Inspiration, and the sources that we derive it from, depend on each person and the circumstances they find themselves in. The greatest sources of inspiration in my life have always been the people closest to me.
The positive attitude of my friends, family and colleagues has helped me to approach life with the opinion that the glass is half full and their encouragement has given me the motivation to aim to be the best at everything I do.
It is easy for me to say that I look up to the Steve Jobs and Richard Bransons of this world, as they have been the best in their chosen fields. There is an envious element of "why didn't I think of that first?", but I also recognise that these guys reached the pinnacles of their careers by having a clear vision and embarking on an immense amount of hard work, long hours, high risks and huge sacrifices. But I look closer to home, back to what my father achieved in starting his own business, taking it from a small start-up company and working hard to make sure that it became one of the leading manufacturing firms in Northern Ireland.
His story has given me something to aim for, with the knowledge that to follow in his footsteps would be a great achievement.