Derek Jeter on Inner Arrogance

     Everywhere you look today, professional and college athletes are a spotlight in the media. Sometimes you will see them portrayed in a positive light, sometimes in a negative light. One athlete that comes to mind who stayed in the positive light throughout his career was Derek Jeter. As Jeter notes in his book The Life You Imagine, one of his keys to success was having what he calls 'inner arrogance'. Inner arrogance is being very cocky and confident on the inside (in your own thinking) but remaining humble to the outside world (how you interact with people and talk about yourself).

     Here is what Derek has to say in The Life You Imagine: Life Lessons For Achieving Your Dreams by Derek Jeter and Jack Curry :

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You have to feel like you’re the best player on the field, the player that thousands of people will stare at all game. They’ll watch how you wiggle the bat high above your shoulders at the plate, how you position yourself with two strikes on a batter, how you’re the first teammate to greet a player after a homer.  Whenever someone tells my father how humble I seem, he’ll chuckle and reveal a secret.  He will tell them that I have more inner arrogance than anyone he has ever met.  I believe I’m going to get a hit every time up and I’ll let that arrogance drip through in my performance, not in what I say. I believe you have to feel that way, but you don’t have to flaunt your abilities.  There’s a difference between having a swagger and being so full of yourself that you’re annoying to be around because every word out of your mouth is about how great you are.  

     How much Inner Arrogance do you have? Are you cocky enough on the inside?  Are you over-cocky to the outside world?  You decide…

     If you are looking for new, creative ways to develop your confidence, contact Brett Manning today to set up a coaching session.

              “Greatness is not given…It is earned through a purposefully executed daily grind.”