…Millionnaires?

…Happy?

…Healthy?

…Starting our own business?

…living in a bigger house?

…10lbs lighter?

…Backpacking around Borneo?

Pick a plan, then execute it mercilessly.

The post This Time Next Year appeared first on Hello Inspiration.

Today, we’re going to play a little game…

I want you to imagine you’re a scientist, and you’ve been tasked with producing the best possible cure for a deadly disease. You have a big budget, a fully-equipped laboratory and a lifetime of research ahead of you.

What do you do?

You would get started with your experiments straight away, right? People are suffering, and it’s up to you to make it better. You try different things, and see what works. You mix Chemical A with Compound B, stir in a few drops of Isotope C, boil it over a bunsen burner, throw the whole lot in a centrifuge and wait to see what happens.

And after all that effort, it doesn’t work.

Disheartened but not deflated, you move on and try something else. The nature of what you’re doing means that you WILL have these failures along the way – potential cures that have strange side-effects, medications that allow the disease to come back… heck – maybe even treatments that make the condition worse.

You learn from those errors, take care not to repeat them, and then move on to try something more promising. You keep doing this until either you find the perfect cure, or you die of old age, having given it your very best shot.

You wouldn’t try one potential cure, find out it didn’t work, and then give up, would you? That would be a waste of precious time and resources. Every day you waste means another day of suffering at the hands of this deadly disease.

But in our daily lives, can find ourselves repeating the same unsuccessful experiments time and time again, without thinking to change what we’re doing. We get trapped into thinking that our current life-situation is the only way our life can possibly be.

We forget that life is an experiment.

We forget that we can try out new things any time we want, and see if they help cure whatever ‘disease’ we are dealing with every day. Unhappiness. Dissatisfaction. Lack of fulfilment. Boredom. That faint but undeniable throb at the front of your skull that says you’re not living the life you dreamed about as a kid.

You name it, and there is an experiment in life that will help cure it. The trick is to keep trying something new until you find your cure. The trick is to experiment.

After all, what do we think will happen when we reach the end of our time in this great laboratory called life? Will we be comforted by the fact that we didn’t fail a particular experiment (because we never tried it), or will we regret that we never tried finding a cure by making mistakes and learning?

We are not the lab rats in this life (despite what it might feel like sometimes), we are the scientists. We have the control and the power to do what we want with our lives. We have the power to tinker with the experiment of life as much as we want, just to ‘see what happens’…

So what is your next experiment going to be?

Keep an eye out for an exciting new ‘experiment’ from Hello Inspiration – coming very soon!

The post The Great Experiment Called ‘Life’ appeared first on Hello Inspiration.

The post Belief Is The Difference appeared first on Hello Inspiration.

Who are the strongest people at the gym?

There are people with amazing bodies at the gym that I can’t help but admire. Some people go to the gym every single day. They work out because they absolutely love it. They love the feeling it gives them, almost as much as the body it gives them. The buzz of adrenaline lifts their entire day. They have the toned physique, the rippled muscles, the raw strength and the cardiovascular superiority. They have the ability (if required) to bench-press me and the whole of my little family all at once.

They. Look. Amazing.

There is certainly a lot to admire in these people. But they’re not the gym-goers that I wanted to write about.

For me, the most inspirational people in the gym are the ones that look like they don’t belong. The ones who don’t match the fitness-freak stereotype. The ones who may be a little overweight, are almost certainly unfit, but DEFINITELY look like they would rather be absolutely anywhere else but the temple of fitness that is the gym.

They are amazing to me, not because of their bodies, but because of their minds.

That awkward “I-want-to-curl-up-into-a-ball” feeling of self-conciousness

They turn up at the gym knowing that they are going to face the stares, the smirks, and the awkward “I-want-to-curl-up-into-a-ball” feeling of self-conciousness in the gym probably more than anywhere else in the world.

The looks that say “Wow, what are YOU doing here?!”. The smirks that say “I could run faster than that with my feet tied together”.

They are inspirational because despite the negativity, bordering on hostility, they are still there.

