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« on: December 14, 2014, 10:52:01 AM »
Inspirational Thoughts
Enthusiasm a Key to Success
By Catherine Pulsifer
If you approach any task without enthusiasm, the task will be laborious. You will find yourself watching the clock waiting for the day to be over.
But, with enthusiasm, any task becomes so much easier, you will find yourself wanting to finish the task not finish the day.
Enthusiasm is contagious. When you work with enthusiastic people, you can't help but be enthusiastic yourself. Enthusiasm spreads like wild fire. Think of people you have worked with. Usually, those who show enthusiasm are fun to work with. And, those who have little enthusiasm usually bring you down. This is true not just at work but also in your personal life.
There are a lot of attitudes among workers that can lead to a better workplace and these can be as simple as respect for others, laughter, understanding, and compromise. But, enthusiasm is one of the biggest factors when linked with all the others previously mentioned. As you might understand, enthusiasm by itself can only do so much but when enthusiasm is also coupled with respect for others, or the ability to compromise in the workplace, mountains can be moved.
Enthusiasm isn’t just about work either. Enthusiasm for everything you do will not only put you ahead in dealing with whatever comes your way, but you are also showing yourself to be a model of what constitutes a person of value, a person of merit, and a person to emulate.
The question for some people is how do I actually show enthusiasm, and how does this translate to model a behavior for others to follow?
To show enthusiasm means that you openly do what others may be reluctant to do. You take on any task with a positive attitude. For example, if you are faced with a problem, you do not start talking about the problem as if it is something that stops you dead in your tracks. Instead, you talk about the problem only as a beginning to find a solution. The problem is only seen as a starting point to move forward and not as a place to stay stuck and complain, or feel defeated.
The next action in resolving the issue is to engage everyone involved that the problem affects. This means that you ask for assistance in finding a solution where you sate clearly that no possible solution is judged or ignored. In other words, your enthusiasm to resolve the issue is the main focus of the conversation. Once you have everyone involved in finding a solution, the next step is to get everyone’s input into agreeing what one solution is the best. It is this demonstration of leading others forward that demonstrates your enthusiasm for the positive and not the negative. Remember this: enthusiasm for a positive solution is the hallmark of a positive person, whereas a person who only sees the problem is a sign of a pessimist.
I have a post-card on my desk taken from "Life's Little Instruction Book" that says: "Be the most enthusiastic and positive person you know!" When I am having a difficult day, I read that card, and it encourages me to change my outlook. To refocus my thinking to a more positive attitude.
Much has been written about enthusiasm, consider the wisdom of Samuel Smiles, "Enthusiasm...the sustaining power of all great action."
If you have enthusiasm you will find challenges you may be facing will be easier because of your attitude. You will find a solution.
And consider the wisdom of Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."
Looking at successful people we can see these words are true. Look at great inventions or works of art for example, the really great ones had an person who was excited and enthused about their work.
And Vince Lombardi whose words may make you smile, but there is true wisdom in them, "If you are not fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm."
Those who come to work full of energy and enthusiasm are usually the ones who are kept on. And the reason for this is that they are the ones who will take the initiative, they willingly help out when needed, and they contribute more than others.
How enthusiastic are you?