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"アマチュアはインスピレーションを待つが、プロは始めてからそれが来ることを知っている。"

Steven Pressfield
Steven Pressfield Author
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Quote meaning
Let's break this down. The essence here is pretty straightforward: professionals don't sit around waiting for the perfect moment of inspiration to strike. They dive in, get to work, and trust that inspiration will find them in the process. It's about action over waiting, doing over dreaming.

Historically, this sentiment has been echoed by countless successful artists, writers, and creators. Think of the prolific writer Stephen King, who famously said, “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” It's the same idea. This mindset likely emerged from the observation that those who achieve greatness aren't necessarily the ones struck by frequent divine inspiration. Instead, they are the ones who consistently show up and put in the effort, day in and day out.

Now, imagine you're a budding writer. You've got this idea for a novel that you're totally psyched about. But every time you sit down to write, you think, "Man, I'm just not feeling it today. Maybe tomorrow." Days, weeks, even months can slip by with nothing written. You're waiting for that spark, that magical moment when words will flow like water. But here's the catch: that moment rarely comes out of nowhere. More often than not, it comes when you're knee-deep in the muck of writing, wrestling with clunky sentences and stubborn characters.

Take J.K. Rowling's journey with writing Harry Potter. She didn't wait for inspiration to hit her every time she wanted to write. She had a routine. She showed up at cafes, notebooks in hand, and wrote. Some days were brilliant; others, not so much. But she trusted the process. And look where that got her—seven books that changed the world.

So, what’s the takeaway for you? If you’re working on a project—whether it’s writing, painting, starting a business, or anything else—don’t wait for the perfect moment of inspiration. Set a schedule. Commit to working on it regularly, even if you don’t feel inspired at the start. Trust that inspiration will meet you halfway. It’s like priming a pump: you have to put in the work to get the flow going.

Picture this: Sarah wants to start an online business selling handmade jewelry. She’s got the skills, she’s got the ideas, but every time she sits down to plan, she’s waiting for that bolt of inspiration to tell her exactly how to start. Weeks go by, and her shop is still just a dream. One day, she decides to take a different approach. She sets a small goal: spend one hour every day working on her business plan, regardless of whether she feels inspired. At first, it’s a bit of a slog. But she sticks with it. Gradually, her ideas start to take shape. Inspiration starts to flow, and before she knows it, she’s launched her shop and is making sales.

So, next time you’re feeling stuck, remember: don’t wait for inspiration to come knocking. Roll up your sleeves and start working. Inspiration will meet you there.
Related tags
Action Creativity Discipline Inspiration Motivation Procrastination Productivity Professional Work ethic
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