Act as if it were impossible to fail.

Dorothea Brande

One of the most important things I have learned from coaching hundreds of kids is the "magic" of confidence. The lesson didn't come quickly or easily. When I first begn coaching I had high expectations for my kids and it was very tempting to punish every failure. Eventually, however, I was to learn the secret that would propel my kids to a higher degree of success than I (or they) imagined possible: Instill confidence.

Easy to say but hard to do, I know, but when correctly implemented this one factor will allow individuals and teams to perform at the highest possible level. So, how do you instill confidence? The way I attempted  it with my kids was this: I taught them the right way to play and then insisted on 100% effort for the entire time that they played. Then, regardless of whether they made their shots or got their rebounds or completed their passes, they were given encouragement and approval.

The reason for giving approval even when their attempts were unsuccessful was this: Doing the right thing with all of one's ability is success. Sometimes a good shot with proper form just doesn't go in - but it's still a good shot. When kids (and adults) realize this truth it frees them to accomplish great things. When we understand that the only definition of success that counts is doing the right thing in the right way with 100% effort, then we will succeed every time.

It was this truth that allowed David, a shepherd boy, to beat Goliath. He was much smaller, younger, less experienced, and had fewer weapons and armor - but he still approached Goliath with the confidence that he could not fail. Why? It was because he had a righteous cause - he was absolutely in the right! David was willing to make his stand in the right way with 100% effort, and he knew by doing this that God would not allow him to fail. David did his part, and God did the rest. Would this kind of confidence help you in the most important areas of your life? Then, find the right way to do things, take your stand and act as if it were impossible to fail!

David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty... All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's.

I Samuel 17:45 & 47, NIV