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Secrets to Success
Deborah Cole Micek
and John-Paul Micek
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Confidence, courage and certainty
CONFIDENCE, courage, certainty -- succeeding in business and life requires that these three character assets go together.
Courage is the inner power to face difficulties. Yet courage is rooted in confidence, and confidence is rooted in the mindset of certainty.
General George S. Patton was the poster child for confidence and certainty. A remarkable leader, he trained and motivated his men to achieve astounding results. With unwavering certainty and emphasis on mission, he transformed an utterly demoralized American force in North Africa into an army capable of defeating the Nazis' much-feared General Rommel.
Helen Keller once said, "face your deficiencies and acknowledge them. But do not let them ever master you."
Both Patton and Keller realized that, in order for people to succeed, they must routinely overcome personal failings, or turn them to their advantage, and never doubt themselves.
PERSONALLY, I have always made the connection between a relative level of confidence or courage and their direct proportion to success in business. But, until recently, I never realized what a powerful role the attitude of certainty has had in helping me achieve all that I have so far.
My wife said to me, (admittedly in frustration) "You're always so darned certain, but you're wrong sometimes, you know."
At first, her comment took me aback. Then, as I thought about what she said, it made me realize that a couple of things.
First, it called my attention to the fact that I need to parse my words at times and listen more openly to feedback when conveying a vision I have or a possible plan of action.
Secondly, "certainty" is the gasoline that fuels the engine of forward momentum. In every area of business, from entrepreneurship to leadership, certainty is the crucial ingredient required to overcome obstacles and achieve results.
Take small-business marketing, for example. Once you are certain that you have a product or service that people really want, then you want to exude confidence and unabashedly market yourself.
Marketing is not the place for uncertainty or, dare I say, humility.
If you're not certain about or show confidence in yourself or your product or service, why should anyone else have confidence in you or your product or service?
The same is true in entre-preneurship and leadership.
Certainty, built upon dedicated thought and study, allows you to make decisions quickly, confidently and with courage.
That doesn't mean you'll always be right. But, it does mean that you are in a state of constant growth.
John-Paul Micek is the lead business coach at RPM Success Group Inc. Reach him at
JPM@RPMsuccess.com or toll-free at (888) 334-8151.
Deborah Cole Micek, chief executive officer of RPM Success Group, is a business success coach and life strategist. Reach her at
DCM@RPMsuccess.com or toll-free at (888) 334-8151.