I watched Lady Gaga’s talk with Marissa Mayer and, while there were a lot of good nuggets from Gaga, one particularly stuck with me.  In the middle of the talk she said: “When inspiration hits pick up the phone.”

And this little sentence packs such an impact.  I believe this is incredibly important in order to have a successful career in anything — and especially entertainment.

Although you never know when inspiration is going to hit, you have to be ready for it.  You never hear artists or scientists or anyone saying: “Man, I had a great idea but I didn’t write it down and I forgot about it.”

Quite the contrary.  People are visionaries because they had an idea and actually wrote it down and did something about it.

Alexander Bell didn’t just have the idea for the telephone; he made it happen. Same for Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison.  Great people who DID something about the ideas they had.

If it is late at night, early in the am, at the gym, never be afraid or embarrassed to stop what you are doing and jot down your ideas.

And you should always keep something handy in which to jot down your thoughts wherever you are.  Personally, I carry a moleskin notebook with me everywhere, and I keep a notepad and pen next to my bed.

I know some people who carry a dictaphone around wherever they go. It can be really anything — iPad, iPhone, notebook computer, you name it — just something on which to get your thoughts down.  Whatever it is, you must write down those ideas and see them through.

In fact, I had the idea for the dance film DREAM ON and wrote the whole treatment over lunch one day.  And now the film is set up at Mandate with Thomas Carter directing.

Although you never know when inspiration might strike, it’s your job to be ready for it.

P.S.  Click here to watch the video of Lady Gaga’s talk with Marissa Mayer

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