Four Tips To Get You Inspired

GetInspired

Friday afternoon is the perfect time to get inspired, but combining that with work is something I struggle with every now and then. Finding ideas and getting inspired is not that easy. Luckily, I’ve been in this place before and learned a few tricks I wish to share with you. Here’s four easy tips for finding good, inspiring content online.

That Shadowy Place Is Youtube

Youtube and Wikipedia are like the road, the same way Bilbo Baggins describes it: “You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

“You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

If you’re looking for an adventure, go for it. If you’re wishing to get something done, stay out. And don’t even get me started about Buzzfeed!

Since I have a tendency to end up into the land of crazy cat videos and Wikipedia articles about Triskaidekaphobia I try avoid these temptations.

Search The Golden Triangle

Got past the first section without getting lost to the unknown paths of the internet? The force is strong in you. Now it’s time to go through the three main places you find inspiring content.

If you’re an average university student, it would be my noble guess that you never use LinkedIn – of course you send and accept connection requests, but as a network it’s really not your favorite one. But actually people share professionally interesting articles, slide decks and videos on LinkedIn. Give it a try: click the “interests” section and see what’s new in your broader network.

In case that you have absolutely no idea what you’re looking for, check Slideshare’s most popular shares. Slide decks are quick and easy to read, well structured and often made by people who have really dedicated time for the theme they’re talking about.

I’m pretty sure that TED is the place where the philosophy of 21st century is stored. You can always find time for a 15-minute well structured speech. With the TEDx concept the spectrum of themes has just widened. If you’re not hooked by the talk after two minutes, skip it and find the next one.

When You Find It, Store It

It’s likely that the same slide deck, talk, article or infographic makes you inspired over and over again. So when you find something interesting, don’t just share it on Facebook or tweet it with hashtag #cool. Make sure that you can find that content again easily.

Kippt is an excellent and beautifully designed tool for storing all your favorite links. It also has social features, so you can follow what other people store and on what lists. And don’t worry – it’s possible to create private lists for the links that are there just for you.

When You Find It, Share It

Finally, I would like to share one of my all-time favorites. I think I’ve shared many times on Facebook, tweeted about it and even mentioned it on a blog post before – but this doesn’t get old. Whenever I feel lost, this is the piece I turn to get comfort and a kick. After reading this I really feel that everything is possible. So, ladies and gentlemen, here it is: The 3 Secrets of Highly Successful Graduates from Reid Hoffman. I hope you find it as inspiring as I do.

Federation of Finnish Enterprises Now Offers Student Membership

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Newly founded enterprises are led by much younger people nowadays than a few decades ago. This is a consequence of bigger change in western labour markets and working environment: graduation is not anymore awarded with a full-time vacancy or a long, steady career leading to sweet retirement.

Forced by unemployment – or taking their own chance – more and more young people have become entrepreneurs. Many of them got the idea of starting business in school, or already have founded their own enterprise between break of classes.

This new situation shouldn’t be seen as a threat, but a huge opportunity. Entrepreneurship is a way to follow your own dreams and ambitions – be free and creative.

As a new service, Federation of Finnish Enterprises (Suomen Yrittäjät) now offers student membership. To become a student member, you have to be full-time student and be interested in entrepreneurship. Having a company up and running is not compulsory.

Building a network is essential for creating a successful business, and by joining federation one can get help and meet other young entrepreneurially minded people. Federation of Finnish Enterprises wants student activities, like networking and mentoring meetings, to be free and as open as possible.

If any of your daydreams during lectures have included becoming an entrepreneur, but different federations sound a bit scary at the moment, it’s easy to start by visiting in Helsinki Think Company’s cosy space at Vuorikatu 5.

At the moment you can find additional information about Student Membership only in Finnish.

This Bootcamp is made for You

“I thought a business idea has to be a product, like a chair. On the bootcamp I realized you don’t have to go to a business school to start a business.”
– Academic Action Bootcamper 2012

TieteestatoimintaaSohonkatollarajattu25th of March a bunch of students from the University of Helsinki boards on a ferry and crosses the sea to explore academic entrepreneurship. You should be one of the bunch. Academic Action Bootcamp is both a coaching programme for budding business ideas and an opportunity to get to know other students interested in changing the world and to connect with other builders of new kind of entrepreneurship culture in Europe. You will take part in shaping the trip programme yourself.

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The previous Bootcamp in autumn 2012 had participants from different faculties and majors. It resulted in 7 entrepreneur teams: Avanto, DIY Helsinki Showroom, Huhu, Itäkomppania, Kaskas Media, Torstai and Yhteismaa.  In addition to developed business concepts, the boot generated a lot discoveries. Read how a sociologist discovered the link between anarchy and entrepreneurship.

Apply by telling why you want to join in and describing your budding idea with a few sentences. Your idea can be just a vague start or something you’ve been working on for a while. Read more about the bootcamp and apply by 17 February by filling in the application.