Champion Mindset: Building Confidence & Self-Esteem

Every day, our team is focused on how to help our audience and community reach their full potential in every part of their lives – personal and professional. Building confidence and self-esteem is one of the most essential requirements for success and below we’ve presented some of the conversations we’ve had around how to build confidence.

Leslie Austin

Having come from a broken home of divorced parents as a kid, moving around a lot, and being bullied, my confidence and self-esteem took a beating early on in life. Thankfully, I came to know Jesus when I was 10 years old and became intimately close with Him in the years that followed. I remember a specific moment walking the halls of junior high, crying from being bullied by ‘the mean girls’ that pretended to be my friends one day and hated on/rejected me the next, and hearing God whisper to my soul that I could hold my head high because He was my source of confidence. He was my constant in life…my source of strength, my rock, my best friend, and the one who would never leave or forsake me. Read more>>

Maria Del Pilar Pascuas Marin

First of all, accepting myself for who I am and how I am, recognizing my achievements, throughout my life I have learned a lot of things that I do not recognize and that counts for my personal growth, I started making a list of things that I do during the day, I categorize them and I realize everything that I am capable of doing and I recognize how wonderful I am, on the other hand there are things that I am not so good at so I work on my weaknesses, I change my focus of thoughts and whenever I think about something bad, I transform it and turn it around and think about positive things, I listen to personal development audiobooks, I read books focused on business and personal growth. I accept and recognize myself, how great and wonderful I am, what I can achieve and if I can give life to a being I can do whatever I want. Read more>>

Martez Moore

This is a very touchy subject for me. I had been living my life in the deepest depths of insecurity… back in the 90’s I was short and overweight… and in those days being short and fat meant you were the lowest of the low…

I became a maladaptive daydreamer to escape… so my grades suffered…

In school I often felt like a forgettable blotch in peoples peripheral

Many people around me reinforced how I felt about myself…

But one day it’ all changed… something beautiful happened in 7th grade…  Read more>>

Kajsa Vikman

I believe we are all born with confidence and self-esteem. How else would a baby learn how to walk? Think about the number of times you fell before you took your first step. The same is true for self-esteem, healthy babies think very highly of themselves and know they are worthy and deserving of getting what they want. Through life experience and what we are told we may lose our confidence in trying new things or in certain areas. When I was a child I was very confident and wanted to perform on stage at the 1st grade graduation in front of the entire school. Well, I forgot what to say and to my dismay I was embarrassed in front of 100s of people. After that, and a few other similar incidents I lost my confidence and the fear of public speaking was imprinted in my subconscious mind. Read more>>

Danisha Keith

I developed my confidence through a combination of personal and professional experiences. As an
entrepreneur, I’ve faced numerous challenges and rejections, which initially shook my self-esteem.
However, each setback taught me resilience and the importance of perseverance. Balancing a full-time
job while being a mom to three children, including one with autism, has further shaped my confidence.
It has forced me to be adaptable and resourceful in managing my time and responsibilities. I’ve learned
to celebrate small victories and focus on my strengths. Surrounding myself with supportive people has
also played a crucial role. Overall, my journey has been about embracing challenges and using them as
stepping stones to build my confidence.” Read more>>

Kari Elizabeth Enge

First of all, it’s important from a neuroscience-perspective to understand what confidence actually is.

Confidence doesn’t come ahead of time. It comes from actually doing something until you develop a skill set and a certain level of mastery. For example, I have sat in a chair many times and now I am “confident” at doing it.

When you are confident, you don’t get a warm-fuzzy “confident” feeling. You just start automatically doing the task without thinking about it because you are confident. You focus your attention elsewhere.

In order to build confidence (aka – the skillset to do the task), you have to go through a season of commitment and courage. And this doesn’t always feel good as you practice a new skill set and fail. Read more>>

Katherine Cerulean

Many wonderful self development books have helped me including The Obstacle is the Way, the Success Principles, The Art of Not Giving a Fuck and more.

But it’s not so much the books, though they are wonderful, but more so seeing even confidence and self-esteem from a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset. As in, something you can get better at.

Your personality is not somehow a combination of your weaknesses — anything you want different or to improve about yourself is yours for the learning. Start reading books that help you become the person you want to be. Read more>>

Maggie Mcewen

I find my confidence through my faith in Christ. When I’m let down by things I can’t control or myself, I know that He is the only one who understands and can bring me out of it. I have worked so hard over the past year to surround myself by people who want me to succeed and do well, but I’ve also kept the people who don’t want me to succeed in the back of my mind to fire the motivation to always do better. Read more>>

Shombai Strond-davis

From childhood, my parents always instilled self-love and confidence within me. As an adult, I continue to develop my self-esteem and confidence daily! I always check myself when that “negative self-talk” tries to creep in. I embrace my authenticity and never try to compare myself to others. Knowing that we’re all uniquely created, it’s like how can you not love yourself! Read more>>

Sarah Veda

Confidence and self-esteem are often seen as destinations, but for me, they are reflective energies of how you play with life… or don’t.

