The outside world as a source of inspiration, not a distraction

A few years ago I met an old friend for coffee on Wardour Street in London’s Soho. We had a great conversation, sharing stories about our work habits. His office is in the heart of Soho, so I said to him, I bet you’re often out for coffee chats with colleagues and contacts. And he said no, he was too busy. He’d pop out to grab a sandwich, that was about it.

When he got back to his desk he sent me a message saying he’d enjoyed our catch up. He noted he needed to do that more often – that it was too easy to get stuck behind his desk and see the outside world as a distraction rather than as a source of inspiration.

It reminds me what Tinker Hatfield, the legendary Nike designer says: that getting out and experiencing life gives you a library in your head. Far from seeing the world around you as a distraction, it can be essential to provide you with ideas, clarity and energy. The thoughts and concepts you pick up will translate into new ideas.

When you lead a busy work life, it's easy to see what’s going on ‘over there’, outside of your immediate sphere, as a nuisance or interference. Local parks and squares, the bookstore around the corner, coffeeshops: there’s often so much right on your doorstep. Just walking around and noticing things, getting stimulated by our surroundings, can open our eyes to new possibilities.