Why Nerves Help Leaders Perform at their Best Under Pressure

Jack Nicklaus said this about 'fear' and 'nervousness':

'There is a difference between fear and nervousness. I have always been nervous at golf. I have played 90% of my rounds in major championships with a touch of tremor. There has always been some floppiness in my stomach. Moreover, I have always welcomed those feelings in that, so long as I am playing well enough to have genuine confidence in my game, they will get me up, keep me alert, and prime me for maximum effort. Over the years, nervousness has done me more good than harm.'

(From Jack Nicklaus: My Story)