Confidence can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. People often succeed, not because they see a clear road forward but rather because they have confidence that they can find a way along the way. They have a deep and abiding belief that with enough effort, energy, enthusiasm, they can forge a path. That belief that a solution will emerge powerfully impacts their behavior and over time that belief itself reshapes reality. Confident people act when others hesitate and that very action bias greatly increases the odds of success for without action, success is mathematically impossible.
To be clear, confidence and competence are not synonymous; the most dangerous person is a supremely confident incompetent. An excellent analysis to perform before stepping out into the unknown is to determine what constitutes an ‘affordable loss’. If the downside is limited and acceptable, particularly in relationship to the potential upside, sally forth! However, never bet your seed corn! (Seed corn: seed set aside never to eat in order to plant for next year’s harvest, without which there would be famine.)
Closing Quotes:
“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.” – William Butler Yeats
“You don’t need to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” – Dale Carnegie
As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier
Note: Every effort has been made to properly source any 3rd person material. I am, however, a voracious reader. If anyone finds any unattributed material, pls let me know asap and I will be delighted to give credit where credit is due.
“All intelligent thoughts have already been thought; what is necessary is only to try to think them again.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
