Yesterday I was looking through an online bulletin board about the productivity system outlined in David Allen’s Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity.

One of the posts was from a frustrated writer. She complained that she had read the book, setup her systems in accordance with the program, and she still wasn’t motivated to do any of the things on her list. Another forum member aptly pointed out that GTD (Getting Things Done) is a “workflow management system” and not a motivational system.

These thread entries were still floating around my head this morning while reading a couple of articles in the August issue of (link is for blog) Inc. “The (self-proclaimed) Handbook of the American Entrepreneur.” I read about John Stallworth, CEO of Madison Research and Hall of Fame NFL football player, who developed a successful company rooted in teamwork and taking care of employees. I read about Fred Carl, president and founder of Viking Range, who revitalized his small Mississippi town through growing his company. And I read about Two Chefs on a Roll expanding and achieving outstanding success through hiring a CEO.

Reading these stories, I was inspired! ah… there we go…
Getting inspired does not equal getting efficient or productive

Obvious! and a concept to be reminded of when feeling, let’s say, sluggish, in our work.

Stephen Covey talks about “sharpening the saw”. Companies hire “motivational” speakers to energize their employees. We pass links, quotes, and stories that move us to each other. It’s an ongoing adventure. Just because I was “on fire” yesterday doesn’t mean I will be tomorrow (you’ve seen the disclaimer: “past performance does not guarantee or predict future results”).

Inspiration feeds the flame that energizes us to act. It’s like blowing on the smoldering embers of a low fire and tossing in more firewood.

To keep the flame going and growing, I gather firewood, the process of which is akin to my productivity. If I don’t care about my flame, I won’t be motivated to gather the wood. Conversely, when I’m passionate about my flame, I’ll learn pretty quickly how to gather the most firewood, of the highest quality, in the least amount of time.

You already have a flame. He has a flame. She has a flame. Your brother and sister have a flame. Your co-worker has a flame. Your client has a flame. Your barista has a flame.

Getting your flame to roar takes a combination of feeding it (inspiration) and replenishing the stack of firewood (being productive). Expecting one or the other to do both jobs just ain’t gonna cut it.

Two weeks ago I wrote about your own writers guide. Why not put together your own inspiration guide? A source to come back to when feeling in a funk or unmotivated. Maybe there are a few magazines, books, or websites that inspire you. Maybe you have a particular friend that helps you find your way out of blah-land. Maybe there’s a place you go or thing you do that helps you get back into the spirit. Whenever you get a jumpstart, you can add the source to your inspiration guide for future reference.