Being 100% Enthusiastic while Still Standing Your Ground

[da5zeay]

When faced with a situation that is potentially complicated and
demanding of my abilities, I tend to go a bit "grim" and enter "full
disclosure / contingency" mode. The reason I do that is because I want
whoever I'm working with to "know the risks" and "know the challenges"
up front...I tend to be very serious about that, and am at times
mercilessly and objectively frank. I knew that this kind of was a
"downer" attitude to have, but I also saw it as absolutely necessary
before deploying to battle.

The past year has been a lot different: I've been very enthusiastic
about lots of things, and haven't let the Contingency Planning part of
me rain on people's parades. As I move into a new phase, I'm finding
myself drawn back into the battle mode.

A friend just pointed out to me that I it's acceptable to be, like,
very enthusiastic about something and still be adamant about the
conditions under which it will happen. This had never occured to me,
maybe because I had never really personally experienced it. How one can
be positive AND demanding. Ordinarily I think of these things being
mutually exclusive, but I think my buddy is on to something...

Thought I would share the thought, and see if anyone else has had
experience with being 100% enthusiastic AND 100% demanding.

[Think_n_See]

YOU BET YOU CAN!

Thanks for sharing. You know, I have two different views:

1) my attitude is that you know when you know. ie you know when you
shoudl be doing something, acting a certain way, being more or less
demanding, planning to have someone sign an nda (non disclosure
agreement) or not needing someone to sign one, etc. So if you're
feeling closed, then maybe that's telling you something.

2) also, make sure you're dancing the dance for the right reasons.
It's interesting that you're asking the question - it's telling that
you're asking the question... it means something's on your mind. Maybe
you feel like you're being like that person before, and maybe that
doesn't quite fit with who you are now. make sure if you're being
demanding, it's because being demanding is important right now... and
not because you're falling into role-playing out the same old script of
tightness and closed-ness. Make sure it's because youa re doing this
for a positive and powerful reason. That you are being good to
yourself, and that this behavior is useful. If it is, then by all
means, full force ahead. And if it's not.... then what other dance
steps could you use when similar emotional senses or similar work
situations come at you? Remember how we said a couple of days ago...
"sometimes when things are similar, look for the differences."

Kudos that you're thinking about this.
I'm sure you're about to go down the right route for yourself!

[da5zeay]

Thanks for the perspective! Yep, I'm trying to figure out how to do a
complicated dance that in the past has been a serious and somber one.
The new steps should transform it into a happier experience, with more
dancing penguins and less infantry.

[Think_n_See]

:) "penguins and infantry."
cool!