The cost of conviction

The dictionary defines CONVICTION as, “an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence.” It is, “A fixed or strong belief” or, “the state of being convinced” It means to be “certain.” The opposite of conviction, then, is to have doubt, or to be uncertain. "To waiver when there is a lack of evidence.” Conviction, in a religious context, is the reason Job continued to worship God despite his incessant mortal test of anguish. Conviction, in a business context, is the reason Walt Disney, Colonel Sanders, and Charles Shultz all succeeded regardless of how many times they heard the word “no.” Conviction is what enables amazing people like my brother to train for, start, and finish a grueling 26.2 mile marathon in less time than any previous race. Conviction is the “what if” killer. It is arch nemesis of resistance in any form. Conviction can cure laziness, bad habits, addiction, and any illness. Conviction wrote the Declaration of Independence. It also built the Egyptian pyramids, the Great Wall of China, and put men on the moon. Conviction can walk on water and even overcome death itself.

I admire those with real conviction. I strive for it myself. But it’s not an easy thing to commandeer. I would dare say that most people strive for conviction in some area or another, but only a few seem to truly hold on to it long enough to realize their deepest aspirations. The rest of us see these individuals, these movie stars, brain surgeons, and rocket scientists as special. Extraordinary. Our reverence for them implies that they are the proverbial Sneeches with stars. We observe them from the sidelines and we wonder if they are in some way different from us. It’s almost like we think they’re made of better stuff than we are. While we’re all made up of the same elements, chemicals, and organs, there is some truth to them being different than we are. They’ve done something that we have not. They’ve tapped into something that we have yet to discover in ourselves.

So why is conviction so difficult to attain? Is it like trying to reach perfection - an attribute no mortal can achieve in this life? No, I don’t think so. I think it’s more like being completely honest. It’s REALLY difficult to do because it means giving up something else. You can have it, but it’ll cost you. It'll cost you enough, that most opt out. So, the question then is….what IS the cost of conviction? I think it depends a great deal on the thing in which you are striving for conviction. I think striving for conviction in something that is inherently false or corrupt is futile. It might be possible to fake for a while, but ultimately, that false or corrupt thing will fail, decay, whither, or otherwise vanish, leaving us obligated to believe in something else. This process will continue until we learn NOT to place our convictions in any false or corrupt thing. That having been said, I belive that true conviction, in order to be absolute, must be in something true, honorable, or intrinsically valuable. These are the types of things that illicit the forces of resistance the most. After all, Conviction and Resistance are, as I said, arch rivals. Here are some examples of different types of conviction;


The Marathon Runner:
My brother Mike amazes me with his constant cravings for physical feats of excellence. He’s always pushing the limits of his own physical strength and endurance. He gives literal meaning to the phrase “going the extra mile.” This is the guy who rode his bicycle from Salt Lake City to Lake Powell with some high school buddies just because he could. He’s run 3 of these 26+ mile marathons now, and if I were a betting man, I’d wager this most recent one will NOT be his last. He’s the realistic version of a cross between the Energizer Bunny and Forrest Gump. In describing this grueling act of self imposed terrainial torture (the way I see it, anyway), he says, “I cannot say that I ever got to that "sleep" point where you're not thinking of running, but of other things, meditating or dreaming of a hot tub or whatever. It never happened. I wished it had because focusing on your pain filled legs and the miles of pavement before you can be grueling. I looked around at the red rock once in awhile, watched those passing me (there was a lot of that!), and more or less just kept thinking to myself to keep going.” Now those are the words of someone with real conviction. Though physically hurting, hot, tired, and perhaps even mentally stressed, the runner runs on. Why? Because of his conviction. He knows this is a worth while course of action. He knows he’ll be better for having done it. He knows the value of sacrifice… that by denying himself the relief of immediate physical comfort will, at the end, earn him a lifetime of respect, experience, and precedence of willpower. He’ll always be able to say to himself, “Hey, if I can run a 26.2 mile marathon…3 times, then I can certainly get through this” regardless of whatever this may be. He makes me and everyone around him proud.

The Leader:
Whether they are a Bishop of a Singles Ward, the CEO of a company or the President of the United States of America, all leaders must have a strong conviction of some kind. Whether it’s an elected, nominated, appointed or assumed position, leadership demands conviction. For the leader, conviction allows bold speeches, confident commands & directions, and an authoritative appearance. For the followers, a leader’s conviction establishes trust, assurance, and a sense of safety and direction. A leader without conviction is easily overthrown because they have no firm footing. Rather than establishing a standard to which all can adhere and confide, they sway to amidst diverse opinions, allowing division and abandonment.

The Investor:
Everyone knows the theory behind basic investing…that in order to make money in this game, one must buy low and sell high. Everyone KNOWS this is the formula. So why doesn’t everyone APPLY this knowledge? Conviction is the answer. When most people are making a mad dash to grab a piece of that HOT stock that everyone is talking about, the investor is typically the one who is selling it. He knows that HIS fortunes were made when he purchased it when it was still under valued. The investor is a different animal. An investor - at least a successful investor - has to have a different type of conviction. He knows what’s coming because he keeps his ear to the ground and does his homework. He does this so that he CAN have a conviction in his investment. He’s got to know the worth of whatever it is he’s investing in. He’s got to believe in it. He’s got to be convinced deep down that the venture he’s pursuing is worth MORE than the amount he’s investing in it. To buy low, means to ignore what’s popular. It means to NOT let it bother you that NO one else is leaping at the chance to buy that stock, or that commodity at bottom basement prices. It means KNOWING, regardless of popular belief that the object in the center of your investing cross hairs is under-valued and will eventually become the object everyone wishes they would have purchased “way back when it was a steal.” He knows to buy the rumor and sell the news. The conviction of the real investor is also what keeps him riding the fierce bucks of the wild bull market through its misleading dips and nervous corrections. His confidence in his choice of investments allows him to place his bet on the table and then turn his back to the market and ride out the turbulence that comes with every bull performance. He doesn’t allow emotion to creep in and talk him out of the decision he has already made. This is one type of conviction I strive for.

I’m a beginner in the precious metals market. First started watching the market shortly after 911 and invested small amounts in 2002. Over all, both gold and silver have appreciated, but there have been MANY corrections along the way. Most have been very slight, but some have been real testers. The more I learn about the world’s economy and about the history of these metals, however, the less ANY of these corrections affect my conviction in their values. I’ve learned what conditions make the metals rise and fall. I’ve learned about the rule of supply and demand as they pertain to this market. I’ve learn about the connections between our national and world economics and the precious metals. All that I have learned lead me to my conviction in their intrinsic values. This knowledge has translated into my conviction. The Bull won’t buck me off.