The Optimist Creed, Part 6

Today is Monday, so this post is on self confidence. 

As you know, optimism is a key component of self confidence.  Several weeks ago, I did a post on The Optimist Creed.  It was a hit.  Several people asked for a copy.  The first post was so well received that I’ve decided to do a series of posts on The Optimist Creed.  This is another in that series. 

If you would like a copy of The Optimist Creed suitable for framing, please send an email to Bud@BudBilanich.com with the words “Optimist Creed” in the subject line.

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself:

  • To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
  • To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
  • To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
  • To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
  • To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
  • To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
  • To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
  • To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
  • To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
  • To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Last week I focused on the fifth point of The Optimist Creed.  Today, I’d like to delve into the sixth point: “Promise yourself to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.”

All teachers know that the best way to really master a subject is to learn to teach it.  I learned this when I was teaching in the Business School at Northeastern University when I was completing my dissertation at Harvard.  To be an effective teacher, you have to have complete mastery of your subject.  You need to be able to present it in a number of different ways to that people with different ways of thinking will be able to grasp the ideas you are presenting.

I have found that this is true for self confidence as well.  The more you help others develop their self confidence, the more yours will grow.  This is true for me.  As I’ve worked with my coaching clients, I have seen them grow, develop and flourish.  As they’ve grown and flourished, my self confidence has grown.

I’ve mentioned that I have a new book, Straight Talk for Success, coming out shortly.  I got the confidence to write this book from watching my coaching clients succeed.  As I watched them put to work my thoughts on what it takes to succeed in their careers and lives, I came to believe that I was really on to something and that I should share my thoughts with a broader audience.

In other words, by being “enthusiastic about the success of others”, I became more self confident and enthusiastic about my chances of success for my new book.  It’s karmic.  I’ve put out some positive energy, people have benefited from this energy.  As a result, I have benefited by being able to gather my thoughts and get them into book form.

The common sense point here is simple.  The sixth point of The Optimist Creed is really important.  No one of us can succeed on our own.  We need the help and support of others.  The best way to gain the help and support of others is to help and support others.  Being enthusiastic – not envious – of others’ success is a good way to start.

That’s it for today.  Thanks for reading.  Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense.  I had decided to close down my other blog: www.CommonSenseGuy.com to concentrate on this one.  However, several people have suggested that I leave it up even if I plan no more posts.  It seems as if they feel that what I’ve written there over the past few years is valuable content and deserves its place in cyber space.  So, I am going to leave up www.CommonSenseGuy.com.  I may even post there every once in a while.  If you enjoyed it, don’t cancel your RSS feed.  This means that if you want a free ebook version of my book 4 Secrets of High Performing Organizations, you can still get it by logging on to www.CommonSenseGuy.com.

I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Bud

PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open.  Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.

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