BoldJourney is all about helping our audience and community level up by learning from the experiences of others. One of the most important topics we’ve been focused on sharing insights and lessons on is confidence building and self-esteem. Below, you’ll find some brilliant entrepreneurs and creatives sharing their perspectives and advice.

Jennifer Jane Young Young

My confidence and self-esteem have been developed and strengthened through taking action and just trying things. What I’ve learned over my life is that we can never know what we are truly made of unless we take action and have the opportunity to take risks and experiment. I have always gotten clarity by taking steps forward.

I became a confident entrepreneur by putting myself out there in the world, taking imperfect action and course-correcting along the way. Read More>>

Cynthia Villalba

I was not always confident , I faced many challenges due to my dyslexia diagnosis. Growing up in a small town, I attended public schools that lacked the resources to provide personalized education. As a result, I often felt overlooked and underestimated by educators who focused on students they deemed more promising.

However, upon graduating, I pursued a Medical Assistant degree and discovered I thrived on hands-on learning. I excel in communication, particularly when discussing topics I’m passionate about. Interestingly, my experiences as a “C student” have proven beneficial, as I’ve developed an unconventional approach to decision-making. While others weigh pros and cons, I dive headfirst into new opportunities, committing fully to each project. Read More>>

Tracie Branch

I developed my self-confidence by learning how to grow with myself and most importantly, how to love myself through the growing pains. That process began with understanding that I was created by a God who makes no mistakes. If He created me uniquely and intentionally, then even in my uncertainty, brokenness, or imperfections, I am still made whole and perfect in His image. Read More>>

Melanie Eaton

It all started with a few highlights and a Mary Kay party.
I was thirteen, wide-eyed and eager to figure out who I was and how I fit into the world. My mom, my ultimate hype woman and adventure guide, let me invite a few friends over for a Mary Kay birthday bash. That day, I didn’t just get my first makeover; I witnessed firsthand the power of beauty and self-care. Makeup didn’t just change how I looked, it changed how I felt. Something inside me lit up. I discovered the magic of self-expression. Read More>>

Tkeyah Hamilton-Niamike

Honestly, I didn’t wake up confident—I became confident through intentional healing, faith, and a lot of inner work. For a long time, I tied my worth to how I looked or how much I was doing for everyone else. Like so many women, especially moms, I got caught up in the cycle of pouring into others while leaving myself empty. It wasn’t until I started asking, “What would it look like to love myself the way I love the people I care about?” that things began to shift. Read More>>

Navausia Laney

I’d say you have to know who you are! For me, it was putting myself in the most uncomfortable environments, going in with a positive mindset, and expecting to come out with successful results. I was willing to take the risk! It’s okay to be afraid, I wont say at times I wasn’t, however; the end result is what boosted my self motivation. You just have to start and trust yourself that with taking on new challenges, can actually have the ability to bring the best out of you! Read More>>

Yayoi Komiyama

How? A whole lot of living life went into it. I didn’t just wake up one morning brimming with confidence and humming “Unstoppable.” It’s been a rollercoaster ride — with loops, drops, and surprise turns. And let me tell you, I am not a fan of rollercoasters.

Growing up, I was constantly compared to my younger sister — she was the cute, popular one, and I… I felt like the invisible older sister, always on the sidelines. Add to that bullying, being left out, and the constant sense of looking in from the outside, and it’s no surprise that I turned inward. I buried my hurt and pain the only way I knew how — with food. Food became my safe place, my comfort, my coping mechanism. Every bite was an attempt to stuff those feelings down, to silence the pain. Read More>>

Maria Teresa Gomez

I started developing my confidence and self-esteem in my 40s. It was a journey that came from life experience, learning to embrace my true self, and letting go of the need for perfection. I began to recognize my strengths, value my voice, and stop apologizing for taking up space. Through challenges, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and self-reflection, I realized that confidence isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about trusting yourself enough to keep going. And that shift changed everything. Read More>>

Dayna Jones

I grew up in Eugene, Oregon where I was I was blessed to have spent my childhood with some of the greatest people I’ve ever met. My family was big family full of love and support, and the families of my friends were an extension of my own family. We were encouraged to think for ourselves, to advocate for what is right, and to truly be a member of society that plays an important role for supporting each other. I was always told I could be anything I wanted to be & that I could achieve anything I put my mind to—and I grew up knowing this was true. Read More>>

Danielle Amir-Lobel

Growing up, I loved to sing, but I had stage fright. In the shower, I was fearless; but in front of an audience my confidence exited (stage left). Instead of letting this discomfort deter me, though, I leaned in. I joined Glee club, school musicals, choir, an a cappella group, and even volunteered for solo performances—any excuse to put myself out there. I started loving the rush of nerves I got when performing. Read More>>

Hanane Jamili

Everyone’s heard the phrase “standing out like a sore thumb.” Well, I am the sore thumb.

