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Intentional Enthusiasm: How to accelerate personal greatness | Sonny Melendrez | TEDxSanAntonio


I’ve never noticed if some people who

I’ve never noticed if some people who always seem to be in a good mood always

always seem to be in a good mood always

always seem to be in a good mood always cheerful always smiling and you say to

cheerful always smiling and you say to

cheerful always smiling and you say to yourself come on nobody’s that happy all

yourself come on nobody’s that happy all

yourself come on nobody’s that happy all the time well these are words I’ve heard

the time well these are words I’ve heard

the time well these are words I’ve heard whispered about me all my life so what

whispered about me all my life so what

whispered about me all my life so what I’d like to do is pull back the curtain

I’d like to do is pull back the curtain

I’d like to do is pull back the curtain on this positive operating system and

on this positive operating system and

on this positive operating system and explain to you how it works why it works

explain to you how it works why it works

explain to you how it works why it works and how it might work for you

and how it might work for you

and how it might work for you I call it intentional enthusiasm and I

I call it intentional enthusiasm and I

I call it intentional enthusiasm and I found that it has three key elements

found that it has three key elements

found that it has three key elements belief vision and gratitude believe in

belief vision and gratitude believe in

belief vision and gratitude believe in yourself

yourself

yourself visualize what you want to accomplish

visualize what you want to accomplish

visualize what you want to accomplish and be grateful along the way let me

and be grateful along the way let me

and be grateful along the way let me share some stories first belief when I

share some stories first belief when I

share some stories first belief when I was 13 years old I wanted to be on the

was 13 years old I wanted to be on the

was 13 years old I wanted to be on the radio so badly that I couldn’t wait to

radio so badly that I couldn’t wait to

radio so badly that I couldn’t wait to grow up so I created my own radio show

grow up so I created my own radio show

grow up so I created my own radio show with my little portable tape recorder

with my little portable tape recorder

with my little portable tape recorder and my record player I would play the

and my record player I would play the

and my record player I would play the songs and then talk just like to get on

songs and then talk just like to get on

songs and then talk just like to get on the radio then take these shows and play

the radio then take these shows and play

the radio then take these shows and play them for my friends on the phone now let

them for my friends on the phone now let

them for my friends on the phone now let me explain we didn’t exactly have a

me explain we didn’t exactly have a

me explain we didn’t exactly have a phone you see we didn’t live in a house

phone you see we didn’t live in a house

phone you see we didn’t live in a house we lived in my father’s barbershop he

we lived in my father’s barbershop he

we lived in my father’s barbershop he partitioned half of it in fact it wasn’t

partitioned half of it in fact it wasn’t

partitioned half of it in fact it wasn’t even a full address it was nine oh eight

even a full address it was nine oh eight

even a full address it was nine oh eight and a half Dolan streets half was a

and a half Dolan streets half was a

and a half Dolan streets half was a print shop and half was my dad’s barber

print shop and half was my dad’s barber

print shop and half was my dad’s barber shop so we lived in half of a half the

shop so we lived in half of a half the

shop so we lived in half of a half the reason we moved in there was so that my

reason we moved in there was so that my

reason we moved in there was so that my mom and dad could give my brother and me

mom and dad could give my brother and me

mom and dad could give my brother and me the education they never had and so the

the education they never had and so the

the education they never had and so the phone was on the wall next to the

phone was on the wall next to the

phone was on the wall next to the shoeshine stand in the barber shop and

shoeshine stand in the barber shop and

shoeshine stand in the barber shop and at night my dad would give me three

at night my dad would give me three

at night my dad would give me three dimes and I would stumble in the dark in

dimes and I would stumble in the dark in

dimes and I would stumble in the dark in the barber shop make my way to the

the barber shop make my way to the

the barber shop make my way to the shoeshine stand sit there and dial one

shoeshine stand sit there and dial one

shoeshine stand sit there and dial one friend at a time and play my little

friend at a time and play my little

friend at a time and play my little productions and when I went to bed under

productions and when I went to bed under

productions and when I went to bed under my pillow was my favorite radio station

my pillow was my favorite radio station

my pillow was my favorite radio station now would fall asleep dreaming to myself

now would fall asleep dreaming to myself

now would fall asleep dreaming to myself day I’m gonna be on that station one day

