Confidence

 First of all, I would like to say that I really don't know where the time has gone.  It feels like yesterday that I wrote a blog, and it's been more than a month.  But, because of today's topic, I'm going to say that I MEANT to go silent for a month.  Yeah.  It was all planned.

No, wait.  That's 'fake it til you make it', not confidence.

My real topic today is about confidence.  Knowing you've prepared, knowing you have the necessary skills, and believing in that preparation and skill development enough to trust in good results.

Or, as they say on Strictly Come Dancing, it's when you 'sell it like a showgirl'.

Judge Motsie Mabuse said that last week - to one of the pro dancers, who of course have all the training, preparation, and skills that they need to do amazing dances every week.  But that isn't enough.  To really bring on the best possible outcome, you have to sell it like a showgirl.  Be confident.  Trust in your own ability.  Give it style and flair and a genuine smile.

That is very different from 'fake it til you make it'.   'Fake it til you make it' relies on showing the confidence without having all the skills, training, or knowledge.  Sometimes, people develop what they need as they go along, so they end up 'making it' with a set of very valuable skills - including the ability to improvise and learn on the fly.  Other times, they find themselves completely unable to handle where they end up when they have 'made it'.  They find themselves in a job that they can't do, or in a relationship with someone who doesn't know them, or trapped in a performance that crumbles once the spotlights heat up.

Learn first.  Then perform.  And sell it like  a showgirl.