Musings at Altitude

I’ve heard so many times, “better lucky than good”, and I sincerely believe that many people live by that philosophy.  I certainly can rememember times where I was either incredibly lucky or undeservedly blessed (I believe the latter), but I can remember even more the many times where the luck did not come and the end result could not in any way be confused as success.

I do believe that confidence plays a big role in any eventual outcome.  Confidence (as opposed to arrogance) can lead folks to move forward aggressively knowing that their abilities can overcome any barriers that may come up along their way.  A lack of confidence can do quite the opposite and keep people mired in misery and incapable of taking that first step toward whatever potential destination they seek.  Those with the most confidence fully realize that they aren’t on any journey alone, and they also understand that the burden of success is carried by multiple people who are along for more than just the ride. 

I remember vividly sitting in a conference room a few years ago where everything in the world seemed to be falling down around us…and then our boss walked in.  Millions of dollars were on the line if we failed to recover, and yet his confidence was a stark contrast to the incredible unrest of the rest of the team.  He calmly walked in and immediately focused us on problem resolution, and within a few short hours we had corrective actions underway.  And then a few hours after that, the problem was resolved and all systems were go for mission activity.  His confidence in such a crisis proved to be the perfect comforter for a severely distressed crowd, and that confidence was rewarded with aggressive and yet appropriate action that led to full system recovery.  As is typical in most situations, this leader had no ability to personally fix the problem…he was totally dependent on us…but he was fully capable of setting the tone and creating the focus to get the job done…and he did that better than anyone.

Sir Winston Churchill said, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”  Optimism starts with confidence.  In fact, it’s impossible to be optimistic without confidence. 

Rudyard Kipling took the concept of confidence one step further in his beautiful poem, “If”:

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you

But make allowance for their doubting too,

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream — and not make dreams your master,

If you can think — and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make a heap of all your winnings

And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

Adn lose, and start again at your beginning

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings — nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much,

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And — which is more — you’ll be a Man, my son!

In times of great chaos, great uncertainty, great strain, and great unrest, confidence or the lack thereof can make or break (respectively) an organization or an individual dealing with any or all of these.  It’s apparent to all of us that we’re deeply enmeshed in a very uncertain time – with the economy, with the markets, with our jobs, and even with our families and the challenges that we face.  In this tough time, I yield to and take guidance from Rudyard Kipling – “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you; if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you but make allowance for their doubting too; your’s is the Earth and everything that’s in it.”  There is great wisdom and I find great comfort in these words.

PS.  Speaking of confidence, my granddaughter spent the last 3 days in the hospital with an infection – tough way to spend the 8th week of your life.  But this young lady exudes confidence even at this young age – don’t you agree?