Barak Obama’s election slogan was: “Yes, we can.” Imagine if he said: we will try our best or I really want to, but you know, I am a black man and Hillary Clinton is the front runner. What do you think the result would have been?
Besides his self belief and confidence, he put together a formidable team and planned and executed a campaign the likes of which has never been seen. The odds against him right at the start were preposterous: his race, colour, middle name (Hussein) and the fact that he is just a first term senator in Washington. Along the campaign trail he had to endure attacks on his person or real and perceived failings as well as for his associations, but he had the courage to face them down.
What is clear is that is not just a matter of having confidence, but realizing that it is key to getting on to the road to success. Confidence infuses you with positive personal energy and tires up the rest of the team to also push in the right direction. It gives you courage (as opposed to bravado). Planning and execution are equally important but amount to nothing without confidence.
Too many of us are defeated in the mind before we set pen to paper or take a first step to what we want, so the next time you catch yourself hesitating over an important decision or goal, just paraphrase Obama and say: Yes, I can.
Besides his self belief and confidence, he put together a formidable team and planned and executed a campaign the likes of which has never been seen. The odds against him right at the start were preposterous: his race, colour, middle name (Hussein) and the fact that he is just a first term senator in Washington. Along the campaign trail he had to endure attacks on his person or real and perceived failings as well as for his associations, but he had the courage to face them down.
What is clear is that is not just a matter of having confidence, but realizing that it is key to getting on to the road to success. Confidence infuses you with positive personal energy and tires up the rest of the team to also push in the right direction. It gives you courage (as opposed to bravado). Planning and execution are equally important but amount to nothing without confidence.
Too many of us are defeated in the mind before we set pen to paper or take a first step to what we want, so the next time you catch yourself hesitating over an important decision or goal, just paraphrase Obama and say: Yes, I can.
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