Superstition can have its place in world of business

Are you superstitious? Liar. Now let’s tell each other the truth. You probably don’t walk under a ladder, you don’t like when a black cat crosses in front of you, you don’t knock on wood (hah), and you try to avoid cracked mirrors. And how many of you have a lucky rabbit’s foot in your pocket or that four-leaf clover in your wallet that was given to you 20 years ago by the woman you ultimately married (or didn’t marry, but wished you had)? And why do high-rise elevators seldom have the number 13 on the panel? I rest my case, your honor.

A key feature of entrepreneurship is the ability to project self-confidence. You need to inspire the investor and your team and have them believe that you can carry them across the river. This is a component of what we call leadership.

Now, stay with me. There is a genuine nexus between real confidence, the real ability to do the job, and a belief in irrational superstition-shamanism-nonsense, with you knowing full well that there is no such thing and that it has no effect on the real world — except:

• Serena Williams will not change her socks once during a tournament.

• Michael Jordan would always wear his UNC shorts under his NBA shorts (not to mention the craziness with his number 23).

• Tiger Woods wears red on Sunday.

• Wade Boggs ate chicken before every game.

• No NASCAR driver ever carries a $50 bill; it is considered bad luck.

• Jason Giambi (Colorado Rockies) wears a gold thong to break out of a slump. (He must have been a fan of the movie “Bull Durham.”)

• Heads come up half the times you toss the penny. Period.

How many of you believe that wearing your team jersey or that stupid backward rally cap can actually affect the outcome of a game — either at the stadium or

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