Comments on: The Danger of Overconfidence http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2010/05/03/danger-of-overconfidence/ Personal Growth and Effectiveness Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:56:50 +0000 hourly 1 By: Why Overconfidence Is a Pure Danger ? http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2010/05/03/danger-of-overconfidence/comment-page-1/#comment-202208 Why Overconfidence Is a Pure Danger ? Sat, 22 May 2010 18:00:32 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=2221#comment-202208 [...] story at Life Optimizer Recommended Posts:You Can Laugh at “Self Doubt” – If You Follow These 5 [...] [...] story at Life Optimizer Recommended Posts:You Can Laugh at “Self Doubt” – If You Follow These 5 [...]

]]> By: Donald Latumahina http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2010/05/03/danger-of-overconfidence/comment-page-1/#comment-198325 Donald Latumahina Fri, 07 May 2010 01:33:53 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=2221#comment-198325 Clint, What a coincidence :) Thanks for sharing your experience. Lakshmi, You might want to read Paul Graham's article that I link to above for his view about Bill Gates. I completely agree that turnaround time can make a big difference. Everyone could fail, but those who recover quickly will be successful sooner. Megan, You're right, finding the balance is key. Jon, I think we'd better learn to find the balance though it's hard. In the story about Irving Fisher above, he didn't learn from (nor admit) his mistakes because of his overconfidence. He didn't make any progress and actually lost more money because of his repeating the same mistakes. In this case, the situation became even worse than inaction. Clint,
What a coincidence :) Thanks for sharing your experience.

Lakshmi,
You might want to read Paul Graham’s article that I link to above for his view about Bill Gates. I completely agree that turnaround time can make a big difference. Everyone could fail, but those who recover quickly will be successful sooner.

Megan,
You’re right, finding the balance is key.

Jon,
I think we’d better learn to find the balance though it’s hard. In the story about Irving Fisher above, he didn’t learn from (nor admit) his mistakes because of his overconfidence. He didn’t make any progress and actually lost more money because of his repeating the same mistakes. In this case, the situation became even worse than inaction.

]]> By: Jon http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2010/05/03/danger-of-overconfidence/comment-page-1/#comment-198264 Jon Thu, 06 May 2010 15:44:35 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=2221#comment-198264 Overconfidence is definitely a double-edge sword, but sometimes it's hard to find a balance. My question to you is, would you rather be overconfident or not very confident? If I had a preference, I would rather be overconfident in my abilities. This way, I can learn from my mistakes, as opposed to analyzing every situation to not make any mistakes. Also, I won't have to look back and regret my lack of aggression in different situations. Overconfidence is definitely a double-edge sword, but sometimes it’s hard to find a balance. My question to you is, would you rather be overconfident or not very confident?

If I had a preference, I would rather be overconfident in my abilities. This way, I can learn from my mistakes, as opposed to analyzing every situation to not make any mistakes. Also, I won’t have to look back and regret my lack of aggression in different situations.

]]> By: Megan Zuniga http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2010/05/03/danger-of-overconfidence/comment-page-1/#comment-198004 Megan Zuniga Wed, 05 May 2010 09:08:19 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=2221#comment-198004 Great post. I always come across many productivity and positivity blogs and mostly self-esteem is tackled. This is the first I've come across about overconfidence. While low self-esteem is bad, being overconfident shows a sign of fearlessness. And that's not good because you take all risks without thinking. Like jumping off a bridge, thinking you could fly. Also, being too confident is one sure way to lose friends. No one likes people who are <a href="http://budurl.com/qahv" rel="nofollow">egotistic.</a> There has to be a balance with humility and confidence. And I agree that luck plays a big factor in success. PS...@Ralph that's a beautiful quote btw. Great post. I always come across many productivity and positivity blogs and mostly self-esteem is tackled. This is the first I’ve come across about overconfidence. While low self-esteem is bad, being overconfident shows a sign of fearlessness. And that’s not good because you take all risks without thinking. Like jumping off a bridge, thinking you could fly. Also, being too confident is one sure way to lose friends. No one likes people who are egotistic. There has to be a balance with humility and confidence.
And I agree that luck plays a big factor in success.
PS…@Ralph that’s a beautiful quote btw.

