--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Confidence means non-paralysis, a…" description: "\"Confidence means non-paralysis, a willingness to act, and act decisively, to start new things and cut failing ventures off.\" — Tom Peters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/tom-peters-967_confidence_confidence-means-non-paralysis-a-willing_2688466.png" --- # Confidence means non-paralysis, a willingness to act, and… ![“Confidence means non-paralysis, a willingness to act, and act decisively, to start new things and cut failing ventures off.” quote by Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/tom-peters-967_confidence_confidence-means-non-paralysis-a-willing_2688466.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/tom-peters-967_confidence_confidence-means-non-paralysis-a-willing_2688466.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/tom-peters-967_confidence_confidence-means-non-paralysis-a-willing_2688466.png) > “Confidence means non-paralysis, a willingness to act, and act decisively, to start new things and cut failing ventures off.” [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Confidence is acting without being paralyzed by doubt, making decisive choices, and ending failing projects. **In simple terms:** Confidence means acting decisively and ending what fails. Key Takeaway Take bold, decisive action and cut losses. Themes leadership decisiveness risk management Mood motivational pragmatic Type business inspirational When to use this quote - starting a new venture - project management - team leadership - investment decisions Key Concepts business strategy psychology decision theory Questions to Reflect On - When should you pause before acting? - How do you balance confidence with caution? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to reckless choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [New things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-things/) [Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness/) ## Related quotes > [You've seen President Trump act decisively when it comes to Syria. It didn't take him long to pull the trigger in regard to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reince-priebus/you-ve-seen-president-trump-act-decisively-when-it-comes-to-syria-it/) [Reince Priebus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reince-priebus/) > [“The Sun Tzu School Ping-fa Directive. Be strong and continually aware. Manage your strength and that of others. When essential, engage on your terms.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-jones/the-sun-tzu-school-ping-fa-directive-be-strong-and-continually-aware/) David G. Jones > [Consider fully, act decisively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/consider-fully-act-decisively/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Think before you act and then act decisively. Fortune favors the brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/think-before-you-act-and-then-act-decisively-fortune-favors-the-brave/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The people elected us to end the talk and to act decisively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/the-people-elected-us-to-end-the-talk-and-to-act-decisively/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [President Trump is doing what he can to act decisively. And if there's one thing most people have in mind in distinguishing the business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/president-trump-is-doing-what-he-can-to-act-decisively-and-if-there-s/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [“Intuition is a sense of knowing how to act decisively without needing to know why.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lolly-daskal/intuition-is-a-sense-of-knowing-how-to-act-decisively-without-needing/) [Lolly Daskal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lolly-daskal/) > [I think people respect governments that take decisions and act decisively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-chidambaram/i-think-people-respect-governments-that-take-decisions-and-act/) [P. Chidambaram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-chidambaram/) > [Organizations who win, think deeply, choose wisely, and act decisively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-millar/organizations-who-win-think-deeply-choose-wisely-and-act-decisively/) [Mark Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-millar/) > [Shraddha means self-confidence and self-confidence means faith in God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/shraddha-means-self-confidence-and-self-confidence-means-faith-in-god/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Self-confidence means thinking all the time, "God is in me... God is doing every­thing . . . without God I cannot be . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/self-confidence-means-thinking-all-the-time-god-is-in-me-god-is-doing/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [“If a child has poor self-esteem, it is because you advise them more than you encourage them. If a child lacks confidence, it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajay-k-pandey/if-a-child-has-poor-self-esteem-it-is-because-you-advise-them-more/) [Ajay K. Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajay-k-pandey/) > [There is a difference between conceit and confidence. Conceit is bragging about yourself. Confidence means you believe you can get the job done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-unitas/there-is-a-difference-between-conceit-and-confidence-conceit-is/) [Johnny Unitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-unitas/) > [“No one leaves his or her world without being transfixed by its roots, or with a vacuum for a soul. We carry with us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/no-one-leaves-his-or-her-world-without-being-transfixed-by-its-roots/) [Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/) > [“Confidence means believing in yourself. If you don’t believe that what you have to offer is of any value, well, no one’s going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-airey/confidence-means-believing-in-yourself-if-you-don-t-believe-that-what/) [David Airey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-airey/) ## More by Tom Peters > [The market may never coalesce around one basic design, or even around two or three dominant devices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/the-market-may-never-coalesce-around-one-basic-design-or-even-around/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Anybody who is an entrepreneur is a person who essentially has impaired judgment. The odds of success are zilch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/anybody-who-is-an-entrepreneur-is-a-person-who-essentially-has/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Remember my mantra: distinct... or extinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/remember-my-mantra-distinct-or-extinct/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [A good collection is more than just the sum of its parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/a-good-collection-is-more-than-just-the-sum-of-its-parts/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Leaders' careers will usually be determined by their handling of one or two critical events that no one could possibly anticipate or plan for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/leaders-careers-will-usually-be-determined-by-their-handling-of-one/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [I don't know what it means to manage the human imagination, but I do know that imagination is the main source of value in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/i-don-t-know-what-it-means-to-manage-the-human-imagination-but-i-do/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Hire disrespectful people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/hire-disrespectful-people/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Hire for attitude. Train for skill... More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/hire-for-attitude-train-for-skill-more/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [If there is a single tragic flaw that mars our biggest enterprises, it is conservatism - the failure to fail, and fail big, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-there-is-a-single-tragic-flaw-that-mars-our-biggest-enterprises-it/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Think about the market, think about the design, and think about who is going to design for that market. Hit the mark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/think-about-the-market-think-about-the-design-and-think-about-who-is/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [“The “Excellence Standard” is not about Grand Outcomes. In Zenlike terms, all we have is today. If the day’s work cannot be assessed as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/the-excellence-standard-is-not-about-grand-outcomes-in-zenlike-terms/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [The day firing becomes easy is the day to fire yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/the-day-firing-becomes-easy-is-the-day-to-fire-yourself/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Only pissed-off people change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/only-pissed-off-people-change-the-world/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [What you decide not to do is probably more important that what you decide to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/what-you-decide-not-to-do-is-probably-more-important-that-what-you/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) [Explore all 316 Tom Peters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) ## More Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) Senoraroy > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Confidence means non-paralysis, a willingness to act, and act decisively, to start new things and cut failing ventures off.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Peters" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/confidence-means-non-paralysis-a-willingness-to-act-and-act/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confidence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/confidence-means-non-paralysis-a-willingness-to-act-and-act/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/tom-peters-967_confidence_confidence-means-non-paralysis-a-willing_2688466.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/tom-peters-967_confidence_confidence-means-non-paralysis-a-willing_2688466.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/tom-peters-967_confidence_confidence-means-non-paralysis-a-willing_2688466.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Confidence means non-paralysis, a willingness to act, and act decisively, to start new things and cut…” — Tom Peters", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tom Peters", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Confidence means non-paralysis, a willingness to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/confidence-means-non-paralysis-a-willingness-to-act-and-act/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/confidence-means-non-paralysis-a-willingness-to-act-and-act/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```