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Article: "Win The Confidence Game"
By: Hershey Wier, MBA
http://www.HersheyWier.com
"Everybody's looking for a hero. People need someone to look up to."
The lines from this popular song says everybody, and that must mean you, that
must mean me. That means over six billion people around the world... are looking
for a hero - someone to look up to.
If heroes are in demand, that means there is a steady supply of would-be heroes.
Thus, The Confidence Game is by far one of the world's most fiercely played.
The Confidence Game involves conveying, aptly, confidence. How do you do this?
What is the secret to making everyone feel that everything is alright? That we are
on the winning team. That we're right and they're wrong.
The process can be dotted with pitfalls. Why? When was the last time you were
part of an organization / group in which everything was under control? No needs,
no problems. If you are in such an organization, you must have boarded a train
bound for Utopia.
For, the rest of us, there is no Utopia. Yet, would-be heroes have the task of
giving their people a bit of Utopia, if only through words and imagery, in order to win
hearts and minds. Here is where The Confidence Game ensues.
Selling confidence means selling hope, selling promises, selling facades, selling
threats and selling lies. Would-be heroes overpromise with confidence, then make
themselves scarce when they fail to follow-through. Would-be heroes sell
lip-service. Display hubris. The smoke and mirrors are often effective, though
temporarily so.
Eventually, as the song says, the truth is found out. "I never found anyone to
fulfill my needs." Translation: The heroes never came through.
True heroes are rare. True heroes exist because of a concept that few contestants
in The Confidence Game apply. Spot the key word below.
"I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadow.
If I fail, if I succeed, at least I did as I believe.
No matter what they take from me, they can't take away my [integrity]."
(My adaptation.)
Yes, folks, the word is integrity. The original lyrics used the word "dignity." Not
as important as integrity, in my book. Integrity and dignity don't necessarily go
hand in hand. Integrity means telling the truth, even when you've failed. Many do
not see dignity in doing this, and prefer to go the more cowardly route of covering
up.
The world is in desperate need of heroes. Heroes who work diligently and with
integrity. For the higher good, the good of all, not just for their own personal gain,
not for their egos.
Do you walk the talk with integrity? Do you follow-through on your promises? Do
you work for the good of all? Do you realize that we must cooperate together from
our smallest societal unit, the family, on up to our companies, organizations, towns,
states, countries, and the world?
We are all connected. You are one unique link in the great multi-faceted chain of
humanity.
The Confidence Game is just that, a game. Stop playing games and attend to real
lives. We can start by walking our talk with integrity. By making conscientious
efforts on behalf of the higher good - the good of all.
Song: "The Greatest Love of All," lyrics, Whitney Houston.
About the Author
Hershey Wier, MBA, is a Career & Self-Development Specialist specializing in career
and life transitions. Visit http://www.HersheyWier.com
Copyright 2003, Hershey Wier All rights reserved.
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