Self Confidence, Courage and Success

Self confidence is one of the keys to success that I discuss in Straight Talk for Success.  If you want to become self confident, you need to do three things. 1) Become an optimist.  2) Face your fears and act.  3) Surround yourself with positive people.

Robin Harpe is a friend of mine and a great coach.  She and I are members of the Total Coach community.  Last week, Robin wrote a dynamite article on courage.  And, as we all know, courage is acknowledging your fear and acting anyway.  Robin’s article is so good that I’ve asked her to be my guest poster for today.  She was nice enough to agree.  Here is her article How to Develop Courage…

Let's face it without courage crashing through the terror barrier is difficult, if not, impossible!

So, how do we develop courage?  I'm so glad you asked…that is exactly what I'm going to explain.

The dictionary says courage is "the ability to disregard fear; bravery."  If you are courageous you are brave and fearless.
 
Just as in the wizard of Oz, the lion knew he needed courage, he was afraid of his own shadow.  To be successful we must do things that unsuccessful people do not want to do.  Those things require levels of courage.
 
For example, you know it is important to learn to speak in public.  Whether for your current job, an interview, promoting your business or your ideas you are speaking and selling.  Statistics show the number 1 fear most people have is public speaking.  Selling is public speaking whether for 1 or 100.  I know entrepreneurs who say they don't like to sell.  If you don't promote your business, people don't know about you.  If they don't know about you they can't call you or visit your store!  That's very basic but an often forgotten principle.  That's not success.
 
Remember the show "Fear Factor" where contestants competed for prizes by conquering their fears through daring feats.  Many of those contestants could not complete assignments after signing up and making the show.  Their fear held them back and they were not able to look beyond the fear toward the goal of the prize.  Does that sound familiar?
 How many times have you decided to start something only to procrastinate or quit because of fear?  You are not alone it happens to all of us.  The problem is when fear holds you back from accomplishing your goals, achieving greatness and fulfilling your purpose.  You begin this slippery slope by allowing doubt, worry and anxiety into your life.  Unchecked these attitudes become suppressed and depression occurs.  All progress stops. 

The successful person feels the fear and does the thing anyway.   They give themselves a command and follows through on that command.  Let's go back to our public speaking example.  You know you must learn to speak in front of others.  The best and only way is to just get up and do it.  Now, I wouldn't go out and rent a 100 person hall right away!  Why?  Because you need to practice.  Most people do best by starting small, even with people they know in a more intimate setting.  Once your confidence begins to increase you will attract larger crowds.
 
To develop courage is to just start!  Action is the cure for procrastination.  Procrastination is the backbone of the fear of success which causes self-sabotage.
 
Here are the keys to developing courage worthy of a lion:
 
1.  Complete your due diligence and decide the thing you want.
2.  Decide you are going to do this.  Whatever this is for you and you decided in #1.
3.  Believe in yourself — have high self esteem.
4.  Look back at previous successes and know you can do this.
5.  Buckle down, like a bull in a china shop and charge head first into the thing you fear.
6.  Just do it, begin, make the first phone call, make the first presentation, sign those papers, make the reservation, call her/him, make the request, be the first to respond, stand up!
7.  Practice these principles every time a fear raises its head and conquer your fear.
 
Do not pass go before you start.  What's the worst thing that can happen?  Really, what is the worst thing that can happen?  You stay right where you are now? Just take a step. 
 
My mother tells me I have great courage, I'm brave.  I always thought it was stubbornness but now I see that when things got tough I would just get going.  It is a habit.  Develop this habit to be 'on' all the time not just during the tough and rough spots.  Being fearless is risky.  But as you develop the attitude of courage through action you will become fearless. 

Talk with you soon,
Your Coach, Robin Harpe
 
P.S. To secure your free coaching consultation just go here: http://coachrobinharpe.com/Test/gen-step3.php

P.S.S. To pick up a copy of the book Navigate Your Life – 10 Success Secrets to Set Your Internal Compass click here:  www.navigateyourlifebook.com

The common sense point here is clear.  Successful people are self confident.  Self confident people face their fears and act.  Robin Harpe calls this having courage worthy of a lion.  And, as we all know, the female lion does the heavy lifting, she is the one with the courage to hunt.   If you follow just one piece of Robin’s advice, “Just do it, begin, make the first phone call, make the first presentation, sign those papers, make the reservation, call her/him, make the request, be the first to respond, stand up!” you’ll not only build your courage, you’ll become more self confident and successful in your life and career.

That’s Robin Harpe’s and my take on courage and self confidence.  Do you have any amazing stories when your courage carried the day?  If you do, please leave a comment sharing them with us.  As always, thanks for reading.

Bud

PS – Check out what Robin has to offer – you’ll be glad you did.