The Club PUBlication 11/06/2023

Being confident is critical to success
OUTSWIMMING THE SHARKS
HARVEY MACKAY

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A king in a far-off land had an army of elephants. When his bravest, most substantial elephant grew too old to fight, the king let him go free in a forest where he had everything he could eat and drink.

One day, the elephant was drinking in a pond and got a leg stuck in the mud. As hard as he tried, he couldn't pull himself free. He finally just sat down, bellowing in pain.

The king asked a wise man for advice on how to help. The wise man thought momentarily and said, "Play the drums of war."

The king assembled his army and ordered them to play their war drums. Soon, the elephant perked up, rose, and freed his leg.

All the elephant needed was to be reminded of who he was. People are much the same. Sometimes, we forget who we are, what we are capable of, and what we have accomplished.

And while you will probably get stuck in the mud, obstacles can set you back if you let them. When you feel like you can't escape the quicksand, you question how you will get back on track.

You need your own drums of war. You need self-confidence.

Self-confidence starts with believing in yourself. It alone won't help you succeed, but getting started or pushing through the inevitable obstacles is hard without believing in yourself first.

Harvey Mackay is a Minneapolis businessman. Contact him at 612-378- 6202 or email [email protected].
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I first came across Earl Nightengale's "The Strangest Secret" in the early 60s. Although it seems to be about success in sales and becoming wealthy in its current presentation, its true reach is far more profound.

The central theme of the book, "you become what you think about most of the time," is undoubtedly true, but it is not practiced enough.

Just as continuously thinking about our inability to accomplish a task, regain our strength and mobility, or resolve life problems can inundate us with negativity, it is equally true that our positive thoughts can lead us to success.

It is easier to become negative than to remain positive, just as it is easier to go downhill than climb a mountain. However, changing our attitude can make all the difference, as shown in the story of the elephant in this release.