Energy and Enthusiasm

A couple of questions for this week: First, what do you absolutely love to do? And secondly, how well do you do it?

Now, whatever your answer to the first question may be, the answer to the second question will be somewhere between, “very well” and “superbly.” Because, if you love doing something, you are probably good at it.

Do you know anyone who has achieved tremendous success by doing something he or she hates? Most likely, no. Mark Twain once said, “The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation,” and that is exactly what successful people seem to do.

Workaholics who dislike their work tend to get ulcers, and spend the weekend resting up so they can go “do battle” again on Monday. But, workaholics who love their work get ahead. It makes their lives richer and more satisfying, and they have tremendous energy for what they do.

Neuroscientists have determined that when you do something with enthusiasm it only takes one-tenth the energy that it takes to do the same thing with reluctance. When we don’t want to do something, we expend a lot of time and energy mentally running down paths that have nothing to do with what needs to be accomplished. (Formally, this is called procrastination, and some of us are experts at it.)

Let’s face it, some jobs are easier to love than others. The key for you is to work toward getting those jobs that you love. And if you can find creative ways to do what you are doing now, it will make the climb toward your goal of “love-the-work” faster and easier. People in charge will notice your skill, and especially your attitude.

So, bring the same energy and enthusiasm to your work as you do to your play, and watch what happens!