As a hijabi woman, I’ve grown used to moving through the world under a spotlight I never asked for. The stares, the whispers, the bigoted remarks disguised as “just curious” questions—I’ve heard them all. For a long time, I tried to shrink myself, to take up less space, to make it easier for people to look past me. But at some point, I decided: Why should I? Read More>>

Artem Ustayev & Joshua Tourdot

Artem: I was blessed being born into an amazing family. My father taught me how to respect myself, be courageous, believe in my own skills and to never give up under any kind of hardship. He raised me to be self sufficient, respectful and humble. My mother taught me to be kind, optimistic and generous to others. I watched my parents bring my family to the US, struggle to raise a family in a foreign country, build businesses and eventually give my sisters and I an amazing life.  Read More>>

Lady Norton

developed my confidence and self-esteem not all at once, but in quiet, everyday moments—through soft rituals of care, honest conversations with myself, and the gentle choice to show up even when I didn’t feel ready. It was in learning to see beauty in my reflection without makeup, and also in celebrating the art of enhancing it. I stopped measuring my worth through perfection and started finding strength in vulnerability—whether that meant sharing a bare-faced photo, laughing at my mistakes, or speaking kindly to myself when no one else could hear.  Read More>>

Angela Parish

**Have I truly developed my confidence and self-esteem?** I believe it’s an ongoing journey, and there’s always room for growth. However, my friends, family, colleagues, and even acquaintances often comment on my confidence. Reflecting on my upbringing, I realize how fortunate I was to have parents who nurtured my independence, creativity, and willingness to take risks. These qualities, instilled at a young age, have been instrumental in building my confidence. Read More>>

Matt Brayden

I developed my confidence and self-esteem by building my relationship with Christ, which gave me a strong foundation and sense of purpose. I also prioritized taking care of my mental health, learning to understand and value myself more deeply. And by staying committed to the craft God gave me, I found fulfillment and strength in using my gifts to make a difference. Read More>>

Larry Pearlman

I was brought up in a household that supported me in every way. My parents rarely told me what to do. They asked what I wanted to do and then helped me look at the pros and cons of that decision and left the final direction up to me. Sometimes that would be where I thought I wanted to go and sometimes the opposite. Here is an example of the latter. Read More>>

Crystal Chase

I developed my confidence by learning how to handle rejection without letting it define me. Over time, I got very used to being told “no,” and I realized that rejection isn’t failure—it’s just part of the process. Once I stopped fearing rejection, I stopped fearing failure, and that opened the door for me to take more chances, try new things, and grow in ways I never imagined. Read More>>

Emily Goodson

I experienced a brain injury when I was 8 years old, which resulted in a lifelong physical disability. I walk with a limb difference and have paralyzed muscles on the left side of my body.

Going through that experience at such a young age both disrupted my self-esteem and sparked a deep sense of confidence. I’ve always had an extraordinary belief in the ability of people to change and adapt—because I’ve seen the evidence in myself. Read More>>

Karen Elkins Cohen

Like many kids, I felt like an outcast in school. One day I overheard some popular girls talking behind another popular girl’s back about her clothes, and I had an epiphany. The popular girls weren’t all smarter, prettier, or had better clothes (many had one or two of those traits, but not all three). The difference was confidence. They walked around like they believed they were smarter, prettier, and had better clothes. “Fake it ‘til you make it” became my mantra. No matter how I felt inside, I pretended that I believed I was smart and looked good. Read More>>

Shawna Reckinger

I didn’t so much develop confidence as I remembered it.

There was a time I shaped myself to fit the expectations of others—17 years of masking as a nurse in systems that didn’t reflect my values. I was competent, even respected, but I was also disconnected from my truth. My confidence back then was performative—rooted in achievement, not alignment. Read More>>

Natalia Motoc

Every time I’d step into a room or present in front of others, it felt like I wanted to just disappear.

Overcoming this has been a journey that largely revolved around my commitment to over-preparation. I realized early on, that facing situations like public speaking, client meetings, or important presentations often triggered self-doubt, making me feel unqualified or inadequate. To combat this, I adopted a proactive approach by extensively preparing for each engagement. This meant not just knowing my material inside and out, but also anticipating questions, practicing my delivery, and familiarizing myself with the audience’s needs and expectations. Read More>>