In the modern pursuit of success, we are often told that the most critical assets we can possess are intelligence, a high IQ, and a wealth of technical knowledge. And then we go ahead to spend years in academic institutions and countless hours in professional workshops trying to sharpen our minds, which in itself is great. But if we look closely at the world around us, we see a recurring, and almost frustrating phenomenon: The most intelligent person in the room is rarely the most successful one.
As noted by Philip Olubakin, in one of his sermons, there is an invisible barrier that separates the thinker from the doer, and the analyzer from the achiever, and that barrier is boldness.
Boldness is not merely an extroverted personality trait; it is a spiritual and psychological capacity to act in the face of uncertainty. It is the refusal to allow self-criticism to act as a bind. To understand the power of boldness is to realize that while intelligence will provide the map, only boldness provides the fuel to actually complete the journey.
The IQ Trap: When Intelligence Becomes a Burden
One of the most striking points in Philip Olubakin’s message is the idea that a high IQ can actually become a “burden” if it is not paired with courage, and this is what he referred to as the High IQ Trap.
People with high intelligence are naturally gifted at seeing the complexities of a situation. They can spot the potential flaws in an article before it is published; they can hear the slight imperfections in a song before it is recorded; they can envision the three ways a business might fail before it is even launched.
And while this analytical ability is useful for refining work, it often leads to what is popularly known as Analysis Paralysis. Because the intelligent person can see the giants in the land so clearly, they talk themselves out of the Promised Land before they ever take a step. They become their own harshest critics, holding onto their “perfect” ideas in private while the world waits for their contribution.
Boldness, on the other hand, allows for a certain level of strategic ignorance. It is the ability to say, “I see the flaws, but I am going to move anyway.”
While it’s recommended to be mindful in your decision-making process, there are instances that you can go beyond thinking to confusion and overwhelming. This can be described as analysis paralysis.
Analysis paralysis is a sly productivity killer. Starting from the moment you awake at dawn, you’re confronted with many decisions. In reality, people make about 35,000 choices per day! Certain decisions could be just as easy as deciding which outfit you wear to work, whereas others are more complex, like whether or not to pursue an opportunity for a new career.
Analysis paralysis, also referred to as “paralysis by analysis,” is the condition of overthinking or analyzing all circumstances to the point that a decision is delayed or is never made and then impedes the outcome, as Barry Schwartz called this the paradox of decision making.
Analysis paralysis is another illness that people suffer when they get caught up in a dilemma or circumstance and cannot make a choice. The disorder may affect a group of people or individuals when they are faced with many options or solutions and have to select the best option. There are many reasons why this issue could arise, such as getting equally valuable data regarding all of your options or making the wrong research criteria.
Continue Reading: Analysis Paralysis, How it Kills Productivity, and How to Overcome It
The “Post It First” Philosophy
In today’s world, the age of digital content and instant feedback, the fear of being “wrong” or “unpolished” has reached an all-time high. But Philip Olubakin challenges this with a radical philosophy, by simply telling us: Post it first!
Whether it is an article for your blog, a video for your TikTok, or a proposal for a new venture, the act of “posting” is an act of stretching your boldness capacity. When you wait for perfection, you are not just waiting for the work to get better; you are training your mind NOT to be timid, but to be bold instead.
- Action Creates Feedback: You can not correct a blank page. You can not optimize a business that has not made its first sale.
- Momentum Over Perfection: Success is a game of iterations. The person who posts ten imperfect videos and learns from each one will always outpace the person who spends six months trying to make one perfect video that they never end up sharing.
Boldness is the understanding that your work does not always have to be perfect to be purposeful. It just has to be present, and from there, we can learn to make the necessary corrections towards perfection.
The Biblical Contrast: Giants vs. Grasshoppers
To illustrate the spiritual cost of timidity, Philip Olubakin points to the classic story of the Israelites at the edge of the Promised Land. God had already promised them the land, but ten of the twelve spies returned with a report of fear. They saw the “giants” and immediately saw themselves as “grasshoppers.”
The tragedy of the Israelites was not that they lacked the intelligence to defeat the giants; it was that they lacked the boldness to try. They died in the wilderness, not because they were great sinners, but because they were timid.
In your own life, the “Promised Land” might be that business you have dreamed of, the book you have written in your head, or the ministry you feel called to start. The giants are real criticism, financial risk, and the possibility of failure, but boldness is the refusal to see yourself as a grasshopper in the face of them. And as Philip Olubakin tells us, boldness is the spiritual stretch required to occupy the territory God has assigned to you.
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love, self-discipline, and boldness.
2 Timothy 1:7
The Perceptual Power of Confidence
There is a social reality to boldness that we can not ignore: Confidence is often perceived as competence. People who carry themselves with boldness are frequently viewed as more intelligent and more capable, simply because they are willing to speak up and take the lead. But mind you, confidence does not in itself translate to competence, but this is not about arrogance; it is about the energy of certainty. When you stop asking for permission to exist in a space, the world begins to make room for you.
Boldness changes your market value. It changes how you are perceived in a boardroom, how your content is received online, and how your message resonates with your audience. If you want the world to take you and your Value seriously, you must have the Faith to present it boldly. I hope you saw what I did there, Lol.
Self-confident people believe that they have the skills, intelligence, and qualities to succeed in any situation. They are self-assured positive and can face their fears. They will often pursue new challenges and goals no matter how challenging they seem. Self-confident people believe in themselves and others.
Confidence can help you be more ambitious and motivated, less anxious, and more likely to achieve career growth, performance, and better relationships with your colleagues.
Not everyone is confident in their abilities. You might feel less confident in certain settings or situations. Other times, you might feel more anxious or have low self-esteem, which could affect your ability to act confidently. Self-confidence is not something that everyone has but can learn to have. It would be best if you practiced discipline and positive reinforcement to build this confidence.
Continue Reading: How To Boost Your Confidence
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Conclusion
Boldness is like a muscle; it grows stronger the more you use it. If you have been living in the shadows of your own potential, waiting for a permission slip that will never come, it is time to shift your strategy.
Stop over-analyzing and stop second-guessing the gifts you have been given. As you pursue the Valuefaith Blog Mantra, the Do Better, Be Better lifestyle, remember that “being better” often starts with “being bolder.”
The wealth, the influence, and the impact you are seeking are not hidden behind a more complex strategy; they are hidden behind the courage to take the next step! Correct it later! Refine it later! Improve it later! But for today? Post it first!!!
