The 9-Second Version.
Jazz musicians play with confidence because they trust their ability to recover.
Leaders can do the same.
Discover.
The Bounce-Back
I’m often asked when I’m playing music: How do you know you’re going to get it right?
The truth? I don’t.
After nearly 2,000 performances, I’ve made mistakes in every single one.
Jazz musicians don’t walk on stage expecting perfection. They step into uncertainty, trusting their ability to recover.
The bounce-back is where the real confidence lies. Sometimes the recovery is seamless and the mistake quickly becomes an afterthought. Other times, it creates an unexpected groove that makes the music even better.
For leaders, the same principle applies.
Confidence isn’t about flawless execution. It’s about resilience, agility, and the creative courage to keep playing even when things go sideways.
Think.
Are You Afraid to Get it "Wrong"?
Where in your work are you holding back, waiting until you’re sure you won’t mess up?
How would things shift if you focused less on never making mistakes, and more on bouncing back when you do?
Do.
Pause and Remind
This week, catch yourself in those moments of hesitation—when you’re over-preparing for mistakes or stalling out of fear something might go wrong, or saying “I gotta get this right.”
Instead, pause and remind yourself: I can’t know I’ll get everything right. But I can adapt. I know how to recover.
Then, press on, trusting your ability to improvise.
To your creative success…
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About Josh
Josh Linkner is a New York Times bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, venture capital investor, professional jazz guitarist, and a globally recognized innovation expert. To learn more or to explore a collaboration, visit JoshLinkner.com