Enthusiasm is a key ingredient in a business success. Without it, all of the knowledge, skill and planning won’t keep the business from failing. Napoleon Hill once quoted enthusiasm bears the same relationship to a human being that steam does to the locomotive. That is a very powerful but overlooked statement. Without steam the locomotive can’t move and with steam it cannot be stopped. Your enthusiasm for your business is a great indicator to where your business is heading. So, where is your enthusiasm?
The dictionary defines enthusiasm as absorbing or controlling possession of the mind by any interest or pursuit; lively. I believe it is crucial to any business or salesperson. Both must influence another person to act upon their belief in their product or service in order to take action. In order to achieve true enthusiasm one must align our thoughts and actions into perfect harmony in order to truly achieve that level of enthusiasm. Let’s look at some examples of this harmony.
Take an insurance agent selling a certain type of life insurance product. He likes the product and his commissions. Yet he personally does not own this product for whatever reason. Can he achieve true enthusiasm? I believe he cannot. If the prospect detects a bit of lack in his enthusiasm, he will almost always ask, “Do you own this product?” Now there is conflict for the life insurance agent. Does he tell the truth or does he lie? Either way the inter conflict will decrease his enthusiasm and he will ultimately lose the sale. Remember, enthusiasm can only be achieved when your words and your actions are in harmony. If your words say one thing and your actions another, you will never achieve true success.
I have seen this with people that join multi level marketing companies for the wrong reasons. I don’t want to offend, but make an important point. If this person is obesely overweight, out of shape and have major health problems, they will have problems selling health and weight loss products. The sells will not come easy if at all. Now once they lose the weight, get in shape and improve your health, the sells will come easier. The reason is their thoughts, words and actions are not harmonized and true enthusiasm cannot be achieved.
Years ago when I worked in the beverage industry, I had friends that worked for both Coke and Pepsi. Both of these mammoth companies had policies in place, that if a Coke driver was caught drinking a Pepsi, he would be fired and vice versa. Why?, because these companies leadership teams knew the mental conflict of its salespeople losing enthusiasm for their products, if they were drinking the competitions product instead of their own. Don’t underestimate the power of mental harmony and the role it plays with your enthusiasm. It is that important.
“Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas”.—Henry Ford
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Tim Wilhoit is owner/principal of Your Friend 4 Life Insurance Agency in Nashville, TN. He is a family man, father of 3, entrepreneur, insurance agent, life insurance broker, salesman, sales trainer, recruiter, public speaker, blogger and team leader with over 27 years of experience in sales and marketing in the insurance and beverage industries.
Great Article Tim! Attitude and Enthusiasm are keys to this business! Keep spreading the good words!
Thank you for the kind words Jeremy. Will do!
Thumbs-up
Good stuff – I specialized in LTC and always get the question. I don’t have it myself but wish I did but I have an easy answer. I can’t get through underwriting.
Bill, that is the perfect answer. There is no interconflict so you don’t lose your enthusiasm. I really appreciate you sharing that point.
Do you own this product/service yourself?” Yep. I’ve had that question a time or two. The question you need to ask yourself is – Do you believe in your product/service enough TO own it?
@John Green – As agents we hear that question a lot! I bring my polices to every appointment I have. When they ask I pull out large portfolio of my policies and show them that I 100% do what I am telling they should do.
Here is an article on this topic….
http://www.insuranceproshop.com/blog/believe-in-what-youre-doing-own-what-you-sell/
This is powerful. Applying this to you strategy in life means you will go places. thanks sir.
Nice article Tim. You need to keep the fires burning even though you have been at it for years. I am a very enthusiastic & upbeat person. A few months ago I let some issues get to me and almost everyone I know noticed it right off. Their observation snapped me out of it.
Oluwakemi and Jeff, thank you both for the kind words. Sometimes it is the simplest things that are the hardest to do. Thank you both for sharing.