Still going. Still running. Still pushing themselves as hard as they can, as hard as the toned gym rats with their trophy bodies (if not harder). They may not run as far, or bench-press as much as the fitness gurus, but they are there trying to improve themselves, which is amazingly inspiratonal to me.

That is true strength.

Buy ‘True Strength Doesn’t Come From Muscles’ artwork.

The post True Strength Doesn’t Come From Muscles appeared first on Hello Inspiration.

We like to kid ourselves sometimes that we can’t do action X because of reason Y…

‘I can’t go for the promotion because I’ve never done that job before’

‘I can’t learn a new language because I don’t have the time’

‘I can’t get into a relationship because I don’t like the dating scene’

‘I can’t do action X because of reason Y’

Now ‘reason Y’ may be very convincing (or it may not) but we need to be careful that we’re not just a tiny-weeny little bit glad it exists.

Are we hiding behind that reason, because we’re afraid of taking action? Does the reason give us a get-out-of-jail free card when it comes to pushing ourselves, challenging our status quo and achieving something new?

The ‘reasons not to’ are all rubbish.

Here’s a little secret… the ‘reasons not to’ are all rubbish. Complete fabrications. Illusions and falsehoods, one and all. There is absolutely nothing stopping you from going for that promotion, learning a new language and finding a new relationship. All it takes is a bit of juggling, a little re-prioritisation and most importantly, the will to make it happen.

The Scariest Part…

But maybe the realisation that there’s nothing stopping you is the scariest part of all. In the book ‘A Return to Love’ by Marianne Williamson, the author wrote (in a quote widely mis-attributed to Nelson Mandela):

‘…Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.’

If you accept that there is nothing stopping you, then you have to accept responsibility for the progress – or lack of progress – in your life. Most people are not ready for that responsibility. It means hard work. It means tough conversations. It means leaving your comfort zone. It means – at it’s most basic level – change.

But until you accept that responsibility, and take up the challenge, your life can never really change.

Here’s another secret… you ARE capable of doing what you want to do, if only you accepted responsibility for doing it.

The ‘There is Absolutely Nothing Stopping You – Scar Huh?’ inspirational artwork design is available to buy as a framed print, mounted print or screensaver here. It makes a great gift, especially for yourself.

The post There Is Absolutely Nothing Stopping You – Scary Huh? appeared first on Hello Inspiration.

With that in mind, I set my brain working on a new collection of inspirational artwork designed especially for kids. I wanted to produce a some designs which would suit being displayed on a child’s bedroom wall, and would give the kids a set of guiding principles to consider as they grow up – some ‘Life Lessons’.

The result is still a work in progress, but I wanted to share the initial ideas that I am developing. These are simple concepts that are universally understandable, and which – coincidentally – apply just as well to adult life too!

If we can get children to start thinking about life in different ways, they we may just end up with a more inspired, kind and happy generation of children! Fingers crossed.

‘Life Lessons’ Artwork

So here are the three ‘Life Lessons’ artwork designs I have produced so far…

It seems like kindness is a severely underrated commodity these days. Just doing something good for someone without any hope for anything in return is a wonderful thing. And the strange thing is, even though we aren’t expecting it, the kindness normally does come back round to us (and the same goes for being unkind).

It sounds so simple, and in reality, it is. Honesty is the glue which holds relationships together – whether it is a friendship, a marriage, a family, a customer or a nation.

This is the simplest idea in the world, right? Then why do so many of us seemingly forget this basic and fundamental piece of advice for living our lives? Why do we insist on doing things which make us unhappy? Why don’t we measure every decision through a ‘happiness’ lens? It may not be the only factor which drives your life, but it should at least be a consideration.

Each of the three designs is available to purchase as an unframed print, a framed print and a mounted print. They look great on their own, but I think they really work amazingly well when displayed together – choose the life lessons that suit you and your child, and display them all side by side. Commissions welcome, so if you have a different set of words you would like to use, that is no problem.

Please also check out our kids name artwork here.

Life Lessons – ‘Be Kind’ Image Credit: Evelyn Flint/Texture
Life Lessons – ‘Be Honest’ Image Credit: Saral
Life Lessons – ‘Be Happy’ Image Credit: Meg Stewart

The post ‘Life Lessons’ Inspirational Artwork for Kids appeared first on Hello Inspiration.