My play to becoming even more confident and grounded was shaped by some formative experiences, academic pursuits, and a profound exploration of metaphysics.

As a teenager, my first experience with heartbreak/infidelity was both shattering and illuminating. It left me questioning not just how fragile my confidence could be at times but also the very nature of love and connection in general. In an effort to make sense of the experience, I turned to relationship self-help books. These books became my first glimpse into understanding human behavior, emotions, and the mechanics of healthy, thriving relationships. They planted the seed for my lifelong fascination with the deeper workings of the mind and heart. Read more>>

Christina Kiss

Honestly, I was a very shy kid growing up in Budapest Hungary. You would never catch me going into a small boutique, because in a small store the people would always approach me and I wanted to be invisible. That all changed when I started playing the piano at the age of seven. I felt very comfortable in my skin and with my colleagues who studied music. I also discovered early that I loved performing in front of a huge audience. The bigger the audience, the more I felt at home. At a very young age I participated in plenty of piano competitions gathering quite a few top prizes along the way. That was a huge boost to my confidence and self-esteem and because of that I became more independent—even traveling abroad alone at a pretty young age and winning competitions all over Europe from Czechoslovakia, to Austria, Greece, Italy, Spain and the United States among other countries. Read more>>

Anttoni Lopez

Wow, I would say the way that I developed confidence, & self-esteem is through self-love and unlearning PTSD habits while growing a closer connection to God. All this all happened because of a break up that happened three years ago, which lead me to stop using cocaine which was a drug I used to surpress all my triggers and trauma. I had to finally admit that I was an drug addict, which then put me in a position to really fully love me and know me. Read more>>

Bhoomi Mistry

I am learning to be more patient with myself lately. A creative block is the last thing you want to experience when the deadline is looming, but it is okay to feel stuck sometimes.

I have been working as a graphic designer for a couple of years now. On this journey, I have learned that designing is a very intuitive (and therefore iterative) process. Oftentimes, the only way out of a creative block is through it. This is why I have started building a process around iterating multiple visual directions for a project and setting realistic timelines with the client based on the ask and my needs as a designer.  Read more>>

Steve Bodansky

By being fully loved and appreciated and learning how to do the same. I have always been curious and playful, even more so as I get older. By being curious it has me feel that I am making the most of every possibility. Read more>>

Cory Toth

As a hairstylist, I have been able to develop my confidence and self-esteem in my technical skills because I am always continuing my education. This keeps me confident in my ability to always stay up-to-date on all of the current hairstyles and color trends. From the early days in my career, learning everything that I could was very important to me. I would watch educational DVDs in the backroom of corporate hair salons featuring stylists I looked up to. I would be learning something new from the stylist working next to me. I have taken many in-person and hands-on classes with brand educators. I even follow and watch other hair stylists on social media. I have had many years of hands-on experience with most hair types and textures. I am always looking for ways to learn new tricks & techniques to help me create custom looks and styles for my guests. Read more>>

Jessica Farr

My mother was a journalist and a swimsuit model. I believe my confidence directly comes from her. She’s my heart, my compass, the way I see the world. Throughout her life people asked her what gave her her confidence, she told me she knew if she didn’t believe in herself, who else would? She taught me to be my own champion and to walk through life with kindness and grace. Read more>>

Deovani Jean

My best advice is to fake it until you become it. Build the pattern. Break the cycle. Turn lack into abundance. Have a trusted friend or family member to confide in, and if that’s not an option, seek a therapist—someone who can truly hear your darker half and help lift your spirit. Surround yourself with good people, and you’ll find that good people come into your life when you strive to be one yourself. Be kind. Compliment a stranger. See beauty in everything, and look beyond the surface. Read more>>

Darius Daughtry

My road to self-esteem was a circuitous one. As a child, i was always slightly “different” than the other kids around me. I was quiet, small and a reader. My mother and grandmother constantly encouraged me and showered me with love, however, my external environment pushed up against that.
When my attempts to fit in constantly failed, I needed a method of escape. A teacher gave me a notebook and pen, and it was there that I began to discover who I was and learn how to deal with my world. Read more>>

