Because it will. At some point, in any worthwhile endeavor, enthusiasm will die. But the reason why the endeavor isn’t worthwhile isn’t because it is enthusiasm-worthy throughout the entire process. It’s worthwhile because once the endeavor has been achieved, it was worth all the effort despite when enthusiasm wavered, diminished, and flat out disappeared.
The Enthusiast vs. The Professional
So when enthusiasm eventually dies, the professional must be present if the endeavor is to continue moving forward.
The professional doesn’t require enthusiasm. They only require commitment, which is not determined by emotion, but rather by intent, action, and follow-through.
The enthusiast waits until they feel enthusiastic.
The professional shows up punctually to do the work and get the work done.
The enthusiasm might search for a result, a specific outcome to sustain itself.
The professional aims for input. Their appearance and presence does not depend on external circumstances. Instead the professional is internally self-sustaining because they only need to intent to be professional to sustain effort and maintain follow-through.
The work is not for enjoyment. To seek it for enjoyment is to invite inconsistency and ephemerality.
The work is out of responsibility. But it doesn’t have to be out of obligation. It can be due to intentional ownership.
For the work that matters most to us, the change we most seek to create, we must not be enthusiastic. We must be professional about it. We must be committed, responsible, diligent, and intentional.