Welcome to the third instalment of the Inspiring the Inspirers project – a visual design project that examines the nature of inspiration, and how it affects different people in their daily lives.

I have been working with Steve Brennan on a unique design for the last few months. Steve runs Bespoke | Web Specialists, a web agency in Preston in the north-west of England. The agency started 13 years ago and Steve has now grown it to an established company with 13 full-time permanent staff. The company was a finalist for Creative Business of the Year at the 2014 BIBAs (Be Inspired Business Awards). He is truly an entrepreneur at heart, having run businesses from the school playground before the internet was even a twinkle in a modem’s eye.

I wanted to work with Steve to find out what inspires the spirit of entrepreneurship in him. I started off asking about the origins of his business.

“I had always wanted to own my own business.”

“I was working as a print designer, and when the web came into being, it felt like an opportunity. I had always wanted to own my own business – even as a kid I had little enterprises on the go, selling football programmes and making short-run magazines.”

I asked what guidance Steve would he give to someone just starting out in business now.

“Talk to loads of people that have already done what you want to do, and listen very intently to them.”

“The landscape is very different now in this industry – and every industry I guess – but my fundamental advice would be the same,” says Brennan. “Talk to loads of people that have already done what you want to do, and listen very intently to them. Take ingredients from each of them to make your own unique business recipe. There is a certain element of being prepared to take risks I guess, but you have to ensure that you know enough to be comfortable taking them. Above all, don’t let any opportunities slip by – you never know what they might lead to.”

“I’m a big believer that the founders of Factory Records had the right approach – they made up their own rules and succeeded. I definitely see them as inspirational.”

Steve believes that risk is absolutely necessary in the life of an entrepreneur – in fact, he knows that merely being an entrepreneur is a risk in itself. When it comes to taking chances, knowledge is key – a measure of risk diluted with a gallon of research.

“The world needs more entrepreneurs because… it’s fun and exciting…most of the time!”

Armed with knowledge of Steve’s background and business history, I set about producing a set of designs that would mean something to him. He is a quiet and unassuming man, with the genuine air of someone who wants to push his business to deliver ever-better results for his clients. How would he react to a set of designs which attempt to capture the essence of his entrepreneurial spirit?

The final design we agreed upon, after exploring several different concepts, was the “Tunnel Vision” design.

Image Credit: Andrew Sutherland CC-BY-SA 2.0

Steve said “That sums up a lot in a simple phrase, keeping the focus, and also keeping positive – it’s a phrase I use a lot at work.”

“I’m going to hang this in reception in the office – I think it will help to show clients (and staff!) that we are serious about staying focussed on delivery”.

Personally, I love the boldness and the simplicity of the design – it is striking and immediately grabs your attention. I’m hoping to see this in the reception of Bespoke soon, ready to inspire the troops!

Click here to download a FREE screensaver version of the ‘Tunnel Vision’ design artwork

Just remember to say thank you to Steve for the inspiration!

You can view other projects from the Inspiring the Inspirers’ project here, with designs from Ellie Depp and Marie Betty Davis.

The post Inspiring the Inspirers – Artwork Design for Steve Brennan appeared first on Hello Inspiration.

In the meantime, I’ve also produced a simple set of kids name artwork, perfect for displaying in your child’s bedroom. Each piece will be personalised with your child’s name (obviously!) – some examples below. I would love to know what you think about them – please let me know of Twitter, Facebook, or drop me an email. Here they are…

Kids Name Artwork

I love the simplicity of these designs, and I think they will work very well in any child’s bedroom. They will bring a touch of identity and personality into your kid’s space. They will also make the perfect gift for a child of any age, even for a newborn to help them feel at home in their new surroundings!

These are not quite ready for purchase yet, but keep watching this space as they will be ready very soon!

Background images used (in order of appearance): Nicholas Raymond, Evelyn Flint/Texture Time, Penelope Else, Evelyn Flint/Texture Time, evilerin

The post Kids Name Artwork for Children’s Bedrooms appeared first on Hello Inspiration.

