Self Efficacy - Research Paper Example

Before I was incarcerated, I had just finished college and I felt I had my whole life ahead of me, I was supremely confident and proud of my considerable academic achievements. I considered myself an objective person and was always focused on bettering my skills abilities as well as social life, despite the fact that I had several offers from leading companies, I was in view of setting out on my own with my friends to start a company. While I was aware of the fact that being employed was a safer bet, I was determined to start life on my own terms, the challenges of being entrepreneurs seemed like something I could handle and overcome.

When faced with challenges, people with law self-efficacy often back down and give up (Bandura, 1993) I was the exact opposite, challenges spurred me into more action and strengthened my resolve. As I said, the world was at my feet, I was determined I would make my first million before my college mates who had gone onto formal employment had paid off their collage loans. My two partners shared my optimism, but they often thought me too ambitious, however, within the within two years, they came to appreciate my confidence and I rubbed of them.

We designed, created, and sold software and thanks intellectual effort, combined talent as well as several calculated risks, we were had several solid contracts and money was coming in regularly if not comfortably. In a way I believe my high sense of self-worth; propelled by my success slowly turning into arrogance and a feeling of invincibility, what more, I could not bear to loose and would often bend and even break the law. In my quest to land us a contract, I had found out that the main competitor was an old rival from college, working for a competing firm, and decided that I would get it by all means.

I started by befriending one of the managers in the firm where we had applied for the contract. I even subtly suggested in one of our private meetings that if my firm got the contract, I would make it worth his while; this was the mistake that brought down my career. Initially he was reluctant and even appeared offended, I thought I might have gone too far but when he agreed to a second meeting, I threw caution to the wind, in my mind, my charm and convincing attitude had won him over. The truth is he had reported my conduct and had received instructions to lead me on, but I was too blind to see this, he talked about how he was having money problems and mentioned he was in the committee dealing with our contract.

I took the bait and mentioned a figure, and he agreed, three days later as I handed him the money in a brown envelop in the same restaurant we met on the first day, and I was arrested. Admittedly this was not the first time I had done such a thing, but what I did not know is that the authorities had been investigating me and when the manager reported me, they came in for the kill. Efficacy works both ways; one is not only confident on their abilities and capacity for success indeed while research has often pointed to self-efficacy being related to convectional purists and positive development even criminal traits benefit from the same.

I pleaded guilty, and cut a deal with the prosecution to, so my partners would not be involved since they were very ignorant of my activities, my efficacy was still intact, as I blamed no one but myself. However, in prison I had time to think and reflect on my actions and motivation, I realized my arrogance and ambition had been