Four Things that are Inspiring Me Today

I was reading a post this morning by Chris Brogan on tips for coming up with blog content and his last point really stood out to me – recognizing others that are doing good stuff. Lately, I’ve been really inspired by things I’ve run across online, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to share this inspiration on my blog.

I took this picture of a butterfly on a recent camping trip. Simply beautiful.

Here are a few of the things that are inspiring me today:

1. Shannon Lane
Jason Falls tweeted about this entry earlier today and I have to say, I was very moved by Shannon’s story. She reminds us to take time to do the things that are important in life, because ‘one day’ is today, and we would be wise to remember that as we go through our lives. Do the important stuff now – don’t put it off. Thanks to Shannon and Jason for this inspiration.

2. Freeworld Media
I’ve recently become Twitter ‘friends’ with Sean from Freeworld Media. We’ve chatted back and forth about social media stuff, and even my passion for biodiesel, which Sean is also interested in. Today I decided to check out his site, and I was really impressed with what I saw. Not only does it look like they are doing great work, but their attitude about the types of work they want to do and how it affects society really impressed me. It reminded me of how I look at my own career and how I want to do the kind of work that makes me feel good about my contribution to the world around me. Check out the Focus page on the site and see for yourself. Kudos for your eloquence on this Sean.

3. Augie Ray
I’ve consistently enjoyed reading Augie’s writing. He’s making a big move next week, but that hasn’t stopped him from contributing some great material to conversations on Twitter, his blog, Social Media Today, and many other places I’m sure I don’t know about. Take a minute to check Augie out. He’s a good guy with a smart outlook on marketing and business in general. And if you feel so inclined, drop him a note and wish him well as he moves from his home in Milwaukee to explore a new opportunity with Forrester.

4. Indigo Twelve West
Every time I read something about Portland, I like what I read. This city has the kind of personality and mindset that I really relate to. The other night I was poking around online and checking out different things that are happening in Portland, and I ran across this development. Today is actually their big opening event, and I wish them all the best. The building is set to be Platinum LEED certified, and has some really incredible features that promote sustainability. This really resonates with me, as I seek to incorporate this kind of mindset into everything I do. I wish them the best in their opening and I look forward to checking it out when I visit Portland (which will hopefully be soon). If I were to take Shannon’s advice from above, I should go ahead and book that trip now. 🙂

So, these are some of the things that are inspiring me today. Of course, I have to give credit to Chris Brogan for the inspiration to write this post and the general topic. Thanks Chris – and keep up the great work!

What about you? What’s inspiring you today?