Here was a person who was willing to write so openly and honestly about challenges in her life, and how she has overcome them, that I felt sure we would be able to come up with an amazing design.

The first blog post I read of Marie’s was about why she loves vintage fashion. It isn’t really about fashion at all; rather it is about not fitting in, and not being able to wear what everyone else wears. Marie’s writing about the epiphany she felt when she discovered vintage clothing, and the confidence it gave her, was inspiring. She has also written beautifully about her battles with her weight, and reaching acceptance (just about!) with her physical appearance.

Before I even contacted Marie I had lots of ideas floating around in my head, but I wanted to get to know her so I could really design with her in mind. I started by asking who or what inspires her.

“My daughter Lucy is my inspiration, without a doubt. She taught me the meaning of unconditional love.”

“My relationship with her father was quite tumultuous, and broke down when she was only one year old, so it was just me and her for a long time. I realised I needed to do my best for her, not just for me. If I continued feeling ‘messed up’ it would rub off on her and may affect her in later years.”

“The other person who inspires me to work hard is my Dad, who passed away suddenly around the same time that I split from Lucy’s father. He was a hard-working and honest man. A man of few words, but those words were precious to me, because he always made a lot of sense.”

“Dad was a listener and he taught me not to always jump into things; to think before I make decisions.”

I wanted to dig further into Marie’s life and character, and was very interested in a recent experience she had with motivational speaker Sharon Amesu.

“I went to one of Sharon’s motivational events a few weeks ago. I became a tad emotional during one of the sessions, and at the end of the event, a lady I had never met before came over to me and said, ‘Excuse me, can I just say you have the most wonderful aura and persona about you. I can tell you are a lovely person. I just had to tell you that'”

“What a lovely thing to be told, I always used to think I was invisible to people, I just blended into the background. I need to tell myself I am wrong!”.

Having built up a really good picture of Marie and her life, I set to work creating some personalised inspirational designs for her.

I played around with themes of empowerment, self-confidence and defiance.

These themes came through strongly from her writing and from our preparation work for this project. So that we didn’t get too bogged down, I also came up with some more light-hearted concepts around fashion, mannequins and a rather forthright duck!

This is the final design Marie chose:

I wanted to capture something subtle, that hinted at the inner strength that I sensed in Marie.

“I love ladybirds, and I love this design!” said Marie.

“The words are a daily reminder for me that I AM strong and capable, if only I believe in myself.”

If this story and the Ladybirds design has inspired you, you can buy this design as a framed print, mounted print, poster and screensaver here.

You can find Marie on Twitter here.

The post Inspiring the Inspirers – Artwork Design for Marie Betty Davis appeared first on Hello Inspiration.

We’ve been slogging away at Hello Inspiration Towers (OK, Hello Inspiration Basement) and I’m super-pleased to be able to show off these four new greetings card designs. All cards are blank inside for your own message, but their fronts are anything but plain!

Here’s a sneak peek of what they look like…

Most Awesome Person – New Greetings Card Design

‘You’re the most awesome person I know (apart from me).’ Yes, you’re rather amazing. You’re pretty awesome. So awesome, in fact, that I can only think of one person who is more awesome… guess who?!

Amazeballs – New Greetings Card Design

‘Amazeballs’. I don’t want to blow your trumpet or anything, but you’re pretty amazeballs.

Super Awesome Fantastic – New Greetings Card Design

‘Hey There Super Awesome Fantastic Amazing Person’. Credit where it’s due – I could have gone on and on listing the superlatives, but hopefully you get the idea. You’re awesome. Amazing. Brilliant. Etc.

O.M.G. – New Greetings Card Design

‘O.M.G.’ Sometimes only a shaggy-haired cow can really help get your message across.

You can also make any of these new greetings card designs into a framed print, mounted print, screensaver or poster print. We’ll also turn it into anything else your little heart desires, apart from a handbag. Here at Hello Inspiration we frown upon photo-printed handbags.

We would love to know what you think of the new greetings card designs – which one is your favourite? Drop us a line to chris@helloinspiration.co.uk and let us know which one you like best, and we might just send you out a free sample!

The post New Greetings Card Designs Just Landed! appeared first on Hello Inspiration.