Dwelling on Past Mistakes?

My pal Julie, an incredibly gifted and creative marketing exec, recently took a job she was certain would be fantastic, only to find three or four weeks into things that the new organization was rife with problems, infighting and chaos. Julie made a quick exit and is now looking for a new opportunity, but her confidence, she tells me, is shaken. "How did I make such a bad choice?" she asks herself constantly, and the follow up to that of course is, "Will I do it again?"

Today's Wall Street Journal article about the parallels between professional athletes who encounter slumps (such as Jack Nicklaus and Alex Rodriguez) and executives who lose their swag is worth reading, particularly if you've been second guessing yourself. According to the WSJ, the ways in which self-confidence and a more positive attitude are regained for golf greats and baseball legends are the same for the rest of us.

The article lists some tips to silence those inner negative voices, including a favorite of mine: "List your strengths and assets and refer to the list in stressful moments." To get back on the All-Star roster, list 10 positive traits you bring to the table on an index card and look at it any time you feel your confidence falter, and remember that the first sale is always to yourself.