Inspiration

Star-Eagle Independent Newspaper – AUG 2010

Inspiration for me comes from the goofiest places. I can be looking at a bottle of Salsa on the kitchen counter top and all of a sudden the answer to a truss modification will pop into my head. There must have been something on that label that sent a pulse through my brain and unleashed that missing connection between problem and solution. Or maybe it was just the salsa itself.

The point being that it is the little things that can lead you to solutions. Not just in home remodeling and building, but in our lives in general.

I am reminded of the analogy of a marble rolling across an unleveled floor. You can steer it by whacking it from side to side and waiting for it go get up to speed, or you can just nudge it as it rolls and it keeps going and gets to the end sooner anyway.

Inspiration is the nudge we all need to get us to the end. Where it comes from for you is up to you, but for me, it is often found in procrastination.

If I can put off forcing creativity for a while and just let it simmer, it seems I can usually come up with a solution, answer, idea or what have you that when I look at it from a distance I think “Wow, where did that come from. I wouldn’t have came up with that yesterday.”

Some of you might be saying, “Yeah Joe, I know what you mean. I work better under last minute pressure.” No, I don’t think we actually do. I think we have to put aside the issue for a while and even though our direct attention was not there, our head was hard at work while we were out. So, when we finally dive in… Boom. The ideas come.

The trick to this however is that you cannot specifically plan to selectively procrastinate. You can’t schedule it, you can’t assign it a date or time, or put it into your daily planner. If you do, you will zap out all the good karma and the inspiration will vaporize. Something about how the magic works. You have to fully intend to sit down and work on the problem or issue, and then say “Ah screw it, I’ll deal with this later. I’m going fishing.”

Then, when you least expect it, the inspiration will come. You won’t be ready for it and it did not warn you it was coming. You will be in the wrong place at the wrong time but the idea will come. The thought, the inspiration, your solution.

Is it prayer? I guess it sort of is. Because, you have to remain humble in your perceived greatness. Don’t get too cocky with this or again, the magic will disappear. You also have to be willing to listen to what you are being told.

People will often inspire me in a conversation. A bike ride around the block works now and then. Or just a song on the radio. I do not know why the inspiration comes, I am just thankful that it does.

Please excuse me, I just figured out how to get rid of that load bearing wall!

Joe and Vicki Prin own Joe Prin Remodeling LLC, Idaho Registered Contractor #RCE-23530, and can be contacted at 573-1082 or by email-joe@joeprin.com. Listen to the HomeFix Radio show hosted by Joe, Saturdays, 9-10 AM on 670 KBOI