What is Enthusiasm?

Today I was thinking about enthusiasm.

According to Google, enthusiasm is defined as “intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval”.

This led me to think about being at events where they encourage you to shout and yell and scream and jump “to show your enthusiasm”. (Mostly marketing events, but some other non-marketing events as well.)

MY THOUGHTS?

People show enthusiasm in different ways.

For example, I’ve never been one of those rah-rah types. There’s nothing wrong with jumping around, screaming or shouting if it’s genuinely you I say GO FOR IT!

BUT IT’S JUST NOT ME.

I’m not going to fake enthusiasm in the manner YOU think it should be displayed just to make you feel better. Not gonna happen.

Usually, the host or speaker yells “Lee, act like you’re excited!” and inside I’m thinking “I AM excited – why do I have to jump around to make you believe it? Isn’t it really about ME? Isn’t it enough that I am genuinely excited and I don’t have to ACT like I am?”

Besides, I’ve seen a lot of seemingly excited people still not get shit done even with all their hyped-up “enthusiasm”. I display my enthusiasm by following through and getting shit done. Consider this and ask yourself – in the end, who is really more enthusiastic?

WHO IS MORE ENTHUSIASTIC?

Who is genuinely feeling “intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval”… The person who shouts and yells and jumps and screams? Or the person who gets shit done?

Maybe both.

In this matter there probably is no right or wrong.

But – you do it your way, and I’ll do it my way.

I personally feel more enthusiastic about my way.