The Power of Enthusiasm

In 1983, a traveling salesperson named Ralph was transferred into a small rural town. He was met at the bus station by Darren, the only other person working in the same town. Darren 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, Ralph had put on more successful demonstrations than Darren had in the previous two months combined! What made the difference? Did Ralph have more product knowledge than Darren? No, in fact he had just started with the company four months earlier. Was he a harder worker? No, in fact Darren 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 Darren 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 Darren? He got transferred out all right -- straight to the unemployment line.

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!"

To be successful, we need to copy Ralph's enthusiasm. I still remember a tagline from my leader until today that is "don't go to work because you need to work, if you are one of them, kindly don't waste my time". At the same time, i wasn't paid because i was in insurance line only paid through commission. Deep inside my heart, what so special about you that i need to work with you and not paid me salary. I just took up the challenge and see how good is him?

Today, after 5 years in the industry, i understand the "tagline" and it was demonstrated in the Darren and Ralph story above. We need to love our job, passionate about it, and the "umph" factor is very important because there was only small margin between success and failure. It just take us little extra passion, hardwork, and whatever it takes to be among the best. It takes only that, in my opinion, no secret whatsoever, all we need is enthusiasm and glue it inside our heart forever and is true to every industries throughout the world. Many people come to me said luck also very important, "no luck, do anything also no use", to me luck is only for those who prepare themselves everytime when there is challenge in front of him. Successful people look for opportunities or ways to improve themselves while person who give up always look for excuses. It's not easy, It's our choice to what type of lifestyle we want. Do we want to be the best and be everyone idol or mentor or do we just want simple and comfortable life. To me there is no right or wrong. However, everyone had only one life, why not take the risk and become the best because we had nothing to lose.