An Ultimate Lifestyle Secret - The Power Of Enthusiasm

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Thursday May 21 2008

Welcome to this fine Thursday.

It was really fun yesterday as folks who saw my note and who had to call me, certainly made sure they brought a conscious level of “enthusiasm” to the conversation. Amazing what a little suggestion brings forth.

Quite a while ago, a traveling salesperson was transferred into a small rural town. He was met at the bus station by Ralph, the only other person working in the same town. Ralph had had his bags packed for weeks, hoping that he would be transferred out. "I can't believe they're keeping me here even one more day, it's a terrible place to work," he complained, "the people are rude and skeptical and no one will let you in their house."

Yet, in the first week, the new salesperson had put on more successful demonstrations than Ralph had in the previous two months combined! What made the difference? Did the new guy have more product knowledge than Ralph? No, in fact he had just started with the company four months earlier. Was he a harder worker? No, in fact Ralph sometimes worked extra hours late into the night. The real difference was Enthusiasm. The new guy was just excited about the product and the opportunity.

While Ralph dragged himself from house to house, putting in his time with a martyr's attitude, the new guy went at it with an enthusiastic flair. He quickly assembled a group of excited customers who helped him spread the word about his product.

In no time, that small town was one of the most productive areas in the company. And Ralph? He got transferred out all right -- straight to the unemployment line.

David Schwartz once made this profound observation: "Results come in proportion to enthusiasm applied." That statement is just as true today as it was when he wrote it in 1959 in his timeless book, The Magic of Thinking Big. Do you have a project that is not progressing as rapidly as you would like? Are you sometimes frustrated when a really great idea only produces mediocre results? Just apply a little more enthusiasm! Soon it will become catchy and infect everyone around you. A little extra enthusiasm can mean the difference between success and failure.

As the old saying goes ... the only difference between try and triumph is just a little "umph!"

Enjoy today’s offering by our friend Gilbert.

An Ultimate Lifestyle Secret - The Power Of Enthusiasm

by Gilbert Griffiths

The power of enthusiasm is born when your thinking is fixed firmly on your goal and your imagination and desire work together as teammates. Enthusiasm is an incredibly powerful tool to create momentum in anything that you are doing.

I have found that when I am enthusiastic about something it is much easier to accomplish it than when I have a task that I do not like. I believe that enthusiasm is a force coming from deep inside you that lifts you up and takes you along. Enthusiasm is more than just jumping up and down or shouting your lungs out. It is bringing joy into your task.

It is claimed that very little of value is completed if enthusiasm is missing. Most of the greatest inventions, masterpieces and accomplishments of all times were possible because the creator was enthusiastic about his or her task. Some even claim that enthusiasm for a task makes up for a lack of skill. I think that we have all seen sports teams fired up by enthusiasm beat teams that, on paper, were more talented.

Enthusiasm is the self-raising force that lifts your dreams up to the stars. All of us have dreams, however, only those people that are extremely enthusiastic about their dreams ever take the action necessary to bring them to completion. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes and the speed of your stride. Everything in your life seems better, brighter and easier when you approach it with unbridled enthusiasm. Remember, when you were little, everything was as bright and shiny as a new penny and you just could not wait to get your hands on it? Well, the world has not changed that much, but you have. Sure, there is more technology today, but life is just about the same, maybe a little faster, but only because you make it that way.

I am sure that if you approach everything with enthusiasm today, you will find that things are done more quickly and that your days will be as enjoyable as they were when you were a child. You see, enthusiasm is the wondrous engine of life that adds fun and excitement to everything you do. It is the underlying force that is at the bottom of all progress. Enthusiasm is a powerful tool and when used properly, it can be a superb catalyst toward progress. Enthusiasm is the mark of sincerity and, truth wins no victories without it. Enthusiasm is the power that lurks within each of us waiting to release our hidden genius, enabling us to produce fantastic results that no one dreamed we could ever do.

In conclusion, enthusiasm is the spark that will take the mundane and turn it into the creation of a lifetime. If you approach all of your tasks with true enthusiasm, you will find that you have unleashed the power and the passion that will ensure success in all of your ventures. It will be a success that will lead you to an ultimate lifestyle, a future full of happiness and the culmination of all your dreams and desires.

Enthusiasm

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Wednesday may 21 2008

Welcome to the midweek point.

Boy, are we having some fun with the whole “enthusiasm” theme.

Here at this desk, we get tons of calls every day. With this week’s theme, we are assessing every call on a scale of 1 to 10 for “enthusiasm”. I have to say that it’s been quite an eye opener.

From service folks, friends, teammates, and telemarketers, it’s really interesting who gets our attention. I’m aware it’s also a two street. If we answer the phone with “enthusiasm”, we get a higher level of response. It confirms the old adage, “you get back what you put out”.

Our buddy David puts out an offering today that touches on the point.

Enthusiasm

by David DeFord

In my small Indiana hometown basketball was king. If you have seen the movie “Hoosiers”, you can begin to understand the importance of high school basketball in rural Indiana.

