Inspiration is awesome – then it expires.

Source: http://images.wikia.com/fantendo/images/6/6a/Starmanmario.jpgYou can’t rely upon inspiration alone to see you through the execution of your most important projects.

One of the classic main power-ups in the timeless Super Mario Brothers series is the invincibility star – you don’t always know when you’re going to get it, but gosh you know it when you have it. The invincibility star will have you flashing all sorts of colours while you smash through the challenges, obstacles and opponents that would have otherwise slowed you down or held you back. It’s a real game changer.

But this special invincibility power-up only lasts for a very short period of time. After that, you’re back to normality, and the challenges and obstacles are long your path will become very real again.

Inspiration works much like the invincibility power-up. You don’t always know when you’re going to get inspired, but when you are, you can obtain a massive return on the effort expended towards achieving your goals. But when the inspiration expires – and it will – you’ll want to have the structures in place (the game, if you will) to ensure progress.

For conference and event organisers, this is particularly critical. Sure, you're going to have an inspiring event, and everyone is going to feel great. But how are they going to feel about the work required to make their new ideas happen once they get back to the office, with their overflowing inboxes and jammed photocopiers? Inspiration is great, until it expires. But in the meantime, you can craft and play games that put inspiration to work, unlocking awesome progress.

Progress is, after all, the ultimate motivator.