Phil Granillo

I love being inspired. When I'm inspired, my mind becomes acutely enthused. Without effort, I begin to think things through differently; moreover, it feels like my mind jolts into action and naturally ponders the subject three dimensionally rather than status quo. This results in peak resourcefulness, and usually, exceptional, creative insight.

Let me paint a picture: when inspiration is triggered, suddenly, the dense box that contains my normal thoughts becomes slightly clouded. With excitement, I run to the containment walls and wipe the pane in effort to glimpse outside the box. As insight rushes my mind, the box becomes crystal clear revealing innovative angles, inventive rationale, and fresh solutions. Inspiration has taken me outside the box. In effect, the box that once limited my mind's muscle to reason-has vanished all together!

Many argue that the human mind has infinite potential. Likewise, many agree that it is bighearted to say that we use, at most, 10% of our mind's potential on average. If these premises are true, then we are capable of using much, much more intuitive intelligence. How do we tap this omnipotent well of insight and ingenuity more often than not? 

Inspiration is an impetus to smart and systematic use of one's resources to not just accomplish any given task, but exceed expectations and rise to the top. One's inclination to continuously be inspired is imperative in today's ultra-competitive business world. To get ahead, one must stand above the rest; one must offer ideas like no other; and one must not be afraid to veer from the cadence of the shuffling crowd, "...ah, Phil, get back in formation...where are you going?"

How does inspiration affect our inherent capacity to simply give up when facing stiff opposition? Pushback from one's peers in the business world is routine; as well, it is often very productive in a professional environment. In one of my management classes, I read about a firm that had weekly argument sessions. The pushback sometimes became heated and the study noted that if an outsider walked in on the session, it would appear almost chaotic; however, this was how this firm derived the best solutions.

Having a demanding career while earning a graduate degree can tax one's resilience. I've often heard fellow students use the term "burnout" in casual conversations. However, I'd never experienced burnout (hitherto), and therefore, I could not relate. I soon became familiar with "the term" while enrolled in a difficult finance class that had me burning the candle 35 hours a week. This class was exacerbated by a national brand launch, which exhausted another 50 to 60 career hours per week. I'd never been so stressed-out in my life. I was falling behind in work and school, but I never gave up! I now have two classes until I graduate and earn an MBA. Looking back, it is a blur; looking forward, I see light at the end of the tunnel.

Taxing situations as previously described are comparative milestones of life experience. When I encounter a difficult task, I search my mental files for the most difficult situation that I overcame. When I encounter a complicated class, I inspire myself by analyzing the file on how I conquered a similar situation. When I feel victim to uncontrollable circumstance, I remind myself of how blessed that I actually am. One must open his or her eyes to only see that there is always someone with bigger problems than oneself. It is all relative. Moreover, every obstacle in my path is relative to moments when I displayed fortitude in the face of discouraging circumstances. This is how I continually inspire myself to strive for my absolute best and never, ever, give up. I assume this is how most people think; am I wrong?

So you, the reader, get a feel for my environment while writing this short essay, it all started on a very bumpy business flight over the continental divide. Being a pilot, a little turbulence actually stimulates my inspiration glands. A little more was written on a business flight to and from Las Vegas; and yet even more from a hotel room after a very long-drive in hazardous snow conditions. Inspiration constantly surrounds us all. I think that it is up to us as individuals to open our eyes-and especially our minds-and let the ideas flow; this is how we can peek outside the box more often than not.

Up to this point, much of my MBA schoolwork has consisted of financial problem solving. I've written very few papers; but instead, I've created numerous spreadsheets with long financial formulas and their subsequent analysis. When I half-jokingly mentioned to my wife that I next want to earn a PhD, she became serious and grimaced, "Do you plan to ever enjoy your life?" Although I believe her question was rhetorical, I pondered her point seriously. Because of a full-time career and higher learning, I experienced burnout. On the other hand, I learned a lot, and it didn't kill me, so it must have made me stronger. While managing a demanding career and earning an MBA is very challenging and time consuming, it is likewise stimulating and enlightening. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

I now stand at the crossroads of the rest of my career. The sign to the left reads, "Leadership Development." This path has a peaceful brook that runs alongside the road. Birds are chirping and a cool, mountain breeze brings the fresh smell of pine trees across my face. The path is strewn with numerous leadership manuscripts and has a feel of stroll at your own pace. The sign to the right contains the words, "Relax and let live." It is very inviting with oversized couches, surround sound, and wall-to-wall big screen TVs showing football, action movies, and the occasional NPR show. I'm veering to the left: good thing it's at my own pace.