“Confidence is key,” so they say. How are we supposed to maintain our confidence when we constantly downplay our skills and successes in order to be humble? Well, it turns out being humble is overrated.
There’s a line I like: “Never be haughty to the humble and never be humble to the haughty.” It’s a reminder that confidence doesn’t mean putting other people down, and being humble doesn’t mean pretending you haven’t done anything worth celebrating.
In a world where modesty often takes centre stage, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle of downplaying our achievements. We’ve all been there, trying to ride the line between acknowledging what we can do and not wanting to come across as boastful. But genuine confidence doesn’t require putting others down or diminishing what we’ve accomplished. It’s about standing tall in our achievements without overshadowing anyone else’s.
So ditch the humility charade and embrace the honesty of knowing what you can do. When you achieve something great, don’t brush it off like it didn’t matter. Acknowledge the hard work you put into it and take pride in what you accomplished. It’s recognizing that you can do great things when you set your mind to it.
So, is it important to be humble? To a certain point, yes. Just don’t forget to celebrate your wins along the way. Recognize the power of your successes and don’t be afraid to feel proud of what you’ve achieved. There’s nothing wrong with showing off a little bit. If you don’t believe in yourself, nobody else will. Be proud of what you’ve done and don’t let anyone take away your self-worth. Your self-worth is a valuable commodity.
I am most proud of my failures. They are capital-F FAILURES. I’ve learned more from my failures than from my successes. They taught me to pay attention and recognize what’s needed around me. Isaac Newton paid attention when he watched an apple fall from a tree. Someone at 3M paid attention and found a use for an otherwise failed adhesive, and invented Post-it Notes. Do I think I’m like Isaac Newton? No, of course not. But I believe in the possibility of greatness because I’ve had failures that taught me to pay attention.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and own them as lessons learned. Don’t downplay your failures. Use them as fuel. Use them to take risks and have confidence in what you do.
There is a big difference between douchebag confidence and real confidence. Douchebag confidence is hollow, filled with hormones, dick-measuring contests, self-loathing, an inferiority complex, and the notion that you are better than anyone and can do anything. Real confidence comes from understanding your strengths and weaknesses, knowing you can’t do anything and everything, and knowing the measuring tape is always totally wrong. It just is. Shut up.
I know I can’t be President of the United States, nor can I be a Prada model. However, I will walk like a supermodel on the treadmill at the gym. It’s about taking calculated risks when the situation calls for it. That kind of confidence can bring you success, not the douchebag kind!
As I enter my 50th year on earth, I can honestly say that real confidence is sexy. Nothing is more attractive than someone with a spark in their eye and a belief that they are capable of greatness. Actually, “nothing is more attractive” is an overstatement. A well-toned body and somewhat symmetrical features are also highly attractive. But “Have you ever wondered if there was more to life, other than being, really, really ridiculously good-looking?” I have not, and do not want to know the answer. ;)
Don’t be afraid to let your talents shine. Stars don’t shine without fuel, so use your failures to fuel the belief that you can accomplish what you want. Be proud of your successes, and keep going no matter the setback. Don’t downplay the hard work you put into something. Own your accomplishments and failures, and use them to move forward with real confidence.
Look, it’s okay to be confident. There’s no need to put yourself down or feel like you have to be humble. That negative narrative is insidious and damaging. Focus on what you’ve accomplished, take pride in your hard work, and celebrate your successes. Go out there and be confident. Own it. Get on a treadmill or walk down a grocery aisle like you’re Derek Zoolander or Naomi Campbell. Dare to be great, and don’t forget to have fun while you’re doing it. That’s what all this is about, after all: living life with a bit of swagger and enjoying every moment as best you can.
And if all else fails, just watch Zoolander again. The first one. ;)
“It’s hard to be humble when you’re as great as I am.”
Muhammad Ali said that once.