]]> By: Lakshmi Narayanan N http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2010/05/03/danger-of-overconfidence/comment-page-1/#comment-197750 Lakshmi Narayanan N Tue, 04 May 2010 13:08:32 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=2221#comment-197750 Like other commentators, I too feel that failure due to over confidence teaches us a lot of lessons in life and i believe those failures are unique and had to be experienced (or everyone experiences it may be of different severity) by everyone. I m not so sure about the element of luck and its role in one's growth. I tend to disagree however. Bill Gates ended up top of the list just because of the choices/decisions he made. Apart from that, I totally agree with other points. Among all, I really like the idea of anticipating failures and working out a plan B or at least be prepared to respond to any failure shortens the turnaround time. Sometimes (or rather most of the times), turnaround time makes a lot of difference between winners and losers. The losers when they shorten the turnaround time, they make themselves successful. Thanks a lot of wonderful ideas. Like other commentators, I too feel that failure due to over confidence teaches us a lot of lessons in life and i believe those failures are unique and had to be experienced (or everyone experiences it may be of different severity) by everyone.

I m not so sure about the element of luck and its role in one’s growth. I tend to disagree however. Bill Gates ended up top of the list just because of the choices/decisions he made. Apart from that, I totally agree with other points.

Among all, I really like the idea of anticipating failures and working out a plan B or at least be prepared to respond to any failure shortens the turnaround time. Sometimes (or rather most of the times), turnaround time makes a lot of difference between winners and losers. The losers when they shorten the turnaround time, they make themselves successful.

Thanks a lot of wonderful ideas.

]]> By: Clint Cora http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2010/05/03/danger-of-overconfidence/comment-page-1/#comment-197746 Clint Cora Tue, 04 May 2010 12:35:59 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=2221#comment-197746 Interesting how you have a photo of a snowboarder there because a few years ago, I was overconfident in my skiing abilities as I went for my level 2 ski instructor certification (I was already a level 1 instructor). I ended up failing the level 2. After training for another full winter which taught me more on expanding my comfort zones in areas of skiing that I needed improvement in, I retook the level 2 and finally passed it. I learned from my first failure there. So there were important lessons all round. I even talk about this on one of my episodes of Motivational WebTV. Interesting how you have a photo of a snowboarder there because a few years ago, I was overconfident in my skiing abilities as I went for my level 2 ski instructor certification (I was already a level 1 instructor). I ended up failing the level 2. After training for another full winter which taught me more on expanding my comfort zones in areas of skiing that I needed improvement in, I retook the level 2 and finally passed it. I learned from my first failure there. So there were important lessons all round. I even talk about this on one of my episodes of Motivational WebTV.

]]> By: Donald Latumahina http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2010/05/03/danger-of-overconfidence/comment-page-1/#comment-197732 Donald Latumahina Tue, 04 May 2010 10:44:46 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=2221#comment-197732 Craig, <blockquote>Failing to deliver/blaming myself was normal – not anymore.</blockquote> Nice :) Ralph, That's a great quote! Thanks for sharing. Craig,

Failing to deliver/blaming myself was normal – not anymore.

Nice :)

Ralph,
That’s a great quote! Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: Ralph http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2010/05/03/danger-of-overconfidence/comment-page-1/#comment-197572 Ralph Tue, 04 May 2010 08:08:07 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=2221#comment-197572 Great post! I was listening to a lecture from Reid Kaufmen the founder of Paypal and Linkedin and he said something interesting on the topic of failure. He said, "Work as if you are going to succeed but plan as if failure is possible". Knowing that you may fail gives you an opportunity to plan and it also keeps you humble. Great post! I was listening to a lecture from Reid Kaufmen the founder of Paypal and Linkedin and he said something interesting on the topic of failure. He said, “Work as if you are going to succeed but plan as if failure is possible”. Knowing that you may fail gives you an opportunity to plan and it also keeps you humble.

]]> By: Craig Thomas http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2010/05/03/danger-of-overconfidence/comment-page-1/#comment-197563 Craig Thomas Tue, 04 May 2010 06:59:31 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=2221#comment-197563 Nice post. I was a right bugger for being overconfident at one point. Seems it's inevitable at one point in your life to get that way. Although, after realising - I quickly saw the error of my ways and started changing. Failing to deliver/blaming myself was normal - not anymore. :) Nice post. I was a right bugger for being overconfident at one point. Seems it’s inevitable at one point in your life to get that way. Although, after realising – I quickly saw the error of my ways and started changing. Failing to deliver/blaming myself was normal – not anymore. :)

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