What does a picture of a 2003 Toyota Corolla car engine have to do with enthusiastic employees? Everything!
Mileage and More Mileage
Although our Corolla is a 2003 model, we purchased the vehicle in the spring of 2002. When my wife took the car in for an oil change the odometer registered close to 300,000 miles. Twenty-two years ago, we had no idea the car would last that long.
Enthusiastic About the Engine
The individual who changed the oil looked at the odometer, opened the hood of the car, and became excited about the condition of the engine and the high mileage. My wife said the man repeatedly commented on this and was genuinely thrilled about the engine and the car.
Over the last couple of years, I met four different people from a local automobile sales and leasing business and told them about our Corolla. They too became enthusiastic over the high mileage of the vehicle and stated multiple times how great that engine is regarding performance and longevity.
Enthusiastic Employees
There were five people who displayed excitement and interest over the engine in our car and the high number on the odometer. Why? Is it because there are too many vehicles coming off the assembly lines that do not last as long as our Corolla? I am sure that has something to do with their reactions, but that is not the only reason.
These five individuals love cars, and they are “motor-heads.” They appreciate the value of a good vehicle and the reliability of an engine and transmission. After speaking with the four people in the sales and leasing business, it is evident they love collaborating with people. They want their customers to have a valuable experience in their showroom and not become soured as so often happens at dealerships around the world.
Attitude and Enthusiasm
An outstanding attitude and enthusiasm go with each other like peanut butter and jelly. If we have a poor attitude, then we are not enthusiastic. Likewise, if we are not enthusiastic about something, then our attitude will reflect those feelings.
In his book, REAL Leadership: The 101 Collection, John C. Maxwell writes, “Attitude is always a “player” on your team and, “Your attitude and your potential go hand in hand.”1 Do you think the employees I described above have potential and are good team players? I do. Would you like to have enthusiastic team members with a good attitude? How about you? Are you enthusiastic about your career, business, or organization? If so, how can you improve? If you are not enthusiastic and have a poor attitude, what is causing that?
Comment below as I would like to hear your thoughts on this subject.
1John C. Maxwell, REAL Leadership: The 101 Collection, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2003), 207 and 219
