THE DUNNING KRUGER EFFECT

A few weeks ago, I challenged Someone to a Competitive endeavor.

It was football. Or if you are from North America, soccer.

We had arguments for weeks. In those arguments, I stated clearly how I would defeat him during the soccer game.

We were supposed to pick our teams, and then pick a date for this CLASH.

At this time I was uncertain who my teammates would be. and if my team would be able to win the match, Since football (soccer) was a team sport.

Regardless, I felt confident that I would win the game.

I hadn't even practiced for weeks, or even months prior.

But I didn't care.

I continued to boast, that I would win regardless.

And because I had this incomplete philosophy "if you think it, you will become it"

I felt all I needed was just to believe it and I would win easily.

Side note: Something similar happened in my life while I was in high school, in a sporting competition. but I guess I just hadn't learned my lesson yet.

And, I think particularly because I consider myself in some sense to have some level of attestable competence in other areas I felt I was also going to make it happen In this area( Football) too.

To be honest; some part of me didn't really care about winning the game. All I wanted was to have fun.

However, another part of me wanted to really show this guy what I was made of.

So, the day came. I chose my team. He chose his teammates.

We started out the match. They outplayed us so much that the score ended something like 12-6( I'm not quite certain). But he won by a huge margin.

Mehn. I couldn't believe it. He won even though I was confident I would win.

I knew there was something wrong.

I believed I would win, yet I Lost.

Then, I had an epiphany almost immediately.

I realized that it took COMPETENCE / ABILITY to win.

Not just confidence or Positivity.

How does this all make sense?

You see, My confidence was proof of what we call the "DUNNING KRUGER EFFECT"

Two scientists carried out a research project years ago and found that most incompetent people thought they were Far more competent than they were.

This is because your mind naturally and constantly seems to want to make you feel good about yourself.

And because your Mind basically cannot differentiate imagination from reality, it could sway you off your grounds.

….And you may end up in a real-life catastrophic fall (Like mine)

So, what's the essence of all of this I have just shared?

It is good to be a confident person. But really confidence is not only what you need to succeed.

What you desire are RESULTS.

And to gain results you don't need confidence and positive thoughts alone.

You need COMPETENCE (ability)

No matter how confident a 2-year-old child is, he cannot carry a Huge Flat screen Samsung 32-inch Television set.

He just can't.

Why? Because he doesn't have the ABILITY.

I thought if I could Just Think positively and confess, my Team would win the match.

It wasn't so.

bragging and speaking positively about my victory helped boost my confidence, but I still lost ( the team Still lost)

So, You maybe are currently Stranded, uncertain, and failing.

Probably, Failing in your Business, Career, or academics.

What you need is not more confidence or Positivity.

You will still fail, even if you add some spiritual practice to it like "Prayer"

 What you may need is COMPETENCE (ABILITY)

Ability in terms of SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE or SUPERIOR PRACTICE.

the reason why things are not working out so well for you may be that You don't have a skill, or you are not good enough yet.

It's tough to accept but it may be true.

The good part is that as a human, you can improve or GROW your competence over time.

So, You basically need to apply for an apprenticeship or course or build a daily practice to get better.

You've got to be willing to put in The work to get better to learn about why your business or Finance is failing and what you can do to get the "show on the road"

At your point of building COMPETENCE, The Most important positive thought you should have is...

" I can practice and learn well enough to get better and reach my Goal"

COMPETENCE + CONFIDENCE = Result.

So, Keep learning, Keep Practicing, and Keep Building.

in the process of learning you will fail many times temporarily like a child learning to walk, but make sure you endure to stay till you become a master indeed.

…..and finally, be most especially sure to WIN YOUR SOCCER GAME.

You are more than this.

-Lawrence Okosa

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GLOSSARY

Epiphany: An illuminating realization or discovery, often resulting in a personal feeling of elation, awe, or wonder.

COMPETENCE: The quality or state of being able or suitable for a particular task.

APPRENTICESHIP: The system by which a person learning a craft or trade is instructed by a master for a set time under set conditions.