I have marveled time and time again how people who start off by boasting end up with their heads between their legs. 

Interesting right? 

I can give examples, but I do not want to come across as making fun of them as I hope they have learnt from their mistakes and I humbly say I keep learning every day myself. 

Some time ago, I was speaking to someone about needing a service. Note I did not know this person from Adam. I simply stumbled on the profile while researching and made contact. 

As I spoke over the phone, this person went on and on and on about how great the goods and services are and how they were respected by all who get them. I had simply said that there was the possibility that this person hadn’t encountered all sorts of clients, and sadly enough, I was right; it was even more painful because I needed the service for someone else and literarily had to move mountains to close this deal so delivery could be made to spec.

When the item was finally delivered, sure enough it was totally less than the standard expected. Maybe because it had been hyped so much that the expectation was beyond the roof; and believing that if all this noise could be made, then it was definitely going to be worth the salt! Gosh I was so wrong. 

Then again I look back at instances, where I have met people that thought little or nothing of their skill or even though mindful of their skills did not make a big deal of it. These ones blew expectations. They were the ones who delivered above and beyond expectations. 

Now, let’s look at things a little closer. You see, when you are overconfident, it increases the likelihood of error. For instance, you assume it is impossible for you to do wrong so you fail to double-check things, sometimes,  key protocols. That is something ‘humble’ people don’t take for granted, and they go the extra mile to check and double-check things to reduce the possibility of error. 

Secondly, when you are overconfident you hardly listen to the other person or the other person’s perspective thereby laying the foundation for error. I was speaking to a couple of people this week and I was worried about how they had simply failed to read and understand my message and had simply jumped into conclusions – their conclusions when what I had said/sent was right before them in black and white. I am even more amazed that these individuals wasted valuable time arguing about an obvious mistake because their egos just wouldn’t allow them to accept the fact that they had failed to listen and interpret properly. 

Thirdly, when you are overconfident, you focus on the minors without even knowing it. Remember with overconfidence comes the feeling of being all that and much more. Well, news flash, all that gen gen is in your mind; and you end up focusing on just one tree when you have a whole forest of trees. 

Truth is, we all are work in progress, and when we make a conscious effort to note this pothole we will avoid falling into it. I am still learning and I guess you are too, but with the right attitude we will tone down pride, error, and failure; and dial-up humility, a teachable spirit, and success. 

Like I said, I am still working on myself, and I hope you will find reasons after reading this to work on yourself too. You know somehow, I find myself likening this to the story Christ told/gave about conducts during an event. He said when you get to an event, don’t seat at the VIP section. Instead, stay in the regular section until you are called upon and ushered into the VIP section lest you get ‘bounced’ right in the middle of the ceremony. In the same way, be mindful of your talent, but don’t go around praising yourself. Let your work speak for you, and let others praise you – it’s sweeter and more satisfying.