I’ve been guilty.  You probably have as well.  It can be really hard for hyper-competitive people to not be guilty of pride.  Even when self-pride is not the driving force.  

     I prefer to use the term “we” whenever talking about competitive events.  I may have bought the animal, given feed & care instructions, showmanship guidance and show management.  I may have even paid for the animal and the feed.  That doesn’t matter, as I was not the person doing the day2day care or actually showing the animal.  At no point was it I, but always WE.  And usually, I had other help to make sure that I was giving the right guidance. 

       We all need help.  It doesn’t matter if we are talking about showing livestock, public speaking, ag mech, cde contests, whatever.  That ‘bama football coach may be the best ever and I guarantee you that he takes pride in his work but he also knows that he had wicked good players and bad ass assistant coaches.  (although his teams have yet to be beaten by a former assistant coach).   That will soon change.  

          I do take pride in my work ethic, my beliefs, my willingness to help others and my strong desire to help others find success.  I take pride in our family.  I take pride in my willingness to own my mistakes and the fact that neither you nor I are perfect.  Therefore, I believe in forgiveness.  As we all should.  There has only been one perfect person to walk this planet and that dude preached forgiveness.  

         Now, having written all of that.  I do believe that there is a difference between pride, arrogance and confidence.  I am proud of some things.  But, that is not what makes me.  More than one person has called me arrogant but they don’t know me.  Those that know me don’t call me arrogant or prideful.  And anybody that does know me will agree that I do not care what most people think about me.  

       Confidence is a different thing.  For some reason, I have this in spades.  I shouldn’t, but I do.  My confidence in myself and those that surround me is unshakable.  And I’m not surrounded by perfect people.  Cocky is another word that is used.  Okay.  

       To me, confidence stems from work ethic, beliefs and a willingness to help others more than ones own self.  I can’t do the work for you but I can dang sure show you how to do it and have the desire to help when needed.  And when I am not the best to help, I will gladly get the best to help.  I am extremely confident that I am hardly ever the best, yet I normally know the best.  

        I can say that I have the best wife, the best kids, had the best upbringing and have the best job.  All of those statements are true.  And some of you would call me prideful or arrogant.  No.  I have the best wife for me. Perfect.  I love my kids.  I had the perfect upbringing for me and I like my job.  In no way was any of that a detrimental statement towards you nor anybody.  Not prideful.  Not arrogant.  Yet here comes the confident.  If you don’t like anything that you have read, go read your own blog.  Or take your left thumb and shove it directly up your own……….hee haw!!!!

       I probably shouldn’t tell this story.  My mother won’t approve of it.  But, here we go.  

       In 1996, I was interviewing for the agricultural educational teaching position at Waynoka.  I knew that I was not the front-runner for the job.  I also knew that the next person to take this job was following an extremely successful ag teacher.  Not an easy job.  For some reason, I knew that IF I could get this job, it was a fit.  Guess what?  I was right.  Confidence.  

        During the interview with the Mr. Dale Ross, superintendent of Waynoka Public Schools.  He made a statement and then asked the question.  “I know Jake Kelln.  Your brother.  My son played American Legion baseball with him.  Jake the Snake Kelln is cocky.  Let me ask you this?  Are you as cocky as Jake the Snake?”

        My reply.  “No sir.  I am not.  I prefer to think of myself as extremely confident in my own abilities.”  

“Hhhmmm.  Good answer.” He replied.  Then he asked, “We aren’t looking for somebody to walk on water.  Can you walk on water?”

        “No sir!   I cannot walk on water.  There has only been one person that could walk on water and it dang sure isn’t me.  However, I will gladly tell you that I am a swimming son-of-a-gun.”  

         Mr. Ross swiftly said, “Thank you and good bye.  We will be in touch.”  Ooofff!

Tammy was pissed that I just blew the interview.  She went to griping at me once we got in the pickup to head home.  I asked her to please shut up.  “Honey, I either just got the job that I want or I didn’t get the job that I wasn’t supposed to get in the first place.”  

        In true fashion, we were still arguing in the parking lot.  Mr. Ross walked out, knocked on the window and asked us to come back in and talk some more.  That is confidence.  Not pride nor arrogance.  When you know, you know.  

       Here’s the items that I am proud of…..yet I am sure that there are a few that might be better.  

I am extremely confident in my knowledge of all things Star Wars.  No insider info.  Just the force.  This is the way.  

Once again, I am confident in my ability to name that tune in 4 notes.   Yet, I know that there is a younger ag teacher that might be able to name that song in 3 notes.  Yet, my knowledge of behind-the-tunes music is way better than most, if not all.  

And I am real sure that of all the roads that I have traveled, I have consistently found the best places to eat and/or….

Basically, I am confident that I am steeped in the knowledge of a lot of things that may or may not be useful.  

“Alex, who are three people that have never been in my kitchen?”   Cheers!!   (If you know……dang, I loved that show)

For some reason, I feel the urge to buy a buck and name it “Cliff Claven”.  Maybe it should be a teaser buck.