day I’m gonna be on that station one day

day I’m gonna be on that station one day fast forward nine short years I was not

fast forward nine short years I was not

fast forward nine short years I was not only on that station I was programming

only on that station I was programming

only on that station I was programming it believe in yourself

it believe in yourself

it believe in yourself vision in 1950 a swimmer by the name of

vision in 1950 a swimmer by the name of

vision in 1950 a swimmer by the name of Florence Mae Chadwick became the first

Florence Mae Chadwick became the first

Florence Mae Chadwick became the first woman to swim the English Channel both

woman to swim the English Channel both

woman to swim the English Channel both ways and while many lauded her

ways and while many lauded her

ways and while many lauded her accomplishment there was something she’d

accomplishment there was something she’d

accomplishment there was something she’d always wanted to do ever since she was a

always wanted to do ever since she was a

always wanted to do ever since she was a kid and that was to become the first

kid and that was to become the first

kid and that was to become the first person to swim the English Channel

person to swim the English Channel

person to swim the English Channel not only the English Channel but to swim

not only the English Channel but to swim

not only the English Channel but to swim the channel between California where she

the channel between California where she

the channel between California where she lived the Southern California Shore and

lived the Southern California Shore and

lived the Southern California Shore and Catalina Island 26 miles across the sea

Catalina Island 26 miles across the sea

Catalina Island 26 miles across the sea and so in 1952 she entered the water to

and so in 1952 she entered the water to

and so in 1952 she entered the water to do just that she swam for 14 hours there

do just that she swam for 14 hours there

do just that she swam for 14 hours there were three little Robo its following her

were three little Robo its following her

were three little Robo its following her one of them had men with shotguns

one of them had men with shotguns

one of them had men with shotguns scaring away the Sharks that would

scaring away the Sharks that would

scaring away the Sharks that would circle around her the sea was very

circle around her the sea was very

circle around her the sea was very choppy and it was very thick fog that

choppy and it was very thick fog that

choppy and it was very thick fog that day and so she swam and swam her mother

day and so she swam and swam her mother

day and so she swam and swam her mother was in one of the boats that said

was in one of the boats that said

was in one of the boats that said Florence you don’t have to do this you

Florence you don’t have to do this you

Florence you don’t have to do this you can you can give up she says no I want

can you can give up she says no I want

can you can give up she says no I want to keep going she swam for another hour

to keep going she swam for another hour

to keep going she swam for another hour and finally did give up as they were

and finally did give up as they were

and finally did give up as they were pulling her onto the boat the fog began

pulling her onto the boat the fog began

pulling her onto the boat the fog began to lift and there less than a mile away

to lift and there less than a mile away

to lift and there less than a mile away was the shore she was trying to reach

was the shore she was trying to reach

was the shore she was trying to reach with that vision burned in her mind she

with that vision burned in her mind she

with that vision burned in her mind she came back two months later and not only

came back two months later and not only

came back two months later and not only made the full distance but did it in

made the full distance but did it in

made the full distance but did it in half the time of her failed attempt she

half the time of her failed attempt she

half the time of her failed attempt she later said that it was that vision of

later said that it was that vision of

later said that it was that vision of the shore burned in her mind that indeed

the shore burned in her mind that indeed

the shore burned in her mind that indeed gave her the stamina and the strength to

gave her the stamina and the strength to

gave her the stamina and the strength to get to the other side have a clear

get to the other side have a clear

get to the other side have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish

