Enthusiasm Breeds Success
Posted on November 06, 2014 by Patrick E Alcorn, One of Thousands of Leadership Coaches on Noomii.
When the enthusiastic you becomes the ordinary you, the ordinary you will become the extraordinary you...give more and have a more extraordinary life.
Enthusiasm Breeds Success
Many people have asked me over and over again, “if I were going to work on developing one quality, one personality characteristic, one trait that would give me the most mileage or offer me the most leverage, what would that one trait be?” I have always, every time, without hesitation, passionately suggested that the one quality everyone should exhibit more is enthusiasm.
I believe enthusiasm is the single most powerful quality for success. It is the match to the flame, the spark plug to the ignition, the gasoline to the engine—the oxygen to the brain. Enthusiasm is an outward expression of an inner glow. Enthusiasm is what gets us going.
Paul J. Meyer suggested that, “enthusiasm spells success in letters ten feet tall”. Unfortunately, the older we get and the more knowledge we gain (especially through formal education) the shorter our expressions of enthusiasm. As we mature, we feel we have a lesser right to act out what we feel—to share our inner glow. The more professional we become, the more we believe we have to “cage” our enthusiasm and present a more subtle demeanor. The more we achieve, the more “sophisticated” we become and the less we release our inner glow. A sporting event, a concert, an award ceremony or other significant milestone where crowds are present becomes the only time we feel comfortable expressing our enthusiasm. In essence, we only allow our enthusiasm to shine in extraordinary situations.
Ironically, success doesn’t require anything extraordinary. Success requires doing the ordinary, consistently well. Success requires adhering to daily disciplines aimed at a single target. Success requires selling out to the mundane, mastering the routine and relishing the process. Enthusiasm enables us to relish the process. Enthusiasm enables us to be consistent when routine is the order of the day. It enables us to build courage, regain faith, and create hope in hopeless situations.
It has been said, “no one can deliver the goods if his heart is heavier than the load.” Enthusiasm lightens the load. It is the one quality that separates mediocre performance from unparalleled achievements. Without enthusiasm you have mediocrity. Mediocrity creates boredom. Boredom leads to apathy. Apathy says, “Why bother?” Enthusiasm says, “It’s not a bother, I’m enjoying the process”.
Being enthusiastic means always being turned on and tuned in to your environment. It means having your sensors on, so that you recognize opportunities as they arise—so you can deliver the goods. Enthusiasm works in every area of your life, if you work it. When the enthusiastic you becomes the ordinary you, the ordinary you will become the extraordinary you; then, and only then will you be more, do more, give more and have a more extraordinary life.
To paraphrase a quotation by Edward Butler:
“Everyone is enthusiastic at one time or another. Some people are enthusiastic for thirty minutes, others are enthusiastic for thirty days; but it is the one who has been enthusiastic for thirty years who makes a success in life”.
To make a success in life, become more enthusiastic. One way to become more enthusiastic is to start a file on the subject of success—on the subject of enthusiasm. Every time you see an article (or you see a dramatization of something that typifies for you an enthusiastic person), write it down in the form of an affirmation and work on it as a personal development project. Make it your goal to be more enthusiastic and you will inevitably grow, improve, and prosper in every area of your life. For more ideas on how to create and sustain your enthusiasm, contact Patrick E Alcorn at 214.606.9034 or email patrickalcorn.@johnmaxwellgroup.com.
