Hi Dien,

Excellent Topic! Let's Talk about Confidence! Hmmm. First a question. In your post you wrote that the more "Knowledgeable" you are, the more confident you "Feel".

I'm curious as to how you are DEFINING the word knowledgeable? I'm getting confused between "knowledge" and the word "COMPETENCE" (not in the dictionary definition, just in how you are describing it here)

I could be "knowledgeable" (depending on your definition) about an area....like MAILORDER/Marketing. After READING tons of books, I could 'RATTLE OFF definitions, and even give advice on strategies of what to do (like College teachers). In this case I am an ACADEMIC that could probably teach a good class...HOWEVER give me a mailorder project and make it PROFITABLE in the REAL WORLD, and see how "under CONFIDENT" I feel.

For years I would state that In order to feel confident, I must establish a certain level of COMPETENCE in an area. The more COMPETENT (skillful) the more Confident I feel in my ability.

From reading Tony Robbins, he had a different Viewpoint to both of us. For him, he would just "PUT HIMSELF INTO A CONFIDENT STATE FIRST ...THEN HE WOULD CONFIDENTLY ACHIEVE ...KNOWLEDGE/COMPETENCE." He would argue that confidence is nothing more than a state which we can manipulate by Acting AS IF we were confident. For him he could confidently achieve ANYTHING...

Tony's viewpoint is in amazing contrast to yours and mine....

Food for thought :->

Duane

> I've noticed something....

> Confidence RADIATES! When you have
> confidence, everyone aound you can sense
> it....

> It's like the glow of a crackling
> campfire.... People come around to bask in
> the warmth....

> Confident people have a glow about them.
> They shine.... they SPARKLE!

> But..... as I mentioned before, confidence
> must come from within if it is to have
> strength.... For the most successful people,
> their confidence comes from within
> themselves.

> It's like a magnet which can't help but draw
> people and opportunities towards
> themselves....

> Sometimes it seems elusive (especially when
> you don't have it), but when you have it the
> world is an ocean of incredible
> opportunities.... :)

> The choice then boils down to which one do
> you pick... :)

> By the way, I can explain where my personal
> confidence comes from... For me, confidence
> has often been tied to knowledge.... The
> more knowledgeable I am about something, the
> more confident I feel....

> However, it doesn't seem to necessarily have
> to be that way.... Others have other ways to
> become confident....

> Does anyone have any thoughts on this topic?
> :)

> - Dien