In interviewing prominent individuals it is often asked what inspired them to do what they did or become who they became. It's almost ridiculous to ask such a question as those who read such interviews, are already inspired. Perhaps a better question should be: "What do you do to stop yourself from being carried away?"
The question of inspiration is better left for those who are uninspired.

I work with people who have been in their same positions for over 10 years and don't aspire to do anything else or move beyond their designated roles. They ride the train into the city, sit in their cube for 8 hours and stare at the screen. They take direction from those who ironically make no effort to make the workplace a better environment. They eat bland lunch their spouse packed them or they made themselves the night before and sit in the fluorescent cafeteria hoping to catch a conversation about which sports team is better than the other. They fail to recognize such conversations are irrelevant because who are they to judge? They ride the train back home, catch the evening news or the latest mini series and then go to bed just to get up in the morning and do it all over again. Their lives become empty and mundane. Yet, they don’t do ANYTHING to improve this.
Why is that?