Enthusiasm and Brains

Some people have brains, but no enthusiasm. Others have enthusiasm, but no brains. It's best to possess both.

Fred Smith, the CEO and founder of FedEx first developed the idea for his company while he was a student at Yale. The professor didn't think it was such a great idea, and gave Fred a "C" for the project. Fortunately, Fred did not heed the "intelligent" professor's advice. Instead he went out and enthusiastically developed the world's largest express transportation company.

Sometimes "conventional wisdom" is the enemy of innovation and progress.

Unenthusiastic intelligence results in half-hearted living. It is, as Voltaire describes, "like a warming oven - always heating, but never cooking anything."

Enthusiastic people aren't necessarily shallow thinkers (despite what some folks might believe.) Peter Marshall said, "Enthusiasm is not contrary to reason. It is reason - on fire!

Enthusiasm is a positive, forceful energy that leads to vitality, success and achievement.

Missionary, Jim Elliot, wrote, "Wherever you are - be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God."

Unfortunately, sometimes enthusiasm is not accompanied by wisdom. A blind, brainless enthusiasm leads to frustration and failure.

Once a valiant knight knelt before his king and announced, "Your Majesty, we have just attacked and plundered all of your enemies to the west!"

To this the king responded, "What? We don't have any enemies to the west!"

"We do now!" the enthusiastic knight replied.

"Zeal without knowledge," said Thomas Fuller, "is like fire without light."

Intelligent enthusiasm is a powerful combination! Use both your heart and head to rise above the ordinary.

"Be renewed in the spirit of your mind." Eph. 4:23