“The greater danger for most of us isn’t that our aim is too high and miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” Michelangelo

Good morning,

It was a beautiful weekend here in Ontario, and I had the opportunity to spend yesterday skiing with my daughter Presley-Mae at Mount Chicopee. It was certainly wonderful to get out and enjoy some outdoors and witness the confidence of my 8 year old out on the ski hill……although my knees seem to be paying for it this morning.

As we anticipated, we also witnessed a wild week in the markets last week. John Authers from Bloomberg notes in him article this morning that “if there’s one word to describe conditions in world markets, it might be “confused.” Somehow, the Nasdaq Composite index ended last week exactly where it had ended the previous Friday, but only after some dramatic deviations” All that excitement has played out during an earnings season that’s featured yet another Apple Inc. blockbuster, and we are set for more earnings announcements this week. As we know, there’s opportunity amid this volatility and uncertainty and it reinforces the importance of defining out goals, having a plan and approaching success with confidence.

“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” Pablo Picasso

It’s been said that “dreams are goals with deadlines” which is true….but it’s also important for us to layer in a few other ingredients when working toward our dreams.

Courage, Confidence and Creativity

Angela Duckworth is the world’s leading expert on “grit,” the much-hyped ingredient in personal success. As Duckworth defines it, grit is passion and sustained persistence applied toward longterm achievement, with no particular concern for rewards or recognition along the way. It combines resilience, ambition, and self-control in the pursuit of goals that take months, years, or even decades. Achievement is the product of talent and effort, the latter a function of the intensity, direction, and duration of one’s exertions towards a long-term goal.

Of course, on your long haul to greatness you’re going to stumble, and you will need to get back up on the proverbial horse. But what is it that gives you the strength to get up, wipe the dust off, and remount? Futurist and author Andrew Zolli says it’s resilience, the result of our courage, creativity and confidence that allow us to dusk off, learn and grow in our pursit of our destination.

In Zolli’s book, Resilience, Why Things Bounce Back, he defines resilience as “the ability of people, communities, and systems to maintain their core purpose and integrity among unforeseen shocks and surprises.”

For Zolli, resilience is a dynamic combination of optimism, creativity, and confidence, which together empower one to reappraise situations and regulate emotion – a behavior many social scientists refer to as “hardiness” or “grit.” Zolli takes it even further and explains that “hardiness” is comprised of three tenents: “ (1) the belief one can find meaningful purpose in life, (2) the belief that one can influence one’s surroundings and the outcome of events, and (3) the belief that positive and negative experiences will lead to learning and growth.”

How do we unleash our inner confidence and enhance your mindset? For most people, confidence is crucial to achieving success. Without it most will flounder, despite their talents or strength. I know highly talented musicians, athletes, and business people who, because they lack confidence, don't land the record deal, win their race, or start the business they've been dreaming of for years. Simply put, they're held hostage by fear and this stems from a lack of confidence.

Here's a few tips for us to always be considering and revisiting as we approach the journey ahead with confidence

• Make notes: Use journaling to explore your thoughts which can provide clarity, direction and confidence
• Reframe challenging times: Ask yourself what you can learn from setbacks, there’s wisdom abound
• Ground yourself in your core values: Defining, understanding and living your values will enable you to remove self-doubt
• Watch your self-talk: Is you narrative positive or negative? The former will encourage you to move forward while the latter will keep you stuck.
• Know what you want & take baby steps: As we do with our clients, set yourself achievable goals as you work toward your end target. Having direction and clarity of mind will help you move forward with confidence. The great Stephen Covey, mega best-selling author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and someone who endorsed my book, perhaps said it best: "If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster."
• Know your strengths: As with any venture, it is best to work from a solid foundation. Think of your confidence as a table top that is supported by four legs. Each leg needs to be solidly planted to support the table top. What are your strengths? What are you good at? Maintain your focus on what you are good at, not on what you perceive to be your shortcomings.
• Be resilient: There will be naysayers and those who doubt you, but don't let that stop you from speaking up, taking a chance, and doing what you believe in. Criticism just means you got people thinking. Many who have taken confident and bold steps have faced resistance. Stay focused on what you believe in and forge ahead.

Enjoy the day, have a wonderful week and make today your day to shine with confidence.

“Life is short, fragile and does not wait for anyone. There will NEVER be a perfect time to pursue your dreams and goals. ” Unknown

Be well & enjoy the moments

Derek