Enthusiasm

It may go without saying but I’m thick so I will say it anyway, I need to do what I believe in.
It may be stating the obvious, but I have tried to do things I did not believe in and as they say “his heart wasn’t in it.”  This is not talking about jobs given to me by those who have the authority to give them.  Those jobs just need to be done whether I believe in them or not.
I am talking about activities I do outside of work.  Mostly it is things I am passionate about.  If my heart is not in it I will never give it what it deserves.  Sure, I may do a reasonable job but to me it probably deserves more.
When I believe in something I tend to be enthusiastic.  I have seen it everywhere, nothing is as contagious as enthusiasm.  It may surprise many people to know the root meaning of the word enthusiasm.  If I want people to believe in what I am promoting I need to be enthusiastic.  Of course that does not mean being up all the time but you have no doubt seen it – get someone talking about what they are passionate about and they warm to it.  Often the hardest part is getting them to stop!
Among other things I am passionate about table tennis, stamps, my garden, my faith, birds.  Start me talking about those and I will talk till the cows come home and then some.  My dad was a really good golfer.  He could describe every shot in a round.  Now my oldest brother is that way.  He loves his golf.  When we visit him, we often bring golfing memorabilia as we know it will never not be appreciated.  
I remember when I beat my dad at golf.  We will not mention that he had left his glasses at home.  I am a table tennis tragic now.  I was a golf tragic at one stage.  Forensic evidence would show I was not well enough for work, but I was well enough to pack my clubs with dad and head to Wynnum golf course for 18 holes.  We would regularly play nine holes at Pacific Golf club after work in summer.
When I believe in something, obstacles tend to be stepping stones rather than barriers.  I have found that if I want something I need to go for it.  Others may try to stand in my way but that will only work if I let them.  When I give my heart and soul to something I tend to think about it a lot.  I have found the more thought I give to something the more likely I am to come up with the best solutions.
In a way I guess it is like anything.  It is not my desire just to make the grade, I want to go above and beyond.  To do that I really must believe in, and be enthusiastic about, what I am doing.