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.
Sofia Storti
From a very young age I have always struggled with confidence and self-esteem. The earliest memory I have is being 5 years old and feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. I wish I could go back to my younger self and give her a hug. As I got older it became worse and it didn’t help that I was an incredibly shy kid and I always felt kind of invisible. Read more>>
Jeanette Espinosa
My sister it the most confident person I have ever met. I cannot thank her enough for giving me that “push” in taking that leap of faith and fulfilling my childhood dream of rescuing and working with my very own animals. Read more>>
Mallorie Smotherman
My confidence and self-esteem have been shaped by the positive reinforcement that I received from my parents while growing up and still to this day. I have also been truly fortunate with amazing supervisors in my prior positions. Read more>>
Jeff Miller
It developed over time, quite a long time and it’s still a work in progress. When people you respect compliment you, that goes a long way. Read more>>
Giovanni Hendrick
I feel like too many people’s confidence is dependent upon how others perceive them. This is true, especially in photography (or any creative space really) as there is a seemingly infinite number of other people and examples to compare ourselves and our work to. Read more>>
Lashaun Noel
I develop my self esteem through continuing to put myself out there. At first I struggled because I thought, “well anyone can do this and if it’s easy for you, why do you think you should make someone pay for it?” but then I realized that while it is true that it’s easy for me, there is no one out there who is ME. Read more>>
Jessica Untch
Even though I had always wanted to start my own business, when I was younger I didn’t have the skills to pull it off. By skills I am referring not only to hard skills, but also soft skills like courage, grit, resilience, the ability to embrace failure, and belief in myself. I developed these mindsets through my 15-year career in adult education. Read more>>
Tyler Dean
Up until high school I had very low confidence and self-esteem. I was bullied and moved a lot so making friends was difficult. I spent many years just hanging out with my family. But then, in my Sophomore year of high school, I met two guys my age who were very loud and extroverted. Read more>>
Alix Kissinger
While I still struggle with self-doubt at times, I have found myself much more confident in recent years. The most notable growth in my confidence actually came after moving away from my hometown. Though bittersweet and even a bit scary, it was also an opportunity for a fresh start. Read more>>
LuKesha Tate
Developing my confidence and self-esteem is a journey that requires one to develop self-awareness, and to step out of your comfort zone and confront your fears with proving to yourself that you’re capable of handling challenges. Read more>>
LeAsia Leach-Thompson
I remember being a young girl constantly wanting to please those around me and having an intense desire to seek external validation. This probably came from a background of being neglected emotionally and feelings of abandonment based on my relationships with my parents. Read more>>
Kristin DeAngelis
I knew I was on the path to changing my career long before I left my corporate job… I have to say, I am not a fake it person. I am not faking anything. It is not true to who I am. I do my best to get the experience so I can make the best decisions possible. Read more>>
Carla Calderas
This is a great question because it is something that many of us struggle with. Growing up in poverty and with a single mom, I was bullied by family and peers. I learned to doubt myself, not trust others while also struggling to trust myself, and I learned to believe that I was not good enough. Read more>>
Michael McVicker
In my podcast, ‘Mr. Positivity,’ every installment is a source of enlightening viewpoints, uplifting narratives, and actionable guidance. The result is a revitalized sense of hope and motivation for our audience. The resonant tagline, ‘Staaay Positive!,’ reverberates within the hearts of those who tune in, serving as a beacon for embracing a life filled with positivity. Read more>>
Allison Dunn
I think overtime, as I’ve grown up I’ve gotten better at being able to move past negative self talk and I have also learned to give myself grace. I’ve always been really hard on myself whether it be about my work, how I look, or even just about grades in school. Read more>>
Matt Graham
“All I know is I know nothing,” said Socrates. It was so annoying to the people around him that saying it got him executed. Ancient Athens was full of braggarts, fake it till you make it superstars who traded off how “smart” they were, and convinced the city’s rich to hire them for their “Wisdom.” Read more>>
Lanaighyah Beard
I’ve battled with self-esteem issues my entire life growing up in the modeling industry which later impacted my confidence as I attempted to climb the corporate ladder as well as excel as a black woman entrepreneur. The feelings of rejection and discouragement plagued me and my ability to show up as the best version of myself. Read more>>
