A Boost Of Confidence

A Boost of Confidence

I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6

“Dilbert is not getting married.” That’s the announcement Scott Adams made in 2006 when he revealed that at 49 he, in real life, was getting married for the first time. You know Adams’s work from his wildly successful cartoon strip that began in the 1990s. What you may not know is how, after years in the workaday world, Scott Adams got his start. Adams tells the story:

“You don’t have to be a ‘person of influence’ to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life probably are not even aware of the things they’ve taught me. When I was trying to become a syndicated cartoonist, I sent my portfolio to one cartoon editor after another—and received one rejection after another. One editor even called and suggested that I take art classes.”

But not long after that, Adams received a call from Sarah Gillespie, an editor at United Media and a true expert in the field. She called to offer Adams a contract. “At first, I didn’t believe her. I asked if I’d have to change my style, get a partner—or learn how to draw,” he said.

But Gillespie believed Scott Adams was already good enough to be a nationally syndicated cartoonist. Her confidence in Scott completely changed his frame of reference and altered how he thought about his own abilities. “This may sound bizarre,” he said, “but from the minute I got off the phone with her, I could draw better. You can see a marked improvement in the quality of the cartoons I drew after that conversation.”^a

It’s truly remarkable what a boost of confidence can do for the human spirit. And we have the opportunity every week to boost the spirits of our spouses. Often all it takes is an encouraging word or affirmation to infuse a bit of confidence. Where can you be a source of encouragement and confidence for your spouse today?

The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.

—Sven-Göran Eriksson

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