The Sunshine Report Enthusiasm Makes the Difference 'Karen and Jay share thoughts on the power of enthusiasm and their excitement for this great New Year.’ 2023 is destined to be known as ‘The Year of Enthusiasm.’ There is a certain excitement in the air. A feeling of positive energy. And, yes, truly a sense of enthusiasm. We enter each new year with the belief that we can start the world anew. And this year – after the various challenges of the past few years – just take a look at the people around you. You’ll see an eagerness, a positivity, and a sense of hopeful anticipation as we approach this fresh new year! There is an old saying, one that’s been adapted or modified quite a bit over time, but which I believe very much encapsulates the year ahead: nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm. The last three years have been confusing, uncertain, and sometimes downright frustrating as we’ve dealt with the unpredictability of the pandemic. When we came into the new year and new decade in 2020, few of us could have imagined how drastically the world was about to change. Yet as we enter this new year of 2023, we do so having braved and persevered through the challenges of these past few years, and because of that we can look ahead to this next year with enthusiasm. Enthusiasm that perhaps the worst is behind us, enthusiasm for new opportunities, enthusiasm for things we may have even left behind and for growth. Whatever it may be, approaching each day with enthusiasm can be your greatest asset. Generally, when we find ourselves in environments where excitement, good energy, and enthusiasm regularly exist, it multiplies exponentially and helps lead to a desired result. Or, when we choose to approach a task, an opportunity, or even a challenge with enthusiasm rather than say negativity, the outcome tends to be to our benefit. As the author Napoleon Hill once wrote, “Combine enthusiasm with faith and initiative, and you can move mountains and achieve results unheard of.” Truthfully though, sometimes finding enthusiasm isn’t all that easy. Life tends to throw challenges our way that at times can lead us to feel anything but enthusiasm for where we are in the present moment. Ultimately, the choice is ours. Whether you’re unhappy with your job, or unsure of where a new project is going, whatever the case may be, by choosing to approach the moment with enthusiasm and putting our best foot forward, we can finish the day knowing we did our best. The more we choose to face the day with an enthusiastic ‘no one is going to get me down’ attitude, the more we realize that our happiness is ours to determine, no one else's. This creates not only less stress, which itself has enormous benefits to our health and likely our day to day, but also more opportunity for us to grow, both personally and professionally. Back in the early 1900’s, a minor league baseball player named Frank Bettger had been cut from his team because his manager felt he lacked enthusiasm for the game. Frustrated at first, Frank decided to really take his manager's decision and the reasons for it to heart. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, Frank focused not necessarily on his game, but the reasons why he loved baseball to begin with. He was determined to face each pitch, each inning, each game with the same enthusiasm he had when he began playing in the Little Leagues. Sure enough, his game improved and he made it back into the minors, eventually landing a big contract and making his Major League debut with the St. Louis Cardinals. And while his career would be cut short due to an arm injury, Frank would go on to be a best-selling author, offering up some straightforward advice. “Act enthusiastic, and you’ll become enthusiastic about everything you do.” As we transition into 2023, we’ve been given an opportunity to start anew once again. After the turmoil of the last few years, it does feel like a year where we can truly look ahead and say, ‘nothing can stop me now.’ When we choose to face each day with this kind of enthusiasm, I can assure you by year's end, you’ll be happy with the result. Perhaps even ecstatic! Read The Report Small Town Turnaround - and So It Begins!   Read More The Sunshine Initiative – Worthy Mission, Exciting Future! Read More Positive Profile of the Week: Dion Family This week we are delighted to highlight a truly inspirational and entrepreneurial family – the Dion’s. David and Kevin Dion and their great family – owners and operators of New Hampshire Dairy Queens. And the best news of all – this New Hampshire family business just won a national title as you’ll see below. Who doesn't love ice cream? Especially a fantastic Dairy Queen soft serve twist or Blizzard? For over 40 years, Dave Dion and his family have been providing this novelty to people across New Hampshire and most recently their location on the West Side of Manchester became the topping of them all. David Dion’s connection with Dairy Queen began in the early 70’s when he ran the local Nashua store. Within a few short years he was running not only that location but also a new location in Hudson, New Hampshire. Eventually he would assume ownership of those locations as well as construct the Queen City’s Dairy Queen in 1979. Over the years Dave and his family including his son Kevin have continued their commitment to providing one of America’s most popular ice cream franchises to people in the Granite State. Today, they have locations across Southern New Hampshire and are truly making themselves known. And in doing so, they have had to overcome a pandemic, a recession, and years of changes both to diets and the West Side. The Dion family participates in the annual Miracle Treat Day. This Dairy Queen national initiative has raised millions of dollars for local children’s hospitals across the country. I truly commend them for their yearly charitable participation and all the other amazing things they do to support the community, but what I'm about to share with you next is truly an inspiration. There are over 4,500 Dairy Queen locations in the United States and close to 7,000 worldwide. On New Year’s Eve, the Dion’s along with support from customers including friends of the Sunshine Report and our own Governor Chris Sununu helped the 2nd Street Dairy Queen in Manchester, New Hampshire become the #1 store in America. This single store in a state with just over a million people beat out stores in major metros, in states like Georgia, Texas and beyond. Lines at both the counter and the drive-through were packed with people committed to seeing the Dion’s succeed. Just as the Dion’s have supported the community over the years, the community supported the Dion’s. Now I would be remiss if I didn't highlight a personal memory of this particular Dairy Queen. I remember loading up our kids and dog, Sparky, into the car and heading down Boynton Street to avoid the traffic in order to come up the back way to access the 2nd Street Dairy Queen. We would all get our favorite Dairy Queen treats and on certain nights we would park on the side of the road so we could check out all the cool classic cars that would fill up the Dairy Queen Parking lot. 50’s music would be blaring on the speaker, and it truly remains one of my fondest memories. The Dion’s created this awesome local event and generations later cars of all kinds can still be spotted in the parking lot with people still checking them out.  Dave and Kevin Dion are great examples of how hard work and determination pays off! They charted a path for opportunity and stayed the course. And even though the contest is over for this year, we still encourage you to stop by and pay them a visit, and of course order one of their famous ice creams! Congratulations and a heartfelt thanks to the Dion’s for all that they do! Quote of the Week “Enthusiasm is everything. It must be taut and vibrating like a guitar string.” -Pele     Jay Lucas | www.JayLucas.us  Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Jay Lucas | 7 Portwalk Pl, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]