Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. — Ralph Waldo Emerson
On the morning of the presidential inauguration, as I was getting my first cup of coffee, my phone rang. It was my daughter. The first thing I noticed was that she was awfully chipper for a college student who was up at 7:30 a.m. She and a friend had been up since 4:30 a.m., and were standing on the Washington mall in front of the capital waiting for the inauguration ceremony to begin. They’d been there since 6 a.m., to ensure they got the very best spot in the non-ticketed area so they could be part of the festivities. They were very excited to be part of such an important event.
I remember when I first picked up the phone, I was hardly awake, but by the time I finished speaking with her, I felt as if I was already on my third cup of coffee. Her enthusiasm and excitement was “contagious.”
After the call, I started thinking about the effect of enthusiasm in our work and personal lives and how even a little enthusiasm can have a big impact on the direction of our day and our lives.
I came to the conclusion that we should all work a little harder to be less apathetic, disinterested, and dispirited, and be more enthusiastic.
Here are 10 reasons why:
1. Enthusiasm is energizing and lifts peoples’ spirits
2. Enthusiastic people are more enjoyable to be around
3. Enthusiastic leaders are people others will willingly follow
4. Enthusiasm improves relationships
5. Enthusiasm enhances creativity
6. Enthusiasm opens your mind to new possibilities
7. Enthusiasm allows you to solve problems more effectively
8. Enthusiastic employees generally get more recognition, better performance evaluations, and more frequent promotions
9. Enthusiastic people are more likely to get hired for a position, even if they’re not exactly as qualified as a less enthusiastic competitor- skills can be taught, attitude cannot
10. An organization with enthusiastic people is a place both employees and customers willingly go to every day
Can you think of any other reasons to show a little more enthusiasm today?
