21 Days to More Confidence

Tom Brady, star quarterback of the New England Patriots, is described by many as the best ever at his position. He is the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, and he has now won 3 out of the 4 Super Bowl games he has played, which is also a record at his age.

After his college career at the University of Michigan came to a close, he entered the National Football League draft, where the player considered to be the best in the nation is drafted first, then the next best player is drafted, and so on. Tom Brady was drafted 199th out of 199.

When Brady was interviewed on “60 Minutes”, the interviewer noted that the professional football scouts had tested Brady prior to the draft and found that he was slow, didn’t move well, couldn’t avoid a blitz, and didn’t have good arm strength. He then asked Tom why he was able to achieve so much with those seeming handicaps. Tom Brady’s response was, “They couldn’t measure my competitiveness”.

When Brady talked about all he had achieved, the interviewer said it sounded like he was bragging. Tom’s reply was, “If you’ve done it, it ain’t bragging”.

Supreme confidence is the hallmark of the great champions, and that confidence is built on accomplishments. You can strengthen your confidence with some simple and effective actions. Psychologists tell us that it takes 21 days to form a habit, so you can have a more confident attitude in just 3 weeks.

Here’s the strategy: Every evening write down some simple goals to be accomplished the next day.

These goals should be something as easily achievable as buying a book, going to the gym, sending an email, calling a friend, or shining your shoes. Here’s the key: Write the goals down on 3x5cards and keep them prominently in view on your bathroom mirror, your sun visor, your desk or other locations where you see them throughout the day.

Resolve to accomplish every small, short term goal you have listed, and when the goal is accomplished, use a big Magic Marker to make a large check mark on the card, and write in big letters, “I DID IT!”

Do this every day for the next 21 days, and you will be amazed at the new sense of confidence building within you. You have now formed a new habit of accomplishing any goal you write down.