By Christopher Howard
Being unreasonable can be a sign of confidence and confidence creates winners, says Chris Howard.
When Oprah Winfrey was still very young, and growing up in poverty, she claimed that she would be a millionaire by the age of 32. She didn't base her vision for the future on her present "reality." And she didn't wander through life with a "we'll see…" attitude, taking whatever came her way. She set her mind on a very clear and quantifiable goal and staked her claim.
Her goal may have seemed laughable at the time, but now who's laughing all the way to the bank? Billionaires make bold claims that become self-fulfilling prophecies. Even if you don't want to become a billionaire, possessing that level of personal conviction will blow the doors off of what's possible for you, in life and business.
What you say that you believe is inextricably related to what you achieve. So be perfectly clear about what you expect from life, and say it how you want it. You can't think small and get big results. Far too many talented business minds settle for less than they deserve… not for lack of ability, but simply lack of belief in their ability. Results based on the psychology of self-doubt and fear will always fall short. Lack of conviction slows progress because you're working against inner-resistance.
What George Bernard Shaw once stated will always hold true: "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
Stake your claim and dare to be specific. It's like submitting your life's agenda to the universe. People will say, "I want wealth and fulfillment." Yes, but what does the word "wealth" mean to you specifically? And can you see yourself achieving that? There is magic in the specificity of your target, and a certainty about what you believe possible. It's that level of clarity and conviction that generates the greatest levels of achievement.
Bill Gates set an "unreasonable" goal to make computers a regular feature in most households in the U.S. He then pursued this dream relentlessly until it came true. This is the billionaire entrepreneurial mind at work. They shatter the boundary conditions of common expectations to claim outrageous fortune.
Ask yourself, "Where am I not being clear enough with what I really want? Where can I get bigger results with bigger thinking?" Then stay inspired by your bold vision. That will translate as the conviction needed to instill the confidence in others to join you in the pursuit of that dream.
My own success was certainly built more on personal conviction, than math skills or experience initially. When I first met with a capital investor, I could have been intimidated by the fact that he was a Harvard Business School grad and a millionaire many times over, while I was in a lot of debt and didn't know how to read a financial statement. But what I did know was that I couldn't afford to entertain one moment of self-doubt. I also knew that I would do exactly what I set out to do, because that's what I chose to believe. He's still my partner today and I continue to set outrageous goals that I find a way to fulfill. Trust yourself and your instincts. You're never going to create the type of wealth you desire if you don't take charge of your inner states. Confidence, determination, and excitement are all accessible to you whenever you need them… in meetings, sales pitches, or leading a team. Don't wait on readiness or an MBA to live the life of your dreams. You can begin with conviction alone.
Chris Howard is an international speaker and author who is represented in Australia and New Zealand By Universal Events. Visit www.universalevents.com.au
