I’m one of the most competitive people you will ever meet.
You name the game and I’m eager and ready to play and win. If a score can be kept, I’m anxious to compete as many times as it takes to win: ABC games on road trips, board games, sports, trivia, video games, Jeopardy, etc.
Not only do I want to play, but I’m cocky in believing I can win.
With that being said, I’m confident about losing 150 pounds in 2009. Not cocky, but confident. While cocky and confident have almost identical definitions (both meaning self-assured), you become cocky when you become “overly” self-assured and confident.
That’s the textbook definition, anyway — it’s fairly relative. I have my own definition.
Being cocky means thinking you’re better than others. While it’s perfectly acceptable to be confident and think you’re able to accomplish anything, being cocky means doubting the ability and resolve of someone else.
Take for example my basketball skills. I think they’re above average. I used to go to shooting contests when I was little and would walk away with the first or second place trophy. I was always the MVP on my teams. I was larger than most of the kids (which was good when you were 12) and I didn’t miss often.
I was and still am good at basketball. I’m confident about my basketball skills.
I turn from confident to cocky when I doubt the ambition, determination, and skills of someone else. While I can practice all day long and consider myself good at basketball, I become cocky when I think that my skills are better than yours before I step onto the court. I become cocky when I assume that I’ve practiced harder, longer, and have a better jump shot than you.
While it’s fine to be confident about my skills, it’s cocky to be doubtful of yours. And normally when I’m cocky, I usually get my butt tore up on the court.
It’s funny how that works.
When it comes to weight loss and setting any sort of goals in life for yourself, there’s no such thing as cockiness. If you’re not 100% confident in your ability to accomplish anything, than you’re filled with at least 1% self-doubt. That 1% self-doubt will appear on some random Tuesday on your drive home from work — it’ll tell you to skip the gym and go home and watch Golden Girls. Self-doubt is a vicious, poisonous character trait that has to be avoided at all costs.
Personally, I have a lot of goals in my life. They include:
Be a good husband
Be a good father to Natalee
Be able to emotionally and financially provide for my family
Live on an old Southern plantation
When it comes to weight loss goals, I want to lose 150 pounds in 2009. I don’t really consider that a separate goal though, that’s part of being a good husband/father and being able to provide for my family.
It’s hard providing for your family when you’re dead at 50 40.
While some may call me cocky for moving weight loss goals I’ve yet to even reach, I call it confidence. I’m not competing against anybody. Nobody can stop me from losing weight. Barring some horrible tragedy, I’m the only one who gets to decide whether I reach my goals or not.
I decide with the actions I take today. And tomorrow. And the next day. I’m confident about losing weight. 150 pounds in 12 months, to be exact.
I know I will — there’s nothing you can do to stop me.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Good for you! I don’t understand why people would call you cocky for setting a more ambitious goal…in weight loss, you make a goal that will make you feel healthy and better about yourself and it’s great that you are constantly re-adjusting your goals as you continue to lose weight! Congrats on your success so far!
I would agree with Amy A. I will also congratulate you on your accomplishments!
Here’s to long life!
Well said!!
I wouldn’t call you cocky either…. it’s called redefining your goal and it’s YOUR decision on how much weight to lose. Keep up the good work, Mr Inspiration.
I’m a big believer in failure. Take for instance your goal … what if when all comes down to it, you only lose 140lbs or 130lbs. Now, that’s failure, but wouldn’t it be nice? I’m always more likely to quit when I actually meet my goal, but if I fail, I feel like I have to keep going.
Who called you cocky?
I sense a little arrogance in the way you write, but lets face it, you write very well and keep us all glued to this site.
T, you have NEVER come across as arrogant to me (and it takes one to know one, doesn’t it?). Did I call you cocky? I hope not. And pardon me if I ever tried to deter you from your desire to raise your own bar. What works for me won’t necessarily work for you. That’s especially true when it comes to weight loss goals. Not one person who reads your blog or follows your progress can argue with your success. What YOU are doing is working for YOU. You *should* be confident. You’re determined and hard-working and consistent. I wouldn’t have pegged you as a Golden Girls fan. I always thought Little House would be more your speed.
GO TYLER!!!!!
Good for you! Never let the nay-sayers get you down.
That’s the thing about accomplishment, it makes others who aren’t happy with their performance in that area get jealous and upset.
But remember, it’s their problem they’re jealouse, because they’re not accomplishing their goals. You have every right to be proud of what you’re doing.
I don’t mind if you find my writing arrogant, Mike. I certainly don’t intend it to be, but you’re welcome to interpret my writing how you’d like.
I do appreciate you reading, though!
YOU GUYS ROCK!
Hm, I didn’t necessarily mean arrogance in a bad way, so I do apologize if you, or anyone else, took offense to it.
I suppose we all have our own interpretations of cocky vs confidence vs arrogance, haha. But there’s no sense in debating each term — you’re doing a wonderful job losing weight and certainly doing a wonderful job keeping us reading.
More men should follow your example.
Tyler, Just look at what you’ve achieved so far mate, amazing stuff. I agree with the post above that some people can get a little jealous but that’s their problem.
keep up the good work and this blog is a great motivator for myself as well, thanks.
One of your best posts, Tyler. More people would reach their goals if they understood this. Great way to lead by example!
Way to go! I was actually thinking about you while I was running last night and the neutral tone of your posts lately. I was thinking that you needed to kick out a positive “I rule” type of post. You must have read my mind :)
Anyway, congrats on the accomplishments and keep it up!
That’s some house you got your eye on!