Great photo, Jye … and great sentiment. When I left university I really started to learn … now, I learn more each year than I did during my entire degree. My curiosity is rampant but sometimes exhausting ;) … keep pushing it!

Very nice post Jye.

I’m usually inspired by something that challenges my way of thinking; a shiny new piece of information, a vastly different perspective, etc…

I’m very fortunate that my work often feeds me great servings of inspiration. Just one focus group, listening to 6 or 7 different people, and their different opinions, can be a galvanising feast!

Good seeing you this morning Jye!

Conversations are awesome! I hunger for them. Sometimes they generate inspiration, however, that inspiration is often fleeting, forgotten in a busy work day, stressful moment or a great wave.

Only when I continue to ponder that inspiration does it actually change my perspective. Then I learn and maybe even turn it into and insight that improves my life in some way. But how do I do this?

I leverage conversations by blogging. When I get inspired I think, ‘I’ll blog that’, then I write the inspirational nuggets down on a beer coaster, serviette or a pad. Maybe I’ll even use my phone to Tweet about it, that’s like writing a note to self. Then, when I get time, I enter the nugget into my blog and start writing my thoughts down free form. I might even do a bit of research!

I may complete a post then and there or I might finish it in a year. Doesn’t matter, the inspiration is safe. When I actually write the blog post, tighten it up, worry about what other people will think and publish; I process the inspiration and turn it into an insight. But that is not it. The process is only part way there!

Once blogged, people read about the insight and comment. They might criticise me or praise me, either way, I learn. Only then is the conversation is truly leveraged.

James, some truly insightful comments. Thank you so much for sharing them with all of us.

Conversations are inspiring in their own right. Whether it is face to face or through some sort of media (including imagery), I am continually inspired by the people, by the words, by the ideas. I’m not a big talker, but I am a huge listener, which allows me to process ideas thoroughly before coming to my conclusion. People facinate me & conversations inspire me. If I can take something from someone, whether it be fresh ideas, a different perspective or even hailing them as my new mentor…then i’m happy.

People fascinate me too. I love interaction and can spend hours thinking about it. And yes, mentorship is one of the things I value most.

Jye, I identify with most of your sentiments. I don’t feel that all conversations are inspirational, nor do they need to be. Sometimes it’s fine to have a conversation just because you want to stay connected. While an awful lot of learning can take place through conversations, sometimes I just want to “shoot the breeze” and Steal a few minutes away from real life.

[...] from your team is participating in the other conversations that are being held away from your sites? Or other blogs, forums and communities and actually [...]

My take on converstations start with where the meaning of the word may come from and then how I put my spin on the way I see it.

Conversation comes from converse which can be taken to mean

to be with
To talk with
to Commune which leads me back to

To converse
To communicate in an intimate manner
To communicate with sentiment
To relate to as in to commune with Nature
To share ideas and thoughts
To live together
To take together or share

Unless your french in which case there is some form or revolution to take into account

And that is but few takes of the one word. I twisted it a bit of course. Converse to commune. But to me conversing is about sharing.

But to most the modern use of the word only involves spoken words.

As for me new or old conversations all carry the delightful thought that we can learn something new. We may not but we may. And to most that is enough to keep us interested. I mean how often do your eyes glaze over at the stories so often told ;-))

I will insist that there is a major element to conversation where I can commune without verbalisation. And I don’t even mean in a touch or visual sense. But just by being. That unspoken conversation of spending time with someone with no words spoken. A shared instant or longer.

Of course you can ask “Have I engaged in verbal conversation?” No but I have communicated. I have conversed. I have communed.

So while the joy of learning can be driven by verbal conversation take pleasure in the other levels of your soul that can be reached and sated by the unspoken conversation.

to converse
to commune

Regarding the ease of being with friends. Well hey think of the risks. You may not like me. You may prove me wrong. I have to get to know you and that involves work. You maybe someone I don’t like. What if your my exs new partner. Risks.

Got to love fear and laziness. I am as guilty as sin your honour. God I love friends when they have done the hard work. Or when travel or activities put me in the position that makes meeting people easier. Hey nothing like that shared experience of jumping 15 meters of a cliff to make me say hi ;-))

[...] Jye Smith insights into conversations recently prompted me to wax lyrical on his blog. I couldn’t let you miss out! [...]

[...] Conversations: what inspires you? [...]