Optimism Part 7

This is the seventh article in a series on applying The Optimist Creed to help you succeed in your life and career. You can find all ten points of The Optimist Creed in the first article in this series.

The Optimist Creed Point 6

“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 Northeaste
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 got the confidence to write my new book, Straight Talk for Success, 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.n