There’s a fine line to be drawn between confidence and cockiness.

There’s a fine line to be drawn between cockiness and arrogance.

It’s an attitude of the latter that’s often thrown in the direction of Roger Federer, who if no longer the most successful tennis player of all time, is without doubt the most graceful.

I vehemently dispute this assertion, however. I just think the absolute confidence he has in his ability is misinterpreted as arrogance.

OK – so I don’t know the man, but he did acknowledge my existence once upon a time, when we passed each other in the grounds of the All England Tennis & Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London. Roger, resplendent in his cream suit, complete with gold coloured ‘RF’ branding the jacket’s breast pocket, seemed to be floating as our strides narrowed the distance between us.

“Nice threads, ma man” I said as we came close.
“Hey, wee man! How’s it goin’? Keep working on that backhand of yours.“

And then he was gone, disappearing down the slope to the Clubhouse, discreetly-dressed Wimbledon ‘minders’ ensuring his safe passage.

Roger’s confidence was almost visible; it created an aura; a force-field. Nobody could touch this man for style, good manners and of course, sporting supremacy. And those discreetly-dressed Wimbledon minders.

That’s the difference between Roger and myself. He has the ‘chops’ to back up his self- belief. I don’t.

In most of Life’s situations, I’m confident. Probably too confident. And without the necessary skills to back-up that conviction (especially if we’re still talking ‘tennis’ here) I’m left no option than to bluff cockiness. I am not The Confidence Man – more simply, a Con Man.

Sometimes it works. Sometimes not.

Hey – I don’t mind. ‘Cocky’ is fine by me. It’s only me that can end looking foolish. And I’m used to that.

Arrogance is a step ahead of both ‘confidence’ and ‘cockiness.’ Arrogance isn’t cool, though. Arrogance is disrespectful. Arrogance can be hurtful.

Fortunately, I’m not good enough at anything to adopt an arrogant attitude.

And fortunately Roger Federer is too good, too humble and too classy to be arrogant.

Roger Federer is misunderstood.

Roger Federer is The Confidence Man.

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