WORDS TO LEAD BY - Zeal

Continuing with lessons from Wally Adamchik's book, titled Construction Leadership from A to Z which explores "26 Words to Lead By."

This session's word is ZEAL

ZEAL

Zeal - fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor

"Experience shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal. The winner is he who gives himself to his work, body and soul." - Charles Buxton.

How bad do you want it? No matter what it is, for you to get it, you have to want it. Enthusiasm is a Marine Corps leadership trait. The Corps defines it as the display of sincere interest in and exuberance in the performance of duty. No false motivation; just pure fervor for the cause.

(c) Boians Cho Joo Young

If you don't care, neither will your employees.

Leadership is not a popularity contest. Leaders face challenges on even the best of days. More often they are running an uphill race to implement change in the face of employee resistance and economic uncertainty. Who motivates the motivator? The better question is what motivates the motivator? Passion is the answer.

Smith says that passion for anything starts the moment you get a glimpse of the potential for the project, yourself, the mission, and so on. When you get that glimpse, the passion is born. Of course, this means you actually have to have an open mind and be on the lookout so you actually can catch a glimpse. (Zig) Ziglar breaks passion into three steps: (1) analyze what you want in life and develop a plan, (2) take steps toward those goals, and (3) use your head to work with your heart to gain maximum benefit.

"Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion." - Hegel

Zeal Jumpstart:

• Develop goals and work to achieve them.
• Spend time doing what energizes you; it creates more energy.
• Find ways to merge your passion and your work. (Do you even know what your passions are?)
• Smile.

Remember when you wanted that bicycle with the banana seat and sting-ray handlebars (or, Lady Gaga CD or MP3 player) so bad that you were willing to mow as many lawns (or, pick cotton or deliver pizza) as it took to earn enough money to buy it? Some lawns were easy, some were uphill (both ways), some had the added stress of the neighbor's dog barking and snapping at your heels, but they all helped earn the coveted goal. You were filled with enthusiasm and desire, and nothing was going to stop you! Let's choose to live our life with that same zeal today and every day!

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc