ENTHUSIASM
I often think about the role of enthusiasm, a sincere interest, in our endeavors. Interest in a pursuit obviously has a lot to do with how we perform, in business, in school, in all aspects of life. If we're genuinely interested in something, it will be more pleasant and rewarding. I would imagine that at some time in our lives we have all done something we weren't interested in to please someone else. How many times do we see a woman yawning in trying some activity to accommodate a man? How many times to do we see a man shifting uneasily while doing something to please a woman? I always find something sad in this because there's something valuable in every experience, especially an experience we can share with someone else. With even modest interest, everything can be enjoyable, or at least not unpleasant. If our hypothetical man and woman could find a way to interest themselves, whatever the incentive to start with, how much more could they get out of the experience.
Even more dramatic is the role of enthusiasm in adding to the enjoyment of other participants. With even small amounts of enthusiasm, we improve the experience of other people. I remember attending a wedding reception with a friend and sitting at a table filled with people who were completely different from me: They were younger and pursuing careers I knew nothing about. When we left, my friend complimented me on being so kind to one of the other people. When I asked her what she meant, she explained that she noticed me questioning one of the younger people about her career and assumed I was only doing it to be nice. I told her her compliment was misplaced. First, I enjoy talking to people who have careers; that is, when a person's job rises to the level of a career in his or her mind, there's an infectious spirit in a conversation. But more important, I had long ago learned the lesson that if I could genuinely be interested in something, whether a reception conversation or a sport or hobby or work, I would enjoy it, I would learn and I would teach; explaining a career (or any interest) makes the explainer think about new questions and paths, makes it more interesting for him or her and, thereby, increases enthusiasm. I wasn't being kind. If I had feigned interest, it would have been obvious but more important it would have reduced the benefit of the conversation to me. By actually being interested, I helped the other person and myself.
If we can approach everything we do with enthusiasm and interest we will not only enjoy the experience more, we will do better. We will make the experience more enjoyable for those around us and that also is something we should strive to do.
5-29-00
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