Now I get my self-confidence by being able to go out and run a marathon or riding my bike for 100 miles.

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"My father always advocated gaining self-confidence outside the family business because once you're in, you never know if you're doing a good job or if people are just being nice to you, " he says.

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And it was the strength of my confidence in myself that brought me through what could have been a self-esteem-bashing, demoralizing situation.

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