Some time ago I read an HBR article about inspiration in a workplace and why it matters. It was argued that in today’s culture, which is obsessed with measuring talent and ability, inspiration is often overlooked. This might be the case due to its elusive nature, inspiration has a history of being treated as supernatural or divine.
Inspiration has many superpowers. It’s commonly shared by people who are more open to new experiences and have a stronger drive to master their work. Those inspired people are intrinsically motivated and most importantly they have high levels of important psychological resources such as belief in their own abilities, self-esteem, and optimism.
However, inspiration is not willed–it happens. It is important to mention that one should not put pressure on oneself to become inspired considering the evocative and spontaneous nature of inspiration. To become personally inspired, the best you can do is set up the optimal circumstances for it. The exact thing Erling Persson did 75 years ago when he took his first trip to the USA.
Erling Persson, the founder of H&M, was the son of a farming couple, who grew up in a rural town located northwest of Stockholm. With little formal education, he moved to Stockholm and found work as a salesman. That sales experience helped him notice the difference between efficient, high-volume stores with a large assortment of goods (especially clothing) in the USA to more modest counterparts in Europe.
That trip was a true inspiration for Erling to open his own women’s clothing retail house in 1947 in Vasteras, 100 kilometres from Stockholm. He called it Hennes, meaning ‘hers’ in Swedish and it’s the very same store you can see in the picture below.
Hennes went through a different name and assortment changes but it stayed an inspirational place to many. Now the company is going through a big tech transformation with a goal to change the perception of the H&M trademark, to transform from the clothing brand into the leading online platform for fashion and lifestyle.
If you found inspiration in this post and you think I can help you with finding your next job, the easy first step is to send me a message. As a recruiter, the best I can do is assist you in reaching those goals.
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