As both a father and an entrepreneur, I'm all in favor of confidence. In my self-appointed role as "America's Chief Unlearning Officer" I would advise that we might all want to take moment and unlearn overconfidence. 

Take a look at the picture to the right. Which table is longer? Sheps4poggy1-1200x897 It is pretty obvious that the top table is longer, correct?

Wrong! If necessary measure the two tables and you will find that they are the exact same size. The one table only looks longer due to something called the size-constancy effect.

My guess is that not only were you confident that the top table was longer, but you were overconfident. My next guess is that many of us — myself included — are overconfident in other aspects of our lives.

For example, did you know that 90% of all drivers think they are "above average." Much the same is true for former high school athletes. It has been reported that 90% of former males athletes believe they were in the top tenth percentile in terms of athletic acumen. Other people believe that they are above average stock pickers.

These numbers, of course, can't be true. Only 50% of all drivers, athletes and stock pickers can claim to be "above average." This fact is unlikely to change many peoples opinions about themselves but it should cause you to take with a healthy dose of salt the claims of your brother-in-law at your next family get together.