People Pay To See Others Believe In Themselves

I love this quote from Kim Gordon, founding member of the band Sonic Youth: “People pay to see others believe in themselves”. Gordon, as one of the early women of rock and roll, is a role model for a generation of women.

I often think of this quote as I prepare to deliver a talk. I’ve found over several decades of public speaking that focusing on a confident delivery of my material makes up for any mistakes I make and even converts people who are initially skeptical about my ideas.

I thought about the quote again last week as I presented in Seoul for the Future Dialogue for Global Innovation event “Popular Culture Shaping Global Values” sponsored by the Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I shared some thoughts about Korean popular culture including K-pop music, which was new content for me.

I’m usually nervous with new material but focusing on a confident delivery helps me a great deal. 

The same is true of all of us, isn’t it? 

• If you believe in yourself in a job interview, you’re more likely to impress the interviewer.
• If you’re pitching investors, confidence in your product and team works wonders.
• Salespeople make a living on the idea of believing in themselves.
• And then there is the dating market…

The quote comes from Gordon’s book Girl in a Band, a chronicle of a remarkable journey and an extraordinary artist.

Image: Reportersteven CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons