I have a peculiar confession to make. I was a cheerleader at Florida State University back in the day. It started off as a joke with two fraternity friends who walked by me on campus on their way to tryouts. Interestingly, I made the squad but my friends didn't. Awkward. In any event, it was insanely fun being able to travel with the team who were the best in the country, the Bobby Bowden dynasty. When I started out, I didn't realize people in the stands could hear the cheerleaders. I figured I could just yell random inappropriate words and no one would notice. However, I found out later that my potty mouth amplified with a megaphone was heard by a surprising high percentage of the 50,000 in attendance.

In the early 1980s, my fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha, was one of the largest chapters in the US. Many of my Pike brothers' were very good looking, exceled in athletics, were strong in academics and everyone dressed sharp. Drinking imprudent amounts of adult beverages was always on tap. Mix in a mélange of personalities, preppies, rednecks, South Florida drug cartel-like characters, born agains and nerds; this collective group was extreme fun. I recently got a personal phone call from a frat brother that everyone refers to with two words, Bubba Dude. His moniker came from his use of these two words, bubba and dude, interchangeably, independently and/or combined seemingly in every sentence he spoke. I'm not sure that I even know his real name.

Bubba Dude's best trait is his enthusiasm. He's pumped, excited, psyched, motivated, intense and about 20 other synonyms he exemplifies. Bubba Dude recently called me and said our alumni get-togther this year in Key West was going to be Epic!!!  He mentioned that he had 100 hotel rooms, an equal number of "bubbas" that were sure to show and T-shirts for everyone!!! That got me thinking about enthusiasm, both professionally and personally.



Catherine Rampell, a guest columnist with the Washington Post, wrote a recent article about politicians being proud of their lack of enthusiasm regarding technology. Her point was that many of our politicians in Washington are proud not to have ever sent an email or limited use of the web. "Not taking the time to learn to communicate the way that pretty much everyone else in the nation does reveals such mind-boggling levels of societal incuriosity that it should be considered political malpractice. It should probably also disqualify you from crafting any policy that has ever been tangentially touched by the now decades-old digital revolution."

The lack of curiosity or enthusiasm is well documented such as:

• "...the worst thing said about him is that he was uncurious." - Yvon Chouinard, author of Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman.
• "Enthusiasm spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment." - Norman Vincent Peale (minister and author of The Power of Positive Thinking)
• "Anxious fills the enthusiasm that lifts you up from your tiredness." - Samar Sudha, (writer)
• "Ambition is enthusiasm with a purpose." - Frank Tyger (editorial cartoonist and columnist)
• "Talent without enthusiasm is like a Ferrari without fuel" - Sebastyne Young (author of Wait Until You're Old and Alone)

So what's your purpose, what gives you enthusiasm? Do you just mindlessly drive the same roads to work, turnaround and go back hours later? When people talk, do you only hear "blah, blah, blah?" Are you enthusiastic about your appraisal career, your personal relationships and your health? Do you have any enthusiasm? If not, are you interested in getting it back? Do you care? Be like Bubba Dude. Get excited, get pumped, you might find your life purpose, and if you do, I guarantee it will be EPIC!