He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat.
Napoleon Bonaparte
As is always the case with fear, the fear of defeat is often more overwhelming than defeat itself. It forces one into submission or despair even before the contest is truly over. It makes one believe that no matter how hard they try, they are bound to end up second best. And this fearful attitude eventually drains a person of all incentive to work hard; it all but ends any hope they have of succeeding in their endeavors. Realistically speaking, the battle is lost even before it has began.
It is for this reason that one needs to be fearless in their approach. It is not that courageous people know no fear. If anything, they are just as timorous as anyone else. Ironically, it is their very fear that makes them what they are – bold, confident people. What actually sets them apart from others is how they manage their fear. Obviously, the first step to effectively manage something is to acknowledge it. The most cowardly beings seldom accept that they are fearful, and therein lies the problem. On the other hand, one who is aware of his trepidation knows that it is not necessarily an enemy.
Probably the best antidote to fear is self-confidence, and that is what any driven, dedicated person should aim to foster – both in themselves and in their subjects. Confidence stems from a lot of factors, namely knowledge, experience and hard work. Sometimes, it also helps to prepare yourself for the worst-case scenario – this is not to say that one should go into the battle with a defeatist mindset, but rather have a plan B to fall back on should things pan out differently.
Being positive and optimistic about the results is just as important as preparing for them. After all, what use is trying halfheartedly if one harbors no hope of coming up trumps? Well-known French Emperor and historical figure, Napoleon Bonaparte, had once remarked: “He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat.”