Many people want to receive a regular enthusiasm jolt, so they go to various seminars where they can hear a great motivational speaker, or they read books on motivation. Good people to read or listen to include Tony Robbins, Mark Victor Hansen, and Tom Hopkins. However, the key here is to stay motivated 24/7, and that can be tough. It may not seem like you get much from the effort, but it’s something like air conditioning on a warm day: You may not notice it, but as soon as it shuts off, you feel it right away.

Now, I realize that when things are down, the economy is hurting, or you’re having problems with your life or business, it’s hard to stay motivated. But you have to remember how important it is, because when you’re motivated, you’re alive. You’re accepting life as it comes and you’re eager for more of it. There’s a lot of beauty on this planet, and there are plenty of wonderful things about being born in America and having a chance to be in business and to do great things.

Enthusiasm is a skill you can learn. You sometimes hear people say things like, “I’m sick and tired of this!” Actually, their subconscious minds pick up the idea that they’re sick and tired, so they often act that way. Watch what you say, since the subconscious takes in and holds onto whatever you express. This can be a blessing or a curse.

A good way to think of enthusiasm is that it ends with IASM, an acronym for “I am sold on myself.” Tell yourself, “I believe in myself. I’m a good person, and I believe I can do great things. I believe I am here for a purpose and want to achieve that purpose, while being the best person I can be.” When you’re sold on yourself, and sold on the fact that you can expect to accomplish great things, you can stay enthusiastic most of the time. When you’re ill or just aren’t feeling enthusiastic, tell yourself, “This too shall pass.” It’s important to look at the bright side of life. Yes, there’s a lot of darkness and misery in this world, but you have to maintain the perspective that says, “I want to be a blessing to the world. I want to do great things and be willing to help people who are having a hard time.” That’s the key: stay enthusiastic even when it’s difficult.

Often, how you think becomes a part of how you act. Now, I’m not one of those people who believe that you can just think about success, and all of a sudden you’re successful, or that if you can just think happy thoughts, everything will be fine; you have to couple action with thought to achieve the outcome you desire. But I do think there’s a direct relationship between the way you think and the way your mind puts those thoughts into practice to create reality. If you think and act like you’re sick, you’re going to be sick. If you think positive and act positively, you’ll feel positive. As Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”

So the right frame of mind is essential to success. Remember the IASM rule: “I am sold on myself.” If you’re not sold on yourself, if you don’t have passion and enthusiasm for what you’re doing, you won’t be as productive as you might otherwise be. You have to sell yourself on whatever you’re doing before you can sell others. That’s true in all aspects of life.

If your business isn’t getting you excited, maybe it’s time to make a change. Maybe you need to consider selling out and getting into another business that you can get excited about. There’s no point in struggling every day in a business you hate. There are other things you can do as well. You can work for someone else for a while, if you need to. Whatever you do, be in love with it — or don’t do it. Life is too short to spend time on something you’re not passionate about. Once you find something with good cash flow potential that you can get excited about, run with it and make it your passion, and you’ll find that necessary enthusiasm.

Nobody is born enthusiastic. You have to manufacture your own energy and practice getting excited. One of the quotes I have hanging on my office wall reads, “Generate your own energy. The power plant does not have energy, it generates it. You have to generate your own happiness, power, motivation, enthusiasm, and passion.” It’s not something that just comes to you.

Practice getting excited every day. Search for things to get excited about. One of the best definitions of happiness I’ve ever heard so far is that it’s always having something to look forward to. I love that quote, because with business you always have something to look forward to!