THE LIMITS OF PERSONAL CONFIDENCE

"It is a bad plan that admits of no modification."

Publilius Syrus (1st Century BC) Roman writer and poet.

Being sure of yourself is a good thing.

Just not as much as being willing to verify what you believe to be true, actually is.

Not all of it will be.

CAN YOU?

"The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do."

James Allen (1864-1912) British-born American essayist

Do you think you can?

If not the knowledge, at the very least the beginning of your own belief that you can.

OF THIS I'M CERTAIN

"I have lived in this world just long enough to look carefully the second time into things that I am the most certain of the first time."

Josh Billings

19th century American humorist/lecturer

"Certainties" are funny things.

They are until they aren't.

THE MIND'S CHALLENGE

"Remember, when life's path is steep, keep your mind even."

Horace (BC 65-8) Latin lyric poet

Often the "steeper" (difficult) you believe the "path" (task) to be, the harder it will be to overcome.

Don't imagine it more so than it really is.

I'LL HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT

"The best memory is that which forgets nothing, but injuries. Write kindness in marble and write injuries in the dust."

Persian proverb

Unfortunately we all too often do the opposite.

Doris Kearns Goodwin's excellent "Team of Rivals" chronicles Lincoln's success in getting the best from his political rivals.

The one thing among many things he did extremely well was to put aside personal slights from those with talents he knew would benefit him and the nation.

The sign of real leadership.

Are You Your Greatest Admirer?

"He who is in love with himself has at least this advantage, he won't encounter many rivals."

Georg C. Lichtenberg

18th century German scientist

In business, as in life in general, there is a very fine line between confidence and self-aggrandizement.

Too little of the former, too much of the latter, either way . . . you lose.

Be careful not to cross over.

The Envious Mind

"Worth begets in base minds, envy; in great souls, emulation."

Henry Fielding

18th century English novelist

True.

You have only two choices.

You can can wish you had, did, thought whatever you see that has value.

Or you can contribute to make something of equal or greater value.

Which will it be?

It's Not My Fault I Have No Faults

"Our own self-love draws a thick veil between us and our faults."

Lord Chesterfield

18th century British statesman

Don't think this applies to you?

Take 60 seconds to list all the positive things about you.

Now take the next 60 seconds to list your faults.

If the first list is twice as long or longer than the second, you might want to rethink both lists.

Fool Me Twice, Shame On Me

"It's all right to rat, but you can't re-rat."

Winston Churchill

20th century British politician

I like this quote, partly because it is a subject expressed in a way I would not have associated with Winston Churchill.

All the more reason his point hits home.

He's talking about betrayal.

When it comes to business, do you agree?

From Small Minds, No Big Ideas Will Come

"Those who occupy their minds with small matters, generally become incapable of greatness."

Francois de la Rochefoucauld

17th century French writer

And who among us has not done this at one time or another?

However we can and should learn from these lapses in judgement, becoming the better person for having done so.

What do you think?

Coyote Insight, LLC

Who Are You?

"Nationalist pride, like other variants of pride, can be a substitute for self-respect."

Eric Hoffer

20th century American philosopher/author

And the equivalent in business would be what, pride in one's company?

I am not suggesting that large numbers of those who work for companies with well known/respected brands have no self-respect.

Were that the case the brands would not be successful.

But you do meet a lot of people who, when asked what they do, answer with a title prominently focused on the company brand as opposed to them as individuals.

Individual self-respect first or nothing good will follow for the company.

You Can Do It!

"There can be no great courage where there is no confidence or assurance, and half the battle is in the conviction that we can do what we undertake."

Orison Swett Marden

19th/20th century American author, founder of "Success" magazine

In all things including life's challenges.

Get the facts, set your course, and execute in confidence.

How Much Are You Worth?

"He who does not think much of himself is much more esteemed than he imagines."

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

18th century German poet

Some of the world's most successful business leaders are also egotists beyond anything the rest of us ever imagined.

Does success create that or are some of us naturally born to like ourselves more than will most?

Does not "thinking much of ourselves" necessarily imply we depreciate our worth?

Do You Believe?

"For they conquer who believe they can."

John Dryden

17th century English poet

Is it possible to "conquer" (succeed) if you don't believe you can?

Whom Do You Trust?

"Doubt whom you will but never yourself."

Christine Bovee
Author

To the best of my recollection, I've never posted a quote I didn't at least in part agree with . . . until now.

This comes under the heading of "feel good, love yourself" and while at its core, I understand and agree with the basic message, taken literally, never doubting yourself, never questioning your own views, is the antithesis of good management.

Now, with that disclaimer, leaders must also have tremendous confidence in their own ability.

How do you balance the two?

Preparation: The Value of Being Ready

"Confidence is preparation. Everything else is beyond your control."

Richard Kline
Actor

Possibly, but in preparation we gain control of some things that will otherwise be out of our control.

Yes?

What You Don't Know Won't Hurt You?

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."

John Wooden

Basketball Hall of Fame Coach and Player
10 national championships in 12 seasons as UCLA Head Coach

This quote is aimed at those who would miss the irony of the thought. The moment you realize you don't know it all, you've learned something valuable.

Understand?

Change: How Do You Deal With It?

"Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because it means things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better."

King Whitney Jr.
President, Personnel Laboratory, Inc.

I like this a lot.

Most agree that change is inevitable so the only question is, how will we deal with it? I admit that at various times my reaction has been each of the above but overall, I am more often the latter.

How about you?