vision of what you want to accomplish

vision of what you want to accomplish the third element is gratitude I love

the third element is gratitude I love

the third element is gratitude I love this story about a professor who taught

this story about a professor who taught

this story about a professor who taught in a college class it was at early

in a college class it was at early

in a college class it was at early morning Monday class

morning Monday class

morning Monday class and he told his students to get out

and he told his students to get out

and he told his students to get out their notebook and go to a blank page

their notebook and go to a blank page

their notebook and go to a blank page and try draw a line right down the

and try draw a line right down the

and try draw a line right down the middle he said on this side of the page

middle he said on this side of the page

middle he said on this side of the page I want you to put all the things you

I want you to put all the things you

I want you to put all the things you hate about your life don’t leave

hate about your life don’t leave

hate about your life don’t leave anything out just put it all there and

anything out just put it all there and

anything out just put it all there and don’t worry no one’s gonna see this but

don’t worry no one’s gonna see this but

don’t worry no one’s gonna see this but you and on this side all the things you

you and on this side all the things you

you and on this side all the things you are grateful for

are grateful for

are grateful for well the students were kind of puzzled

well the students were kind of puzzled

well the students were kind of puzzled but they did it anyway and as he walked

but they did it anyway and as he walked

but they did it anyway and as he walked around the classroom out of the corner

around the classroom out of the corner

around the classroom out of the corner of his eye he could see that they had a

of his eye he could see that they had a

of his eye he could see that they had a big long list on this side

big long list on this side

big long list on this side in a very short one over here he said

in a very short one over here he said

in a very short one over here he said all right put your pens down

all right put your pens down

all right put your pens down now count all the things that you listed

now count all the things that you listed

now count all the things that you listed on the left side of the page everything

on the left side of the page everything

on the left side of the page everything that you hate about your life take that

that you hate about your life take that

that you hate about your life take that number come up to my desk next to it

number come up to my desk next to it

number come up to my desk next to it he had a big stack of burlap sacks and a

he had a big stack of burlap sacks and a

he had a big stack of burlap sacks and a big bin of potatoes he said take that

big bin of potatoes he said take that

big bin of potatoes he said take that many potatoes put them in the sack and

many potatoes put them in the sack and

many potatoes put them in the sack and carry that sack with you from class to

carry that sack with you from class to

carry that sack with you from class to class and whenever anybody asks you what

class and whenever anybody asks you what

class and whenever anybody asks you what it represents tell them this is about

it represents tell them this is about

it represents tell them this is about 8:30 9 o’clock in the morning

8:30 9 o’clock in the morning

8:30 9 o’clock in the morning by noon there were abandoned potato

by noon there were abandoned potato

by noon there were abandoned potato sacks all throughout the campus these

sacks all throughout the campus these

sacks all throughout the campus these students were tired of carrying their

students were tired of carrying their

students were tired of carrying their negative energy and we’re now free to

negative energy and we’re now free to

negative energy and we’re now free to focus on their gratitude at cart toll

focus on their gratitude at cart toll

focus on their gratitude at cart toll they put it this way he said I’m not

they put it this way he said I’m not

they put it this way he said I’m not acknowledging all the good that you

acknowledging all the good that you

acknowledging all the good that you already have in your life is the

already have in your life is the

already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance pretty

foundation for all abundance pretty

foundation for all abundance pretty powerful

powerful

powerful I received a reminder of the power of

I received a reminder of the power of

I received a reminder of the power of enthusiasm from a most unlikely source

enthusiasm from a most unlikely source

enthusiasm from a most unlikely source one morning I was driving to the radio

one morning I was driving to the radio

one morning I was driving to the radio station to do my morning radio show and

station to do my morning radio show and

station to do my morning radio show and I pulled into a drive-through restaurant

I pulled into a drive-through restaurant

I pulled into a drive-through restaurant to get some breakfast out of his little

to get some breakfast out of his little

to get some breakfast out of his little speaker came this beautiful voice that

speaker came this beautiful voice that

speaker came this beautiful voice that said welcome how may I serve you I

said welcome how may I serve you I

said welcome how may I serve you I thought to myself wow they have

thought to myself wow they have

thought to myself wow they have recordings now and as I gave the order

recordings now and as I gave the order

recordings now and as I gave the order that same voice repeated the order

that same voice repeated the order

that same voice repeated the order to me and then said come on up I’ll have

to me and then said come on up I’ll have

to me and then said come on up I’ll have it ready for you now it was really

it ready for you now it was really

it ready for you now it was really intrigued as I pull up to the window

intrigued as I pull up to the window

