Luck vs. Confidence
Jon Torrens
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Jon Torrens
Introverted communication coach, confidence upgrader, host and TEDx speaker. Former stand-up comic and video game designer, delivering transformative training to create successful, confident communicators. Ukie member.
I claim to 'teach confidence'.
I've never claimed to teach luck because that's impossible, but the two have a clear connection. There are many elements to achieving confidence, and three recent mentions of luck have made me think more deeply about the connection:
- The 'Felix Felicis' luck potion from 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince': 'Then, slowly but surely, an exhilarating sense of infinite opportunity stole through him; he felt as though he could have done anything, anything at all... ...He got to his feet, smiling, brimming with confidence.' It's a potion that does actually improve your chances of success at any given task, but also boosts your confidence to the point of recklessness, like a kind of magical alcohol or coffee. Exhilarating but dangerous, perhaps.
- The Marvel superhero Domino possesses the super power of simply 'being lucky' (watch the interview scene in Deadpool 2, it's funny). As super powers go it's a little unusual and vague but I think it's brilliant; it means she's confident, with constant evidence to back it up. She is not egocentric, which is amazing (confidence can easily turn into arrogance, right?).
- 'The harder I work, the luckier I get' (attributed to Samuel Goldwyn, Thomas Jefferson and others). Is it just hard work? Or belief that good things will come if you apply yourself, as a form of karma? An expert executes their chosen task with absolute confidence; their ability backs this up, but if they were nervous it would harm their chances of success, regardless of their ability.
Here's what I think:
Confidence is a choice. We all want to be confident, but perhaps we're not sure we have the right to be. It can be a huge challenge to accept who you are and not be afraid of being judged, but once you have truly accepted yourself and lose that fear, you can choose to be confident. And from confidence comes greater success.
Looks like I teach luck after all.
So...
What do you think? Can confidence simply be a choice? And if you're confident, does that make you 'luckier'?
Coaching for Leaders and Leadership Teams; Supervision for Executive Coaches
4 年Have you read Richard Wiseman's book "the luck factor." Fascinating research that found four factors that predict luck. You can teach it!
Senior Vice President, Customer Operations
4 年Confidence is a byproduct of knowledge acquisition that one chooses to apply. I am a really confident skier. Not because I just say so, but because I know I have many years of hard work and constant learning to back it up. That said, if i don't apply that knowledge in a confident way, i crash. I get inside my head and will have a bad run, even when it's a run at my local ski area that I've skied 1,000 times. Gotta have both and when you do, it's unstoppable!
Helping organisations, athletes, and people in midlife to plan and realise their successful futures.
4 年‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity’ said somebody once! I tend to agree with this.
Electronics Manufacturing Executive | NPI, Supply Chain & Cost Optimisation Expertise | Driving Innovation & Efficiency | Proven Leadership in Global Operations & Sustainable Lean Manufacturing
4 年I completely agree. I watched a Darren Brown show on Ch4 a few years ago which showed how having the belief in yourself and the confidence to look for good things was the difference between lucky and unlucky people. https://youtu.be/RuRGzZAk7S4