How Much Confidence Does It Take To Change A Light Bulb?
It's ALL about confidence!!
Sounds like the start of the longest running joke ever, right?
Wait...I think the chicken crossing the road might have that title.
I was in the process of changing a light bulb in the kitchen the other day. It was one of those indoor flood lights, and it was tighter than a ketchup bottle. It wouldn't budge.
What I know is this...I wasn't using all my strength to get it...elbow grease is the term that comes to mind. I was afraid to break it in the socket, and cut my hand in the process by gripping it too hard.
Surely I had enough strength to actually turn this bulb. I'm actually quite strong for my size and don't have any trouble throttling a jar of pickles that is giving my wife a hard time.
The reason I didn't make a commitment to this troublesome dead light bulb was fear. It was also a lack of confidence.
(How can one have a lack of confidence about changing a light bulb? Are you a man or a mouse?)
Now hold on a cotton pickin' minute! I'm not afraid of a stinkin' light bulb. But I'll admit that if the problem had been fixing a leaking paragraph, a dangling participle, or a high schooler skipping her Business Math class (you know who you are!) I'd have gone in like John Wayne.
But in nearly all manners mechanical, I'm a babe in the woods, even approaching middle age.
It's true...I have mechanico-phobia. It's not the thing...it's the feelings associated with the thing. I'm not dumb...under the right circumstances I could master most any standard mechanical situation necessary. And under duress, I've done pretty well!
On the other hand, writing, talking, addressing problems of the human variety (even my own)...all these activities elicit joy and confidence. Meeting and talking to new people...that gives me the slightest jolt of anxiety, which my brain registers as a task to be conquered and savored, like an elaborate crossword puzzle. It inspires confidence in my own abilities.
I got my abilities partially by an inborn talent, but mainly by exposure. Back when I was a little tike, I no doubt got some early success at navigating the complex waters of human behavior and found my confidence in this world. Same for writing. It came to me early, I played around with it, wasn't afraid to try new things, and made the writing process my friend.
I eventually got the light bulb out. I wrapped my hands in triple strength napkins and applied pressure in ever so little increasing increments. I think the light bulb decided to detach out of sheer boredom.
The bigger, more important stuff I do when I have to. When I get time on my hands I'm going to hire Bernie, my master car mechanic friend to come over and show me everything. I feel his eternal patience and good humor. It also helps that he values the skills I have.
Now, let's talk about YOU!!!
Where is your confidence?
Where is your fear?
Confidence is achieved by exposure. You've got to be willing to screw up, and you can't take it personally.
It helps to find someone who is willing who already can do the thing you want to learn. Not just anyone, someone who wants to teach...who values the effort you make to learn.
Find that person...he or she is out there. Maybe right next to you, waiting for you to become a student.
How many teachers does it take to change a light bulb?
Just one good one.
About the Author
Larry and Diane Hochman operate New You Marketing, a successful home business training and development program, in addition to their own home business from their residence in Bristol Connecticut. To receive Larry's FREE on-line four week home business development course, send a blank email to HomeBizMiniCourse@infogeneratorpro.com To subscribe to The Next Wave, Larry's free newsletter about home business development, email to: TheNextWave@infogeneratorpro.com
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