6.19 Jack Nicklaus: Confidence is Earned

“Confidence is the most important single factor in this game, and no matter how great your natural talent, there is only one way to obtain and sustain it: work.” - Jack Nicklaus

How confident are you? When are you most confident? When do you feel least confident?

Confidence is the belief that you can handle what’s in front of you—because you’ve prepared, you’ve learned, and you’re willing to grow through whatever comes next.

It doesn’t mean you think you’ll be perfect; it means you trust yourself to show up, keep going, and figure it out. Confidence comes from consistent action—doing the work, learning from mistakes, and showing up again.

Jack Nicklaus is one of the greatest golfers of all time. Known as "The Golden Bear," he won a record 18 major championships, more than any other player in golf history. He once said, “Confidence is the most important single factor in this game, and no matter how great your natural talent, there is only one way to obtain and sustain it: work.”

This quote means confidence doesn’t come from talent alone—it comes from putting in the work over and over again.

Even if you're naturally gifted, that won’t be enough when pressure hits. True confidence—the kind that lasts through setbacks and big moments—only comes from preparation, repetition, and effort. When you’ve done the work, you can trust yourself. When you haven’t, doubt creeps in.

Confidence is earned, not given.

Question of the Day: What do you, or can you, do to earn confidence the right way?