Jot it down on a piece of paper or make a mental note: on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, how is your enthusiasm today?
When Burger King Corporate called me to make a video about my story and how my leadership style has positively impacted my team, I was thrilled and excited by the idea. However, when I faced the camera for the recording, my heart raced faster and I confess it wasn’t easy. Several times I lost the words I wanted to say, and my pronunciation seemed to come out all backwards. Writing, for me, is much easier.
Enthusiasm is something that comes from the inside out. The heart feels, the mind reacts, and the body demonstrates. It is like fire spreading in seconds. When we have a passion for what we do, everything flows better; energy overflows from our soul and stamps itself in a bright smile on our face.
At the beginning, I asked you for a number; now, think of something that has caused enthusiasm in your life recently, or something that requires you to elevate this flame within yourself.
I have several fire stories I could use as an illustration, but there is one that, although small, caused a certain discomfort in my team and taught me a great lesson.
When a team member taking a customer’s order through the drive-thru spotted high flames near the speaker, I ran to the nearest door and called the firefighters. At the back of our patio, there was an old wooden fence, and from what I understand, while still in the waiting line, a smoking customer dropped a cigarette butt onto the wood mulch ground right at the base of the fence. To contain the flames, the fire department opted to cut the fence, creating a barrier and avoiding a larger disaster.
In the work environment or in personal life, a single spark can start a major fire that can cause a negative impact. However, a great leader knows when to cut the fence and keep the environment safe. To be proactive instead of reactive. To act cautiously and strategically.
But what does this have to do with “enthusiasm”? Everything! In the same proportion that a single spark can turn into a fire, an action can turn into an explosion. It all depends on how engaged we are and whether we are “close” to others who push us forward. Or rather, in the right environment with the right tools.
That incident in my BK patio wouldn’t have reached the proportions it did if the cigarette butt had fallen on the concrete area.
Similarly, to be enthusiastic and focus our energy on our projects, both personal and professional, we must ask ourselves: is the ground we are walking on realistic? Are we surrounding ourselves with the fertile soil that nurtures our growth, or just allowing loose sparks to reach what is dry and vulnerable?
Before you go, please write it down again. On a scale of 1 to 10, where is your level of enthusiasm now?
To be continued next week!
