| THE MAGIC OF ENTHUSIASM | | | | motivational speaker and writer who spent fifty |
| Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful forces in | | | | years in the publishing profession. In 1958 he was |
| the universe. It is the force that often makes the | | | | famously dubbed "The greatest salesman God |
| difference between the mediocre and the | | | | has ever created" after he took the loss making |
| superstars. In every field of human endeavor; be | | | | American Magazine and turned into a money |
| it sports or politics, business or the arts; nobody | | | | spinner with a weekly circulation of more than 20 |
| has ever made it to the top without a healthy | | | | million copies within ten years. Motley attributed his |
| dose of enthusiasm. In fact in the history of the | | | | success to a life changing experience he had as a |
| world nothing great has ever been achieved | | | | university student. To earn extra money he used |
| without enthusiasm. | | | | to sell musical instruments and he was very |
| What is enthusiasm and where does it come | | | | successful at it. One day he accidentally |
| from? | | | | discovered that his instruments were faulty in |
| Enthusiasm originally comes from the Greek | | | | that they produced a discordant note "C". |
| language. In its original form and usage enthusiasm | | | | Although he never received a single complaint |
| was associated with being possessed by a divine | | | | from his customers and although all his customers |
| afflatus or the presence of a god. It was the | | | | continued to extol the virtues of his instruments, |
| word used to describe the energy, fervor and | | | | from the day he made the discovery his sales |
| inspiration that people exuded when they were | | | | plummeted. He had lost belief in his product and |
| possessed by a supernatural spirit. Enthusiasm is | | | | his mission. The moment you lose faith in your |
| associated with inspiration, intense zeal, focus and | | | | mission and product is the moment your |
| enjoyment. | | | | enthusiasm begins to die and your chances of |
| ENTHUSIASM IS THE ANTIDOTE TO | | | | success begin to recede. |
| INDIFFERENCE | | | | Enthusiasm Kills Procrastination |
| The biggest obstacle between most people and | | | | Procrastination is the worst enemy of any |
| progress is not a lack of talent, but a passive | | | | project. It kills momentum and breeds inaction. |
| indifference. Many people do not care much about | | | | However, enthusiasm spurs us to act immediately. |
| their careers and jobs. Few people care about the | | | | One can hardly wait to do a task that one is |
| fortunes and futures of the organizations they | | | | enthusiastic about. |
| work for. Not many are passionate about the | | | | Enthusiasm Is the source of staying Power |
| direction their lives are taking or their personal | | | | Every project or cause has its dark hours. A loss |
| relationships or their roles on a team or faculty. | | | | in enthusiasm has deleterious effects on any |
| Passivity and indifference are pervasive and | | | | project. Enthusiasm gives the extra energy to |
| endemic in this generation. Enthusiasm is the | | | | navigate the treacherous times. The one who |
| antidote to indifference. It is impossible to be | | | | wins the war is not the one who never loses a |
| enthusiastic and insipid at the same time. | | | | battle, but the one who never loses his |
| The source of all enthusiasm is belief. There are | | | | enthusiasm for battle. The ability to move from |
| two dimensions of belief critical for enthusiasm. | | | | one setback to another without loss of |
| First is belief in you. If you underrate and | | | | enthusiasm is the hallmark of true fortitude of |
| disparage yourself and minimize your sense of | | | | character. |
| self worth, you cannot be enthusiastic about | | | | Enthusiasm is Contagious |
| anything. The enthusiasts in ancient Greece were | | | | No virus is as contagious as enthusiasm. |
| people that believed that they were possessed | | | | Indifference turns off people, but enthusiasm is |
| by the spirits of the gods. They did not see | | | | magnetic. People do not always follow the one |
| themselves as ordinary people. They saw | | | | with the best ideas but are attracted more by |
| themselves as peculiar people specially chosen by | | | | enthusiasm, dynamism and positive energy. |
| the gods to accomplish significant missions. Their | | | | Charisma coupled with great ideas and enthusiasm |
| enthusiasm and zeal was inseparable from their | | | | always propels the leader to stratospheric |
| sense of self worth. They believed that they | | | | success. If you have zest and enthusiasm you will |
| were destined to accomplish insuperable feats and | | | | attract zest and enthusiasm. |
| overcome odds insurmountable to the ordinary | | | | The best way to cultivate enthusiasm in your life |
| folks. | | | | is to act enthusiastically. Always act |
| The greatest mistake you can ever make is to | | | | enthusiastically and not like a martyr about to be |
| see yourself as just an ordinary person. The fact | | | | slaughtered. You cannot act enthusiastic and |
| of the matter is that you are peculiar in every | | | | remain indifferent for long. No matter how difficult |
| sense of the word. There is no one with a DNA | | | | things are, raise your eyes and see the |
| like yours. There will never be anyone with a | | | | possibilities. The possibilities are always there and |
| voice or finger print like yours. Above all no one | | | | when you see them your enthusiasm will receive |
| will ever face the exact circumstances that the | | | | a boost. Your enthusiasm will always grow in |
| universe has matched you with. In a very real | | | | proportion to your expectations. The greater your |
| sense, like the enthusiasts of ancient Greece, we | | | | expectations the greater your enthusiasm for life |
| are all children of destiny divinely appointed to | | | | will be. Finally, avoid the naysayers. People who |
| accomplish greatness. | | | | highlight the difficulties and the problems will |
| The second dimension is belief in your mission. If | | | | dampen your enthusiasm and take you down the |
| you are really sold out to your mission, an | | | | gutter. People who tell you that it can be done |
| unquenchable fire will burn in your belly. The | | | | and endeavor to show you how will build you up. |
| salesman must believe in his product and the | | | | People who act confidently and enthusiastically in |
| soldier on the legitimacy and primacy of the | | | | this life will meet with success unknown to |
| cause. Nothing illustrates this more graphically than | | | | common men. Enthusiasm is an accelerant, but |
| the example of Arthur Motley. Arthur "Red" | | | | apathy is a inhibitor. |
| Motley was a master salesman and a prolific | | | | |