Notes from Steve

Be zealous. (showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.)

Hmm.  That’s me.  Admittedly, I get too excited when I’m in pursuit of a cause, and I drive people crazy.  I know this about myself, and I have no plans to change my behavior.  

I remember once long ago, I used to be wildly enthusiastic about our Studer journey, and I’d use (overuse) the term “sense of urgency” regarding everything.  A senior leader told me to knock it off, and I felt defeated and shutdown and my energy dropped.  Someone else told me to stop talking about Quint, and I felt even more deflated.  If you allow others to buzzkill your energy or spark … the passion will fizzle out.

I think this happens to a lot of people.  Collectively, we as a society feel its our job to reduce other’s zealous behavior.*  I say if they aren’t hurting you or anyone else, and they want to talk about biking or cats or Quint endlessly … then let them.  Walk away, ignore them … but don’t damper their enthusiasm.  It might not come back, and wouldn’t that be a shame?

*My great niece, Kaitlin (2 ½), got into an argument with my nephew, Eric (27), at Thanksgiving last year.    She told him to stop looking at her - he was bothering her.  He told her she was bothering him.  It went on for the entire afternoon.  It was a zealous battle of wills.  It was quite enjoyable.