Who inspires you? What inspires you?I was having a socially distant coffee with someone this week when the topic of this newsletter came up. I guess in advance of the meeting, this new business connection checked out my LinkedIn profile where I prominently display and shamelessly promote Friends of Dave.He liked the idea of an email newsletter, and said that he was interested in possibly starting one himself. "I was wondering: what inspires you to write the intros?" he asked.I've been doing this every week for over three and a half years, and I really had to think about it for a minute.Sometimes it is a recurring business topic or thread that I observe during a week. Sometimes it is a random conversation I have. Sometimes something happens in the house and I just mentally bookmark it.But ultimately, no matter what the catalyst is, I usually transfer what is in my brain to pixels on a screen for the purpose of helping someone. Usually the focus is to help someone else. Sometimes, to be honest, it is just me.It got me thinking more about the overall concept of inspiration. It's sort of a super power we all have that gets us to take action -- for those Friends old enough to remember, kind of like Popeye's spinach.It's kind of important to understand what activates inspiration in each us, isn't it? And yet, if you asked the average person what inspires them, you would most likely get a "Hmmm, that's a good question" response. Most people just don't take the time to get to the root of it and tap into the thoughts and emotions that evoke inspiration in each of us.So I'll ask you to take a few moments to think: who or what inspires you?It's easy to say family or money or maybe a historical figure or an ideal that is widely held by others. I think we should challenge ourselves to dig deeper.For me, there are a few things. One, it's the clear vision I have in my mind of a possible outcome. If I can create a picture of a goal, solution, objective, state of mind or physical end point in detail in my head (particularly if it is something that is hard to do or has not been done before), I get fired up to make it happen and become a reality. Of course, winning, particularly on a team, can provide inspiration for most of us. But also, as I have written here before, I get inspired to do everything I can to make sure I don't lose. I HATE LOSING.As I pointed out earlier, being a person that helps someone or a group of people achieve a goal or improve themselves inspires me. I revel in the success of those that I help as much if not more than my own. I truly enjoy seeing growth and progress in others and knowing that I made a contribution to make it happen.Finally, like many people, I am a sucker for the underdog. I get inspired by those who have the odds stacked against them, work the problem, overcome adversity and persevere nonetheless. One individual in particular who, without fail, gets me fired up is my high school and college schoolmate Erik Weihenmayer. I know I have mentioned him here before -- for those not familiar, Erik went blind as a teenager, yet became a state champion high school wrestler and then, after college, went on to become the first blind person to reach the highest summits on each continent (known as the Seven Summits). We got know each other in college, and to this day whenever I see him speak or watch videos of him overcoming fear on a new adventure, I am motivated to overcome whatever is in my way.Your turn. What's your inspiration? After you spend some time thinking about that, check out the links below. Nothing crazy long or too comprehensive this week -- it is still officially summer after all. Did something a little different in the Random section this week -- will likely return to our regular programming there next week.Enjoy -- hard to believe it's officially Pumpkin Spice season, Friends.XOXODave