h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I didn't used to be that confident, I think the problem was down to how I thought others see me.

But now I just don't give a s**t what others think of me, now have no problems with confidence. So I think a solution is simply stop worrying about how others see you.

Alternitavly try cocain, has similar results. (not that i condone this)

Confidence absolutely comes with success - no doubt about it. And almost invariably success is a result of being good at what you do. The natural corollary is that confidence is borne out of competence (although competence does not necessarily imbue confidence).

Further, confidence grows with age. Lack-of-confidence is largely a result of worrying about what other people think of you. MrCoconutt already wrote that "I just don't give a s**t what others think of me, now have no problems with confidence".

Firstly, as you grow older, you tend to realise that what other people think of you is largely unimportant. It is interesting, almost pitiful, to read all the teenage angst posted in the H2G2 conversation fora/forums, realising that each of these oh-so-sensitive young people will need to reinvent the wheel before they discover life's real priorities. "Don't sweat the small stuff" -you don't need to buy (or even read) the book, just to appreciate the message. For youngsters, the perceived big stuff (like clothes, zits) is actually small stuff. That is why rigid adherence to school uniform is so important.

Second, age brings wisdom, and hopefully the knowledge that you are doing your thing right. So long as I'm confident in my own knowledge, which I find that I rarely am not these days, I'll fight my corner with anyone.

One further anecdote, seemingly unsupportive of all this posting:

I was once informed 24-hours in advance that the Assistant Under-Secretary would visit my project-office and that I would be expected to give a small presentation. I, of course, just about cacked myself overnight, and my presentation was duly cack.

Some months later, almost without warning, the Minister of Works showed up at my office, complete with his entourage. Again, I was expected to give a presentation ... it went swimmingly, and for a few glorious months, I'm chocolate.

This, I supposed, was adrenaline.

Dr Trout