He got up before six every morning. The pain was always there. Medicines covered his night stand. Twisted fingers made it hard to tie his shoes. He knew he was different. His mother had long ago explained how an instrument used when he was born had caused brain damage leading to cerebral palsy, which affected his walking, talking and hand movements.
Every day was the same. It took a lot of time, but the man, in his mid-60s, was finally ready to leave for work. He wanted to look good, because he knew his customers expected it. He couldn’t drive, so he went to the nearest bus stop.
He knew most people thought he was retarded, so every day he had to prove they were wrong.
Several government agencies told him he was “unemployable” and offered permanent disability checks.
But Bill Porter didn’t see it that way. He always wanted to be a salesman and that’s what he did for Watkins, a home products company. As a matter of fact, he was for several years that company’s top salesman in a four-state area. Then, he was the only one selling door-to-door in the company’s 75,000 sales force. He walked over eight miles every working day. Now, nearly 75 years old, he serves his customers via the Internet.
Because he worked for straight commission, there was no salary, no paid vacations, holidays, raises or health insurance. When he had back surgery, he couldn’t work for five months and had to sell the house he inherited from his mother to pay debts. Undaunted, he rented from the person who bought his house and was back on his sales route.
Bill Porter went for it everyday. His body ached from head to toe. He stumbled. His body tilted forward, so he was continually off balance. Every step was unsteady, staggered. But he believed he was proving something. He proved that he was in charge—of his schedule, of his work, of his livelihood, of his life. And he was!
Lesson: Wishing won’t make it so
Confidence is one of the keystones of success. Those who are less than optimistic about the present and future view a crisis as an unsolvable problem, an immovable obstacle, a persistent dilemma.
The dictionary lists at least eight definitions for the word confidence. Perhaps the most straightforward defines this noun as “the mental attitude of trusting a person or thing.”
People who display confidence in themselves, in others, and in public or private matters have certain characteristics worth examining. They are, for example, tough-minded.
They recognize, perhaps instinctively, that the affairs of men and women—whether they are in business, the arts, society, sports or academe—are seldom forums for aimless discussion or debate. They are, rather, fields of action.
Those who don’t know what they are trying to accomplish will fail. Worse yet, they frequently communicate their uncertainty to others. The result is group ineffectiveness.
There remains great truth in the anonymous adage: “There are many paths to success, but the road to failure is clear—try to please everyone!”
Why do people vacillate? For two reasons: Tough-mindedness isn’t possible when the intellectual acumen necessary for clearly analyzing a situation is lacking and the ability to formulate a plan for action is missing. There’s also another possibility. Those lacking tough-mindedness don’t have the persistence to see a situation through to a successful conclusion. It is vital to believe in yourself—and then to dare!
But tough-mindedness alone isn’t always sufficient. Unless it is combined with flexibility, the problem of stubbornness emerges. Many men and women have innovative, workable, sometimes brilliant ideas. But they find themselves frustrated at every turn, because any change of pace or altering of plans sends them into a tailspin. Unless done their way, forget it.
Chances are that deep down these people are frightfully insecure. Truly confident people see nothing wrong in a change of plans or direction, provided it continues to advance them toward goals they’re convinced are worthwhile.
Confidence is also reflected in one’s ability to communicate. The individual who communicates with skill often possesses the knack for saying things in a way others will remember. Equally important, this individual can say “no” in a way that will not cause distress or hard feelings.
Closely allied with communication is a strong memory. Not for trivia, loose facts, or statistics anyone can find in a file drawer or library, but one sharpened by acute powers of observation.
Roger Fritz is the founder (1972) and president of Organization Development Consultants. His consulting (over 400 clients), writing (52 books), and seminars focus on relating personal skills to company priorities. To read a free sample chapter of his latest book, The Challenge of Change, visit www.rogerfritz.com. Call him at 630-420-7673.