Favorites Friday: Inspiration?

So you’re having a bad day. Maybe it’s the weather that just won’t accept that it’s April and it shouldn’t be snowing. Maybe you owed the government a bunch of tax money. Maybe I Love New York was a repeat last night.

You’re in a funk, but there’s work to be done. How do you break free from the little depressions of every day life and pump yourself up to produce some great work?

We all have the old standbys– an upbeat song, a phone call to Mom (just me?), a long drive with the windows down, music up. But we can only call on these sources so often or else we risk diluting their inspirational influence.

Here are some of the things I turn to for boosts of inspiration or motivation. Tricking myself into producing work I’m happy with isn’t easy, but I’ve spent a lot of time finding the things that get the job done.

McSweeneys “Lists”

McSweeneys is a wonderful literary journal with superb online content. You can spend hours (trust me) on the journal’s site reading through a bunch of great series covering everything from one-line jokes to dispatches for Iraq. This variety, from serious to humorous, makes McSweeneys a reliable source no matter your mood. My favorite section is “lists,” clever compilations of one person’s take on a familiar topic, such as Joel Gunz’s, “Secure Website Authentication Questions.”

Twitter

Ok, ok, I know it’s an obvious choice, but isn’t inspiration one of the reason we use Twitter? Everyday I see the amazing projects people are working on and feel as though I’m behind the curve. Sure, it can be overwhelming (depressing) at times comparing yourself to others in similar positions, but it drives me to keep up.

Band of Brothers

Band of Brothers is the all time best thing ever to appear on a television screen. Twitter inspires me by showing me what others in my industry are doing. Band of Brothers takes this comparative inspiration to a larger level by showing what humans can do. The book is phenomenal too. Nothing humbles me more.

Really Great Marketing

The image at the top of this post is the wall behind my desk. I plaster it with examples of clever headlines, impressive designs and innovative ideas. Much of the stuff hanging in front of me wasn’t created with a million-dollar budget, but instead relies on the smart, simple and efficient use of existing resources. More with less inspires me to do the same.

Documentaries

Just watched Man on Wire a few weeks ago and, if you haven’t seen it yet, Netflix the crap out of it. Individual passion and relentless determination can prove to be a fault, but also makes for a great way to spend 90 minutes of your time. If a man can devise a plan to walk between the World Trade Center towers on a wire, I sure as hech better be able to write some useful copy.

I’d really love to hear what you rely on to get you through a rough day. Maybe you’ll pick up some tips for other readers. I hope to pick up some tips from you.