Will and I had a brief exchange about the projection of self-confidence which got me thinking. Will said that in sales, he needs to project self confidence to close the sale. I can certainly understand that if he's not confident, his buyers won't be confident in their decision either. My training has been in experimental science. There you must constantly question yourself - are you right? How sure are you that you're right? How could you be fooling yourself? - and go back to check and re-check.

My point is that our friends here on the forum will bring differing experiences to their bonsai experiences, and therefore differing levels of self-assurance. Certainly confidence is built on experience and success, but many beginners here need reassurance more than anything else. Do you remember the first time you had a piece of really good material, and you had to commit to a design? Paralysis can set in just before you cut off that big limb, or try to bend that thick branch. Fortunately, you could put down the cutters and think some more...work up the courage and try again.

The self-confidence projected in posts may also be born of years of experience, success and skill...or may come from a person naturally endowed with self assurance. It can take a while to tell the difference. So those of you at the high-confidence end of the spectrum, try to give serious consideration to alternate viewpoints. Nobody is right all the time. An those of you on the other end of the spectrum, its OK....pick up the cutters. That limb really does have to go.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration.

Brian

Brian,

I'm sure you make some really good points but then again I'm just not sure. On one hand what you say sounds correct but something in side just doesn't know which way would be the righttest. or rightyest or most right.

I do like that fact you used some big words and were very polite and said the word respectful. YOu are smart. And right I'm sure but , well maybe Ill go now back and re read you post. Or go Pick up those cutters yes I know now My destiny to PRUNE... TO CUT.. TO STYLE.. i FEEL CONFIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Brian, Thank you.

LOL Bonsainut...one step above paralysis is waffling....lol

B

Brian, I know exactly what you mean about that hesitation point.
But as we gain knowledge and experience in whatever it is we try, we also gain confidence about our pending decisions.

In bonsai, once we have looked at all the possibilities of style/design of said tree,
we come to a conclusion. It is at that point the decision to cut the branch is made. I still have those hesitations and when I do, I wait and come back to that branch at least a half dozen times. I may look at it differently tomorrow or next week.

So hesitation because of paralysis isn't that bad, just wait and it will go away.

Hector

If you are unsure about a branch or a design, why don't you just hold off until you can consult with a senior club member, or bring it to a workshop or training lesson? Nothing wrong with waiting to get a little mentoring, you might learn something in the process as well.

I hope this helps.

Fly.

Self-confidence can and often does co-exist with experience and skill, in fact it is quite hard to have the first without the second.

Since I was brought into this conversation, I'll post my viewpoints in the same manner.

In sales, beginners are not confident at all, they may have a false sense of bravado but that is soon shattered when a few rejections come. Confidence comes with experience, knowing that you can preform, knowing that you can overcome objections, knowing that your past successes and failures have prepared you for the obstacles ahead.

Now lets change the wording of the above paragraph a bit....

In bonsai, beginners are not confident at all, they may have a false sense of bravado but that is soon shattered when a few trees die. Confidence comes with experience, knowing that you can preform, knowing that you can overcome problems, knowing that your past successes and failures have prepared you for the obstacles ahead.

What gives one this confidence? Healthy trees, back-budding, ramification, designs starting to take shape, approval from your peers, a few awards, etc? It is success that brings confidence, confidence to talk about what you know, to know what is wrong and what is right, to try new things, new species, new techniques, to talk about what you have learned and to question what does not fit in. Most of all it brings a new form of confidence, the confidence to learn more.

There is nothing wrong with confidence, the problem may very well be those who interpret it as arrogance.


Will

Nice quote Fly.

Brian

Self-confidence or arrogance, where to draw the line? As you know I try to use language accurately.

Self-confidence = trust in one's own abilities and judgement

Arrogance = an exaggerated sense of one's own importance and abilities

So it would seem that, if one has an accurate sense of one's own abilities, then one is NOT arrogant. Unless, of course, one then goes on to exaggerate their own importance.

Cheers
Brian

Of course if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it just might be a duck. If "those" is large enough and in agreement, the majority just may have a point!

On the other hand, It makes a lot of sense to use a little give and take on a discussion forum. You don't have to look like "Mr. know it all", all the time. You have to know when to pick and choose your battles. Further, there are no winners here. It is for discussion and everyone usually has a fairly astute point of view and adds something to the discussion. This is not a competition on seeing how many people one can get to anyones side of the fence.

We are all for the most part just backyarders trying to show how much we know. The forum becomes much more ego driven with each and every post as the confidence level increases. I think if all of us spent as much time on our trees as we spend on the forum, we might all be able to enter twice as many trees in next years exhibit?

I say, start posting more bonsai for me to critique!
Al