Alee Anderson

It’s funny to look back on who I was in my younger years. I was always the kid in school who wore a hoodie even on sweltering hot days because I was so self-conscious. I worried A LOT about what everyone thought. I was very concerned about my reputation. Now, here I am at 40, and I am more confident than ever. I enter every room with my head held high; I jump in and lead every meeting I’m in; I offer my thoughts to anyone who will listen. I often wonder how I became this way when I had so little confidence growing up. As I try to figure out where it all changed, one realization floats to the surface. I learned to be this way by pretending to be this way. You always hear the phrase, “Fake it till you make it,” but I don’t think people really understand how well it actually works. For years when I went into meetings I coached myself to pretend I was a total boss; to behave the way a CEO would; to respectfully take control. Read more>>

Lia Zuvilivia

Growing up in a small town and later moving to big cities like Buenos Aires, Paris, and ultimately New York has significantly altered my perspective, influencing my confidence, sense of belonging, and self-esteem, all of which continue to reshape and evolve. But even in moments when confidence drops, I keep working, reading, talking to friends, and writing, and little by little, the viewpoint shifts, and new ideas begin to surface. Read more>>

Briana V. Clemmons

The making of my confidence and self-esteem has consisted of a lifelong refining process of reflection and acceptance. Nobody likes being told what to do or how they should change in this way or that but for someone who doesn’t mind self-improvement, these reoccurring instances may be met with an open mind, rather, and a guarded heart. For starters, remembering ‘whose you are’ is the most important; that alone will have one defaulting to a basic level of confidence simply because of who/what one represents and the validation that comes with that credential. From there, it’s constant growing and learning. Read more>>

Albooby

I’ve built confidence and self-esteem over time through experience and self-reflection. It started with embracing who I am and where I come from—Brazzaville, Congo—and letting my culture and roots shape my identity and music. I realized that my unique story and sound are my strengths, and no one else can replicate that.

Music has been a massive part of my journey. Performing in front of people, even in small settings at first, taught me to trust my abilities and connect with others. Every positive reaction, every moment when someone resonated with my music, gave me a little more confidence to keep pushing forward. Read more>>

Chandra Giambrone

My family has always referred to me as the black sheep. I was unruly, a free spirit, with limitless dreams and a wild imagination. Despite having very supportive parents, I felt the need to run away from society’s cage of expectations. Being cast as different from the rest of my family drove me to work twice as hard, forging my own unique path. This led to my foray into the world of creative expression and visual arts. Read more>>

Crystal Bao

I’ve always believed that confidence is a work in progress, much like art itself—it’s not about perfection, but persistence. My journey started when I was just a kid with a pen in hand and big dreams. My mom, Cecilia, was my biggest fan, constantly encouraging me to draw, create, and share. She had this incredible way of saying, “Do what you love, and confidence will follow.” It wasn’t just advice; it was a challenge—and I took it to heart. Read more>>

Chandrika Maheshwari

I was recently asked to speak to a group of women at a prestigious tech company for International Day of Women & Girls in Science. When I received that email, my first thought was “What an honor, this seems so exciting”. And my second thought was “Am I accomplished enough to be giving career talks yet? I’m still working towards some of the biggest goals I have.” Read more>>

Kathleen M. Rodgers

From an early age, I developed a misperception that I was dumb and stupid. I was a reluctant reader, and I struggled with math and science. And yet I loved to visit the library and be surrounded by books. Even though I was a slow reader, I was drawn to stories in any form, from picture books to shows and movies on television. When I was young, I loved to rock in our family’s rocking chair and daydream for hours. When I daydreamed, I made up stories in my head and pretended I was brave and bold and courageous even though I told myself I was shy and a chicken at everything. My older sister and I would act out television shows and movies in our backyard. It was during these times, I loved to pretend I was someone else. I could be anything and anyone I wanted to be in my world of pretend. Read more>>

Anjeza Dyrmishi

When you’ve worked hard for many years and have extensive experience, confidence in your work often comes naturally. However, despite my many years of experience, every day feels like a challenge because I constantly push myself to improve in my profession. In such moments, my confidence might feel lower, but I always manage to find the strength within myself to embrace new experiences and learn from them. In my opinion, our profession and life lessons never truly end; they occur every day, and this is a natural part of everyone’s journey. Read more>>

Kaitlyn Davis

Building self-esteem and confidence is something that truly starts within yourself. Growing up, I had a difficult time, and I know that’s something many people can relate to. It’s not easy to work on your inner self. When you look around at celebrities, family members, associates, friends, or even strangers, it’s natural to compare yourself to others. But I had to take a step back and really focus on myself. I realized that everyone is their own unique version of themselves, and no one can truly be compared to you. There’s only one copy of you, and it’s up to you to shape and mold that into whatever you want. Read more>>

Christiana Marie Ruiz

I developed confidence and self-esteem through my older brother, Emmanuel. We were only two 1/2 years apart, and growing up, I always looked up to him and tried to keep up with him. He was a pure and kind soul always encouraging people along the way.

