Los Angeles, Calif., a city where things are constantly abuzz in entertainment and sports. A city where a true freshman started at quarterback for USC, Manny Ramirez led the Dodgers to a victory and Reggie Bush responded to criticism of being a bust in the NFL – all within an hour. At the same time, Kate Beckinsale was on the red carpet touting her newest film while Britney Spears was performing at Staples Center. With the constant attention on entertainers and athletes throughout the city, observers tend to get a sense of how they have become so successful.
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o how do athletes and celebrities handle the pressure of work in a calm and confident manner? It is because they have reached a point where they no longer have a fear of failure like average people do. Take a second and think about how often celebrities and athletes are faced with the possibilities of failing. Great hitters fail seven out of ten times. Actors and actresses face the constant possibility of not getting the next part or wowing producers in the next audition. Even the biggest movie stars fail in certain situations. We all have been trying to forget Adam Sandler’s Punch Drunk Love and You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.
Athletes and celebrities aren’t afraid of failing and their confidence reflects their attitudes. In an interview with ESPN the Magazine, famed tennis instructor Brian De Villiers stated, “So many Americans are afraid of failing and so concerned with keeping up with the Joneses that they don’t want to put themselves out there and go for it.” However, performers have trained their minds to believe highly in their abilities that failing will never happen, even if they have failed several times in a row. Contrary to De Villiers comments, Americans are not inherently hard wired to have a fear of failure but most Americans have simply not trained their mind in the correct way when hit with stressful events.
A reporter once asked Jack Nicklaus how many times he had missed meaningful six-foot putts. Jack looked at the reporter with a confused look and said, “Never.” After the reporter chuckled, he posed the question again and got the same exact response from Nicklaus. Even though Nicklaus has obviously missed innumerable short putts, he is able to just think about the successes and that allows him to continue to perform at the highest level.
Every person has a natural confidence within them and many people have difficulty finding that inner confidence, especially during stressful situations. If people are able to think like an athlete or celebrity, in a way in which you aren’t worried about failing, confidence will grow and performance will improve. Plus, stress levels will go down when confidence is higher and performance is improved, all of which adding up to a higher quality of life.
