When Brad Marchand was interviewed before the Bruins’ Stanley Cup Play-off game last night, he talked about getting his confidence back with a couple of recent goals. Getting his confidence back?!?!?! I don’t doubt him, but consider for a moment that this is one of the best players in the best hockey league in the world and he struggles with confidence? If he struggles with confidence, who doesn’t? The answer, of course, is no one.

No one feels confident all the time. Those who pretend to, are either fooling themselves or hoping to to fool the rest of us. No one feels confident in all things and no one feels confident at all times even in the things they do best. Even Marchand, when playing hockey. 

However, if we all effectively “chickened out” and delayed action the minute we felt less than confident, the world would grind to a halt. Most players would have to leave the ice. Those people who are charging ahead and making things happen are not necessarily feeling more confident than you do. They don’t necessarily know more than you do. They simply want it more than you do and are willing to take the risk.

If you are 80% ready, go for it. Don’t wait for that moment of complete confidence. Life is too short. Furthermore, the game is going on all around you. The clock is ticking. Opportunities abound. If you try and fail, the world won’t end and you’ll just have to try harder in the next game.

So what have you decided? Are you going to just sit on the bench and conjure up confidence? Or are you going to jump onto the ice, grind hard, do your best, and shoot when you’re in the slot? It is your choice. Those who jump on the ice, often win and always learn. Those waiting for the right moment just get older.