Self-Confidence is a Fragile Professional Attribute
By Mike Marchev
I was reminded of this last week. Correction! I am reminded of this every week. Last week was thanks to a professional golfer. Next week’s reminder will come from … who knows where.
Regardless of whether you are a pro athlete, a part-time salesperson, a student, or a singer wanna-be, our minds do a lot of talking to us and the bad news is, it isn’t always flattering. To the contrary. Much if not most of the time we are confirming negative thoughts, patterns and ideas. It is easy to suggest that we stop such disruptive behavior. It is another thing to listen to our own wisdom. The result: We become less effective as we begin believing in our own bad press.
Although I know it is true and the evidence has been documented, I really do not know what it is like to be a paid, professional athlete. (Like many collegiate jocks before me, I too suffer from “The older I get, the better I was” syndrome of self-delusion.)
I do know however, how this self-inflicted malady can negatively effect the professional salesperson’s eating habits.
We think that the other guy is smarter than we are … more experienced … wiser … luckier … in better position … has the inside position … is related to the right person … and is more skillful at playing the game than we are. We believe that the letters CEO typed after a person’s last name makes them candidates for the game Jeopardy. (How do those Jeopardy contestants know so much?)
We talk ourselves right out of the game before the opening bell is even sounded. No need. I personally wasted a lot of years cow-towing to those who I felt were more qualified. When they got punched in the stomach along the way, they packed up their bags, ran and hid. I kept on going.
When they were down-sized and asked others to help them fill out their resume … I kept on going.
When they decided it was in their best interest to retire early (because that was their only option) I kept on going.
But that was me. What about you? Are you good enough … strong enough … seasoned enough … to keep on going. Do you believe in your skill, your strength, your experience, and your will, to keep on doing what you need to do when the competition gets a little intense? Do you trust your instincts? Have you actually failed enough to know what it feels like, and benefit from the experience? Have you?
Look! You are who you are. You are where you are. You know what you know. And you will grow when you grow. You will get better. You must get better. You are as good if not better than your competition regardless of their post surname lettering. You will win and you will lose. In both instances often through your own doings … sometimes through no fault of your own. Life will make you smile and life will kick you where you would rather not get kicked.
But one thing is for sure. If you don’t start believing in your self, nobody else is going to show you the way. If you do not feel that you have paid the price, then it is the right time to start. Time is the common enemy. It waits for no man, woman or child. Today … now is the perfect time to make up your mind to start moving forward with confidence. You will get there. I promise you that. You will get there. The question is, where is your “there?”