​​Enthusiasm creates energy and motivation. Dogs are excellent at showing enthusiasm, but people frequently feel the need to hold back a bit.
Mike Schmidtmann, a peer group facilitator and business coach, is a master of enthusiasm. In this wide-ranging discussion, he shares his ideas about enthusiasm and how it can help you reach your goals. He says, "You get that feedback loop going where you're more positive, which means other people react more positively to you, which pumps you up even more."
Enthusiasm and joy don't come as naturally as they do for our dogs, but they're within reach. What would happen if you approached your relationships (at work and at home) with a good attitude and and open heart?
​Mike loves the Daily Q's app (inspired by Marshall Goldsmith's book, Triggers) and gives himself a daily score on a 1-10 scale on these questions:
- ​Was I engaged?
- Did I build positive relationships?
- Did I declutter today (to improve focus)?
- Did I have fun today? (This question stumps far too many people!)
- Did I exercise?
- Did I pay attention to my family? (Many people get so focused on their business that they let their most important social connections slide.)
By taking a moment to rate his day, he's adding a level of intentionality to be sure he's living a life that matches his morals and guiding principles.
I do something very similar. I use the Day One journaling app and start each day with these questions:
- List three gratitudes from the past 24 hours
- What have I accomplished in the past 24 hours?
- What were my struggles or challenges? What caused them? What are the possible solutions?
- Did I learn anything in the past 24 hours?
- What would make the next 24 hours great?
What are your strategies for ​making sure you show up as your best, most enthusiastic self?
Share what you do and how it helps you in the comments below.
​Meet Mike's dogs
Danny, the diggity dog, has great enthusiasm for life!
Razz, a Shiloh shepherd, is Mike's wife's service dog.
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