Craft
A builder, artist, cook, restorer, grower, mechanic, performer or specialist whose standards show in the result.
A nomination for attention, not an award
Know a Florida Original I Should Meet?
I am looking for people whose craft, judgment, resilience, humor, service or peculiar expertise makes the rest of us see Florida, work or possibility differently.
Fame is not the criterion. The strongest nomination explains what the person has done, what they know that is hard to replace and why a real conversation would be worth having.
People with a body of evidence
An original is recognizable by the work, not the self-description
Judgment
A person others trust when the problem is ambiguous, the stakes are real or the obvious answer is wrong.
Service and character
Someone who changed an institution, neighborhood, field or group of people through consistent action rather than publicity.
The person may be widely known or nearly invisible outside a town, shop, profession or community. The essential thing is a story supported by specific choices, outcomes and people who can speak to the work.
Give me the evidence trail
A useful nomination is specific enough to begin research
- The person’s name, Florida city or county and current connection to the state.
- What they make, lead, preserve, teach, repair, discover or contribute.
- Two or three specific examples that show why the work is unusual or important.
- How you know the person or the work.
- A public link, article, organization page, portfolio or other starting source if one exists.
- Whether the person knows you are making the introduction.
Selection remains personal
A nomination does not become a profile automatically
I may research the story, ask for an introduction, conduct an off-record first conversation, hold the idea for later or decide it is not right for the series. Nothing submitted here guarantees publication, endorsement, an award, a backlink or a client relationship.
The Inspiration Series brings together personal appreciations and researched profiles. This page helps strong Florida nominations reach me; it does not change the collection’s editorial standard or guarantee publication.
A few useful boundaries
Frequently asked questions
Can someone nominate themselves?
Yes, if the note is candid and explains the work rather than reading like an award application. A nomination by someone who has seen the work firsthand is often more useful.
Does a nomination guarantee an Inspiration Series profile?
No. The series is selective. A nomination may lead to research, a private conversation, a future story or no publication at all.
Is there a fee to be featured?
No. This is not pay-to-play, sponsored recognition or an awards program. Any commercial relationship would be disclosed and handled separately.
Who is doing work I would regret missing?
Send the person, place, specific evidence and your connection to the story. Four good paragraphs are enough to begin.