Over the weekend my husband read an article to me about a race car driver who introduced himself to reporters this way: “I’m Darrell Wiltrip, and I’m here to take Richard Petty’s place.”

That was more than just confidence, since at the time Richard Petty was in his prime as the top race car driver. That would be like a first time Christian novelist after winning a writing contest saying in their acceptance speech that they were there to take Karen Kingsbury’s place.

I suspect that unless “DW” (Darrell Wiltrip) was able to back up his bravado with some impressive skills, the reporters hearing him that day would have just chuckled and forgotten the entire incident.

But is that all someone needs to achieve success with their dreams? Talent and confidence? I’m sure success is more elusive than that simple formula, but whatever the other ingredients are, I’m equally sure those are two of the must-haves.

In my local ACFW chapter meeting last week, author Allie Pleiter introduced us to a goal-setting worksheet that underscored what I’m talking about. Beside choosing goals based on passion, I was struck by the fact that those who successfully set and meet their goals are people who believe their goals are attainable. You can bet DW thought he was capable of taking Richard Petty’s place as the king of racing, and did everything he needed to do to make that happen.

In her goal-setting session, Allie explained that it isn’t so much the secular idea of “good energy attracting good energy” or other such mystical phenomena, but rather if you have the mindset that your goals are attainable you’ll be more aware of the resources around you to make them happen—and you’ll seize more opportunities because you see them. It’s key to actually believe you can achieve what you want to achieve, otherwise your mindset won’t even recognize all of the resources you have or come in contact with.

I’ll give an example inspired by a book I read when I was in fourth grade (unfortunately I can remember neither the title nor the author, shame on me since I know how important that is, but I blame the forty years that have gone in between then and now). Anyway, an overweight girl set a goal to reduce her size and so she pinched her pennies until she could afford a dress she liked that was two sizes smaller than she could fit into. Money was as tight as her panties, so wasting her precious allowance on a dress she could never wear just wasn’t going to happen. The dress was a visual reminder of what she was working toward, and every day she imagined herself in that dress. By the end of the book she fit the dress—because she believed she could do it. She used her resources (her allowance, which she previously spent on snacks at the movie theater) toward her goal in a way she might not have thought to do had she not believed she could achieve her goal in the first place.

So . . . do you have any DW in you? We may not want to be bold or brash, but I think all of us could use a little DW.

Sing about your confidence with Julie Andrews!