More on Confidence

(Part II)
STEP OUT BOLDLY
I did it!
I said I would and I did.

Despite a minor injury, I set my mind to completing the triathlon and striving to beat my time from last year. I achieved my goal; I beat my time! I attribute this to the mental strength I've gained over the past year more than the physical endurance gained. It hasn't been a full week yet, and already I'm planning my improvements for next year's race, and have committed to a running event later this summer.

Frankly, I didn't feel great about my odds for achieving my goal, but I had committed to go through with it anyway and to make the best of it. (Yes, I did envision crossing the finish line with time to spare and feeling AWESOME, and I even took time to appreciate the beauty around me on the race route.) To reiterate from my last post: making a decision and sticking with it creates confidence. Even in the face of fear, doubt, uncertainty, confusion, etc...

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE OBSTACLES (EXCUSES)
"But," you say, "I can't do a triathlon." "That's completely different from something like taking risks in business!" Is it? If you're not pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, you don't need confidence. You don't need faith either. Nor a host of other states of mind that make life worth living. Setting even tiny goals and accomplishing them gives you confidence. You feel good, and you gain the winning attitude that can drive forward those bigger goals.

During almost every client meeting this week, I've been noticing the value of confidence. Confidence in making the right decision: to change the focus of one's organization, to hire an assistant to lay the foundation for long-term growth despite the strong siren call of the higher profit margin in the short-term, to taking that leap to start up a new business in an unprecedented market. Confidence to be persistent: to not worry about what other people will think, to hire the right person and not go with the first one who seems mostly competent, to stick to your guns in a negotiation when they are giving you (only) 75% of what you want, to keeping promises to yourself and your family. Doing what you said you'd do takes some confidence, but it breeds even more, especially in the face of what seems tough or unfamiliar. (Remember that fear is imagined; all of it!)

" I see only the objective; the obstacles must give way." ~Napoleon

LAUNCH!
Take the first step, then course-correct IF needed. Too much preparation means you never leave home.

Do you know people who talk about great ideas, yet they're a bit like a missile that never gets launched? As John C. Maxwell says, it's "aim, aim, aim, aim....aim........aim." You've got to "Fire!" if you're going to reap the rewards.

USE YOUR STRENGTHS
Everyone has the means to make things happen. Have confidence in yourself as a human being who has unique strengths, insights, resources and talents. (If you don't think you have enough, contact me right now. In just one session I'll teach you to see these things more clearly.) What would you say to a friend or colleague in the same situation? After "What do you want to do?" and "Have you thought about this?" Probably, "Just do it!"


Here's to your success,
Heather

(402) 690-4946
Heather@EnvisionSuccessConsulting.com

Confidence For Any Situation

It's the eve of a triathlon, and I'm not worried today... I should be. I'm not the type who excels at these things. In fact, people are probably surprised that I participate in fitness events. I'm healthy, but I'm no star athlete.

Last summer was my first tri, and I signed up again this year. At some point I told myself I was going to beat my time by 20% --but then life cruised on and I focused on other goals. I didn't fully commit through action until the past couple of months.

I was a little freaked out about it. I was training pretty hard and it was great (met some awesome milestones!) but then a week ago I started limping. My left foot was hurting a lot and I started to wonder if I could do the triathlon at all. I put my workouts on hold. I allowed myself a few daily thoughts of "This sucks!" "It's not fair!" "Waaaahhh." I went through my days in a minor depressive state...

Then I stood back and wondered if my anxiety about meeting my goal was somehow the root cause of my physical distress. As a business coach, I know darn well that the mind is far more powerful than any circumstances --and I resolved to change my tune.

I made a decision: I will do the race no matter what & if I have to limp across the finish line, then so be it. Then when I looked back at my written goals, I realized I had committed to completing it and to beating my time from last year. And I felt better about it (what? where did the 20% come from??).

The point of this blog? The reason I am taking the time to type it up before I load the car with my gear? Because I realized that ultimately what matters to me is simply keeping my promise to myself. And I want to share this with you-

I'm doing this event because it is in line with my vision of the person I am becoming. This gives me confidence for tomorrow. This feeling of moving one step closer to my goals, my future, my "ideal" self gives me confidence. I'm doing the right thing by acting in support of my decision...no matter how the race goes tomorrow. This habit of sticking to a decision in the face of fear and uncertainty also gave me confidence a few weeks ago just prior to a speaking engagement I didn't feel truly ready for. And it will give you confidence when you need it.

Are we ever totally physically ready for whatever comes our way? I don't think so. Not fully. You just can't address every contingency for every situation. Besides, who wants to live a "worst case scenario" lifestyle? No thanks.

However, we CAN be mentally ready...for anything. I believe one way to experience this is by acknowledging who we are now and who we want to be. Then by making choices that fit with that vision we step boldly in the direction of our dreams. That IS confidence.

Who do you want to be? By the way, I don't mean you should care about what other people think or emulate others' behavior or accomplishments. I mean that when you think about your future self, what traits do you want to have? Who do YOU want to be? Step boldy in the direction of these dreams and goals, and live confidently! Live Out Loud! Act As If!