CONFIDENCE AND THE OBSERVER EFFECT
“confidence above normal wins. observers below will hate it.”
The Lesson
Science shows that people with slightly above-normal confidence are happier and more successful. But they're also labeled as narcissists by people with below-normal confidence. That's the observer effect: confident people look disgusting to less confident people. They seem like potential oppressors or bullies. The solution: peg your confidence slightly above where you think you can actually perform. Be really good at a few things (builds legitimate confidence) and visibly bad at a few things (normalizes imperfection). You'll be happier and more productive, even if some people call you a narcissist.
Real-World Example
A founder with slightly above-normal confidence pitches with conviction. Some investors think they're arrogant. Other investors (the confident ones) see them as someone who can execute. The 'arrogance' perception isn't about the founder; it's about the observer's confidence level. Don't calibrate down to make insecure people comfortable. Calibrate up to match the confident people you want to work with.
Watch Scott explain this lesson
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