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‘Ah-ha’ Moments: The Modern Day Muse
Sep 01, 2009 -
From ancient Greece to modern day Manhattan, creative people have long relied on the idea of the 'muse' for inspiration. Painter Pablo Picasso and musician John Lennon both credited muses for their masterful contributions to culture. But these days, the idea of the muse is being reinvestigated, turned inward and re-labeled as the ‘Ah-Ha’ moment. Today's independent and self-reliant individuals are more likely to find their inspiration in a bit of soul-searching and self-reflection than in divine inspiration, in the form of a bolt of lightening from the sky. There’s no longer an excuse to laze about waiting for either an earthly or divine goddess to grace you with a stroke of genius. Instead, would be creators and entrepreneurs can source their own luck by tapping into their own mind.An ‘Ah-ha’ moment needn’t be the result of grueling brainstorming sessions. Most dawn on people when they least expect it... or as an obvious answer and simple solution to an immediate problem that needs solving (ie: necessity is the mother of invention.) Such was the case with Paul Mann, founder of Fetch! Pet Care. Mann simply needed a pet sitter, and when he couldn’t find one he considered reliable, he started his own company. Mann realized that if he had a need for a pet sitter, so must many others. “What started as a service for San Francisco pet owners little more than six years ago has grown into a nationwide franchise with 200 locations and a network of more than 3,800 pet sitters servicing pet owners in 1,800 cities. This past year, Fetch! ranked No. 964 on Inc.'s list of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation, bringing in $6.25 million in revenue.”
"Successful entrepreneurs do not wait until 'the Muse kisses them' and gives them a 'bright idea': they go to work," author Peter Drucker said in "Innovation and Entrepreneurship." Some 'Ah-ha' moments strike during research and toiling, others come more naturally and organically... but the common denominator is, the source of creation is you. Scientists have even charted the surge of electrical activity in the brain that takes place during a person's 'Ah-ha' moment. Of course, 'Ah-ha' moments are considered a blessing, and perhaps some will continue to attribute them to divine intervention. But when you turn a moment into millions... that's when you can indulge in amusement.
Photo Credit: tiseb
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