While in grade school, my friends and I dreamed of the day that we could don our school colors and go to battle for truth and our mothers. During recess we always played basketball. On hot summer days, when our friends were playing in the creek or fishing, we could be found on "the slab" doing battle. Sometimes we literally did battle.

We played on grade school, junior high and freshman teams. We even played for the Boys Club on weekends--always dreaming of our shot at the high school team. Even though we hated cross country, we joined the team every year for the strength and conditioning program. We also organized games against the kids in nearby towns, just for the fresh competition.

Finally our junior year came. As usual, we joined the cross country team and we were in top shape by the beginning of basketball season. As practices began, forty-some kids vied for the twelve spots on the varsity team. After a few practices I realized that I wasn't as gifted as many of the other players trying out for the team. I knew in my heart that if I didn't do something special, I wouldn't realize my long-held dream. But what talent did I have that would set me apart from the others?

Enthusiasm!

Even though my athletic ability did not separate me from the rest, I practiced good fundamentals and played consistently. I became the kid who yelled the loudest for the other players. I congratulated good plays, offered sincere encouragement to those who were struggling and I played very enthusiastically.

When the coach posted the names of those who made the varsity team, my name was listed! Unfortunately none of my friends, who had worked so hard for so long, were listed. While I was saddened for my friends, I had realized my dream.

Though I reached my goal, the most important part of this story is what I learned about life--enthusiasm can compensate for other weaknesses. Everyone likes to be around an enthusiast. Life and its challenges can be joyful when approached enthusiastically.

Henry Ford said: “You can do anything if you have enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait, the grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas. Enthusiasts are fighters. The have fortitude.”

"They have staying qualities. Enthusiasm is at the bottom of all progress. With it, there is accomplishment. Without it, there are only alibis."

Enthusiasm: The Magic Recipe of Success

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Monday May 19 2008

Welcome to brand spanking shining new week.

Last week’s theme of “happiness” most certainly hit the spot with many subscribers and I want to thank everyone for their feedback. Awesome stuff.

This week we’re going to be focusing on the theme of “enthusiasm”. This most necessary element to all successes is often the most elusive. We’re going to touch your senses with it.

We get started with a piece to set the tone for the week.

Enthusiasm: The Magic Recipe of Success

Ralph Waldo Emerson was right when he said, “Nothing great has been achieved without enthusiasm.”

A lot of people confuse enthusiasm with excitement. Enthusiasm is more than just jumping up and down or shouting your lungs out. That is excitement. Nobody could sustain such feeling of excitement for an extended length of time. Enthusiasm is bringing joy into your task.

However, some people could remain to be enthusiastic for long periods of time. Being enthusiastic involves openly expressing your deepest desires and feelings. You can show this by just a simple smile or maybe several shouts of joy. You don’t have to be boisterous to be enthusiastic; you just have to be willing to show your positive feelings.

The first step to improving your enthusiasm is awareness. It is logical not being enthusiastic about things we don’t know much about. If you know the cause, reason or purpose of these activities, it will be easier to develop a sense of enthusiasm towards them. More knowledge also eliminates fear, worry and doubt which are considered the great immobilizers.

Of course, to be enthusiastic, you need to act. True, you may have to discuss, argue, plan, rationalize and do other things which could delay taking action. However, once you work on it, you’ll see that things start to happen, which can keep your enthusiasm level up.

If you find yourself losing enthusiasm in doing repetitive tasks, just ask yourself the same questions why you started those tasks in the first place. Why do I have to do this? Will this help me get to where I want to go five years from now?

Sometimes, you might find it necessary to be involved in less interesting activities. To be enthusiastic even in these situations, just associate yourself with enthusiastic people. Enthusiasm, like optimism, is contagious.

People who show positive feelings on that activity will develop your desire to learn more about that specific task. You’ll soon find yourself reading enthusiastic books and engaging on interesting conversations about that activity.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you think the activity is getting more tedious. Tiring out yourself is not the best way to maintain an enthusiastic outlook. Don’t rush. Take your time to develop an interest in what you do, and don’t forget to accept a helping hand.

Whenever you do something, it would also be helpful if you have some sort of enthusiasm index to monitor each activity. For example, you may rate your level of enthusiasm on this particular activity today and then rate it again tomorrow. You could use a scale of 1 to 10 in rating.

By monitoring your level of enthusiasm, it will be easy for you to improve your enthusiasm level. You will be able to see when you enthusiasm level is going low, and thus, you can immediately correct it. And whenever you’ve noticed that your enthusiasm level is increasing, then you just need to figure out what caused it so you can do it again and again.

Developing an enthusiastic attitude is important to be able to reach your goals. Even if others have long given up on that task or activity, if you are enthusiastic enough, you’ll still have the inner spark that encourages you to continue what you are doing. Through enthusiasm, you can turn your life into an exciting journey.