Confidence The Key
Building a Champions Mentality Embedded in Perfection
The National Competition is here again. Nothing more to say about that.
What is the one thing that would make us (on-lookers and the judges) not buy your story, or give your products, numbers and success stories a chance? The answer to this might appear colossal at first thought; in essence however, the judges do not usually take out the time to find colossal reasons for rejecting your work. The reason they say ‘NO’ to your team is due to just one factor — doubt.
Psychologically, every team is the same, until they begin their presentation and make us believe their story. When we doubt you, we will subconsciously place your work in our ever-expanding list we like to see as ‘just like the rest of them’. It is this psychology that doesn’t give the sales man a chance against an experienced buyer, except he pulls off the extra-ordinary.
It turns out that the extra-ordinary is nothing difficult at all.
Enactus FUTO has won this competition twice in the past four years, and those who have been there (Yours truly inclusive) will tell you that the margins between the success and failure are the fine margins of extra effort. That extra design detail, that obsession with perfection in nuance and script presentation, even the extra details in your style, manner, outfit, swagger and confidence in look, speech and deed.
Confidence is what dissolves doubt. Talking about slides, good design is built to eliminate doubts; an inferior quality slide will raise silent questions about whether to trust your team’s ability at producing the best. The confidence that comes from paying attention to the slightest details is what we need. It takes confidence to make the little changes that no matter how late, will make a telling difference. Those extra efforts and time spent awake are what will make the difference above all else.
Since you left for Lagos on Sunday, the entire school seems oblivious of your absence, taking a walk around today. They don’t care much, and may never hear about your heroic efforts, unless of course, you return with the trophy of national champion. For them, only success at that level will put you on their lips ones again.
It is in days and periods like the ones this week, when a team is at its seeming weakest, that true champions are made. We await to see those who will rise to the occasion, who will not be afraid to make the telling changes that will bring victory and who will show the heart and skill to do what is required of them. It all takes confidence. Make the judges believe it. Make us believe it.
Whatever the outcome, you all are champions — if not this year, then in years to come.
