The Enthusiasm Challenge

• POSTED ON
• 12March2017

Have you ever met someone who was just SO smart you think to yourself: there’s no way they can’t be successful. Smart people are successful right? Maybe, maybe not. I’ve come across some very smart people in my time – geniuses even. Calvin Coolidge reminds us, however, that “unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.” Then again, haven’t we all met people who don’t know nearly as much as these geniuses might know, yet they somehow seem to not only survive but thrive? Why is that? Coolidge claims it’s persistence. I would agree with that. However, I’d like to submit to you this extra factor that’s often overlooked: ENTHUSIASM. 

Yes, we need knowledge. Yes, we need persistence. But ENTHUSIASM, I’ve learned, makes the difference between people who are just surviving in their business and those who are skyrocketing. Why is that?

1. It’s infectious. When’s the last time you’ve been around someone who was genuinely excited about and thoroughly believed in what they were doing? They pull you in immediately, don’t they?
2. It’s inspiring! Those enthusiastic, excited people naturally inspire us. They give us hope about what’s possible – with our business, in our lives, in our communities – whatever it is, they revive and ignite that fire of hope within us.
3. Nothing can stop an enthusiastic person. Even if you’re not a naturally enthusiastic person, if you can force yourself to become enthusiastic, it will literally start changing you from the inside out. You’ll get an idea and the more you think about it, the more excited you’ll get. The next thing you know – nothing can stop you from achieving it. Perhaps that’s what fuels Coolidge’s point of persistence:

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. – Calvin Coolidge

Make up your mind to be the most enthusiastic person anyone knows in your industry. Indeed, the most enthusiastic entrepreneur anyone’s ever seen! Same thing if you’re a speaker. Teacher. Salesman. Politician. Whatever it is that you do – try doing it with all the enthusiasm you can muster. You don’t have to know anymore than you do now to be successful at what you do (or want to do).

I challenge you to purposefully put enthusiasm into everything you do this week – at least with regards to your business or whatever it is you’re focusing on. Try it. Then come back and let me know how it went! #youcantlose

Senior Brand Director
The ADS Agency