The Importance of Confidence

Ulysses S. Grant had an egotistical self-promoting father who was always caught up in some scheme or scandal. In response, he developed a cool and calm self-confidence that was much closer to his mother's quiet, but strong personality. Before the Civil War, Grant experienced a long chain of setbacks and financial difficulties. He washed up in St. Louis selling firewood for a living,. An army buddy found him and was aghast. What are you doing?Grant: I am solving the problem of poverty.