intrigued as I pull up to the window this lovely lady says hi my name is Ruby

this lovely lady says hi my name is Ruby

this lovely lady says hi my name is Ruby what is your name she puts her hand

what is your name she puts her hand

what is your name she puts her hand inside my car I’m saying I I’m sorry she

inside my car I’m saying I I’m sorry she

inside my car I’m saying I I’m sorry she says now you wanted to sugar didn’t you

says now you wanted to sugar didn’t you

says now you wanted to sugar didn’t you and we make some fresh baked it for you

and we make some fresh baked it for you

and we make some fresh baked it for you here I made about 30 seconds you don’t

here I made about 30 seconds you don’t

here I made about 30 seconds you don’t okay I’m getting five-star service at a

okay I’m getting five-star service at a

okay I’m getting five-star service at a drive-through restaurant I couldn’t wait

drive-through restaurant I couldn’t wait

drive-through restaurant I couldn’t wait to get on the air to tell my listeners

to get on the air to tell my listeners

to get on the air to tell my listeners about Ruby and I couldn’t wait to get

about Ruby and I couldn’t wait to get

about Ruby and I couldn’t wait to get off the air to write a letter to the

off the air to write a letter to the

off the air to write a letter to the president of her company well it’s time

president of her company well it’s time

president of her company well it’s time went on we had these little 92nd

went on we had these little 92nd

went on we had these little 92nd conversations come to find out that ruby

conversations come to find out that ruby

conversations come to find out that ruby was recently divorced her husband came

was recently divorced her husband came

was recently divorced her husband came home one night and said I don’t want to

home one night and said I don’t want to

home one night and said I don’t want to be married anymore

be married anymore

be married anymore It was as if she had the rug pulled out

It was as if she had the rug pulled out

It was as if she had the rug pulled out from under her now she had to figure out

from under her now she had to figure out

from under her now she had to figure out how is she going to get her 13 year old

how is she going to get her 13 year old

how is she going to get her 13 year old son to college how easy would have been

son to college how easy would have been

son to college how easy would have been for her to say to herself what happened

for her to say to herself what happened

for her to say to herself what happened to my life I had everything and now I’ve

to my life I had everything and now I’ve

to my life I had everything and now I’ve got nothing it’s over I’m working in the

got nothing it’s over I’m working in the

got nothing it’s over I’m working in the middle of the night for a minimum wage

middle of the night for a minimum wage

middle of the night for a minimum wage but that was not Ruby’s attitude in one

but that was not Ruby’s attitude in one

but that was not Ruby’s attitude in one morning she taught me a lesson that I

morning she taught me a lesson that I

morning she taught me a lesson that I will never forget when you’re on the

will never forget when you’re on the

will never forget when you’re on the radio people are always asking you for

radio people are always asking you for

radio people are always asking you for money and prizes when they see you in

money and prizes when they see you in

money and prizes when they see you in person and it comes with the territory

person and it comes with the territory

person and it comes with the territory by the way I don’t have any money or

by the way I don’t have any money or

by the way I don’t have any money or prizes with me

prizes with me

prizes with me but I drove up and she says to me Sonny

but I drove up and she says to me Sonny

but I drove up and she says to me Sonny you wouldn’t by any chance have any

you wouldn’t by any chance have any

you wouldn’t by any chance have any tickets for tonight’s Spurs basketball

tickets for tonight’s Spurs basketball

tickets for tonight’s Spurs basketball game would you I said

game would you I said

game would you I said no Ruby I’m sorry I don’t well I would

no Ruby I’m sorry I don’t well I would

no Ruby I’m sorry I don’t well I would like you to have mine you see I’ve been

like you to have mine you see I’ve been

like you to have mine you see I’ve been voting employed the month and I cannot

voting employed the month and I cannot

voting employed the month and I cannot go you’re my best customer how would you

go you’re my best customer how would you

go you’re my best customer how would you have these tickets how may I serve that

have these tickets how may I serve that

have these tickets how may I serve that is the power of enthusiasm so how do you

is the power of enthusiasm so how do you

is the power of enthusiasm so how do you begin how do you start maybe Dale

begin how do you start maybe Dale

begin how do you start maybe Dale Carnegie’s words might inspire you he

Carnegie’s words might inspire you he

Carnegie’s words might inspire you he said if you want to be enthusiastic act

said if you want to be enthusiastic act

said if you want to be enthusiastic act enthusiastic now think about that

enthusiastic now think about that

enthusiastic now think about that enthusiasm is really part of this whole

enthusiasm is really part of this whole

enthusiasm is really part of this whole idea

idea

idea an intentional enthusiasm takes you to a

an intentional enthusiasm takes you to a

an intentional enthusiasm takes you to a whole other level enthusiasm from the

whole other level enthusiasm from the

whole other level enthusiasm from the Greek and feeis in spirit the spirit

Greek and feeis in spirit the spirit

Greek and feeis in spirit the spirit within and when that spirit is

within and when that spirit is

within and when that spirit is intentional well you are limited only by

intentional well you are limited only by

intentional well you are limited only by the size of your dreams

the size of your dreams

the size of your dreams [Applause]

”

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