pessimism.

9.) Make time for your hobby: This sounds easy, but it’s important. When you have a to-do list that’s a mile long it’s easy to put your passion at the bottom, especially if it’s not making you money…right now. But focus less on the money and more on the fact that this thing makes you happy. Everyone needs to do something that creates joy during the day. Even if you can only write for twenty minutes or practice piano for half an hour, make sure you schedule that time in just like you would schedule in a doctor’s appointment or a trip to the store. You’ll feel more inspired and motivated about your passion when you’re actually devoting steady time to practicing it.

10.) Chart your progress: I recently discovered a site called Ohlife.com, and I’m obsessed. It’s basically an online journal and a progress checker. Every day it e-mails you and asks you how your day went. You reply to the e-mail with as much or as little text as you want. This site is perfect for someone who’s trying to achieve a goal or get better a skill because it makes you feel accountable. Every day that little e-mail is sitting there asking you about how things went. You don’t want to let it down by telling it you did nothing related to your passion today. The site also reminds you of past posts and lets you read through everything you’ve written. It’s a great way to see how far you’ve come and also to see where you need to keep focusing your energy. The fact that it’s all done through e-mail is nice because it’s not time-consuming. You can set the prompts to come as often or as infrequently as you’d like, but I like to do them every day.  It’s a free service, so check it out!

Feeling uninspired from time to time is completely normal. Even the best writers, artists, designers, and musicians hit a slump at some point. But if you find inspiration in everyday life, get rid of clutter in your living space and in your mind, and let yourself enjoy the creative process, you’ll be able to shake off that “blank screen” feeling for good.

Check out more from Lauren on her blog, Life with Lauren. You can also follow Lauren on Twitter and like Life with Lauren on Facebook.

Dream Bigger,