I vividly remember one day when I was seven years old, thrilled to have finally learned how to do a split. Manny proudly took me around the schoolyard, introducing me to everyone and asking me to show them my new skill. He cheered me on with such enthusiasm, saying, “That’s my sister!” Moments like that made me feel so loved and valued & I will cherish them always and forever. Read more>>

Alyssa Ahrens

Developing my confidence and self-esteem in my business took a long time. I started learning calligraphy back in 2017. I taught myself by watching beginner calligraphy tutorials on YouTube. I would practice non-stop and soon after, posted my work on social media. Once the word was out that I ventured into the calligraphy world, I took on a couple of projects, like place cards and table numbers for friends’ events and some event signage for family events. After all of the positive feedback, I decided this was something I wanted to take more seriously and turned this hobby into a business. Read more>>

Chris Allen

Over the last few years I’ve been looking at many ways to boost my confidence and self esteem through affirmations and fitness, but It wasn’t til I started modeling that I discovered a true confidence in myself. It took me a bit of time to gain the courage being in the category a plus size male model and being a little unsure if there was a market for men of size to express themselves in fashion but when I finally braved it and took a chance, I felt like I was rediscovering myself in a different way. Seeing myself through the eye of others in way I didn’t know I could be seen was encouraging and reminded me with some courage and confidence I could be I could express myself in a unique way. But what was more inspiring was see the impact It made on other men like me. Read more>>

Lucius Garcia

Growing up I wouldn’t say I had difficulty making friends. When I hit high school though I was way more conscious of my anxieties about meeting new people and more self aware in general. I remember confiding in my mom about being afraid people won’t want to talk to me and she told me to draw in my notebook or something weird like that. I kind of just thought she was blowing me off in the moment because she was busy, but during my first day of class it was the only thing I could remember when everyone else started pairing up and switching seats. I started sketching something and some kids noticed and sat next to me and were all of a sudden really interested in me. I always called back to that moment when I was nervous and I remember using that tactic quite a bit when there were people I wanted to talk to but didn’t know how. Read more>>

Malik Anderson

When I think about who I am now at the age of 20 versus who I was 5 years ago, let alone 10 are two very different people. I’d think little me would be extremely proud of who I am now. When it comes down to developing my self confidence and self-esteem, I’d put that credit in the hands of the amazing people who I call family, Savage Inc. Models. While attending South Gwinnett High school, I wasn’t always the most confident or outspoken individual. I was very shy and timid, even post-graduation. While preparing to attend Savannah State University, my best friend, Emari Eakins who is a year ahead of me and had already experienced her freshman year, was preparing me to become a model. Emari who already went through her audition process to become a model now wanted me to join the organization upon my arrival to the campus. Read more>>

Damon Young

Growing up, I struggled with shyness, insecurities, and a lack of confidence, challenges that carried over into my high school years. However, the transformation in my confidence and self-esteem can be attributed to my high school track coach, Danielle Todman. During my time in track, I grappled with significant self-doubt, often telling myself that I wasn’t good enough and doubting my ability to achieve my goals. The rigorous training my coach put me through was intense and at times painful, but it ultimately pushed me in the most positive way possible. She helped me realize that I am capable of achieving far more than I had ever imagined. For that, I will be forever grateful to her. After enduring that transformative experience, I came to believe that there was little I couldn’t accomplish if I fully applied myself. Read more>>

Karen Osman

Confidence and self-esteem have been a journey for me—one rooted in perseverance, self-discovery, and a willingness to take risks, even when I doubted myself.

My writing career began in journalism and content creation, but fiction was a realm I hadn’t ventured into until 2016. That year, a surprising moment set everything in motion: I won the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature Novel Writing Prize with an entry for a psychological thriller. The story behind that win is as much about confidence as it is about writing. Read more>>

Brianna “viibez” Roberts

Honestly failure and time. I believe fear is the beginning of all new chapters. The question is are you brave enough to jump. Until you do you will never be happy not truly. The more I jumped the more my confidence grew. Even as I failed Im like hey that wasn’t that bad and I always ended up a little bit further every time. Read more>>

Ariel Staniszewski

At 17 years old, while a junior in high school, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Throughout my senior year, I spent several days a week at my recruiting office, training with the Marines to prepare for bootcamp. Just nine days after graduation, I shipped out. By the time I was 18, I had completed Marine Corps bootcamp, achieving something that less than 1% of the U.S. population can claim. Read more>>