Laura Sweeney
I am always a work in progress in developing confidence and self esteem. As a director, I feel on each project I learn the same lesson: I should’ve trusted myself more. The more projects I work on, the faster I am able to trust my gut, but more importantly, I aim to surround myself with people I trust, who I can see will deliver great work. Read more>>
Kim Jones
I opened up a second location in a community where curly hair knowledge is lacking and being able to be a resource for black, brown mixed race families and their children is one of the most rewarding things in my career. Read more>>
Judy Tsuei
Raised with authoritarian tiger parents, I was never told that I was good enough, worthy, or beautiful — inside or out. Despite getting straight A’s, I wasn’t smart. Despite winning creative writing awards, I wasn’t gifted. Despite helping to raise my three younger siblings, I was still selfish. Read more>>
Veena Ramaswamy
I’ve always been a very goal-oriented and ambitious woman ever since I was young. I’m an avid learner and always had the insatiable curiosity to unravel the many things that life has to offer. However, I always experienced self-doubt and imposter syndrome in various aspects of my life. Read more>>
Yoojin Park
As a musician, I believe that my confidence is directly related to the amount of time I dedicate to practicing the violin. When I have upcoming performances, recordings, or competitions, if I know that I have practiced diligently for 7-8 hours almost every day for months or even years, my confidence naturally emerges. Read more>>
C.L. Suggs
As I go through the process of sharing my story, I realized that developing my confidence and self-esteem did not come naturally. The true and stable foundation of confidence, for me, is my inner being and resolve. My self-esteem has nothing to do with outward expression. Read more>>
Simone Bueno
Throughout my life, a series of experiences have contributed to shaping the woman I am today at 50, fostering my confidence and self-esteem. It all began with a mindset of avoiding comparisons with others and surrounding myself with positive influences, both internally and externally. Read more>>
Rosemary Ajoseh
My self-esteem and confidence come from my Faith in God. He Blessed me with a Positive Mindset. I am resilient and optimistic. I feel like everything you face in life; how you come through…or even overcoming; is believing that there is a silver lining. Read more>>
Lori Jones
Developing my confidence and self-esteem has been a multifaceted journey, deeply intertwined with the inception and growth of Blackology Coffee Company. This journey was not just about launching a business; Read more>>
Kristina Renée
My own developing confidence and self esteem is through self compassion and the profoundly healing practice of radical acceptance. I have found that there is a compelling dance between personal responsibility and confidence. Read more>>
Khushi Dadia
I firmly believe in the significance of self-belief. The cultivation of my confidence and self-esteem has been a gradual process, not achieved overnight. Through participation in numerous competitions, I have observed a tangible growth in my confidence. Read more>>
Imani Williams-Sparks
Dance! It was the only thing that allowed me to truly create and explore who I am. Hip Hop was how I developed self-esteem and contemporary boosted my confidence. I think that all of the performances that I’ve done for different companies and groups help shape the way that I am confident and showcase self-esteem. Read more>>
Rev Lydia Evans
Growing up as an only child, I had lots of opportunity to have lots of time with my parents. They fostered independence and that “nothing beats a failure but a try” mentality. I lost my mother at age 11 on a Thanksgiving Day. Read more>>
Melissa Range
When I was a child, I watched my father, who had polio at 13 and had a deformed back, go after whatever he wanted. He never let his disability get in the way of doing what he desired. He also pushed us to do our best no matter what and taught us many things at a young age that made us feel like we could do anything. Read more>>
Pablo Fredrikson
I built my confidence it after years of practicing giving talks and making videos. I loved watching other give talks and share their knowledge, so I tried to mimic them at first. After practicing, I found my own style and was able to be more confident on camera. Read more>>
Naomi Ashley
My confidence, my true confidence has come with age. I’ve always been brave per se and willing to fling myself in front of new situations. But being brave and outgoing (which I’ve always been) is different than being truly confident. Read more>>
Jenn Levin
There is no question that my self confidence was instilled in my subconscious mind from having loving parents. When you grow up being told AND showed that you are loved and safe the foundation of your self esteem will be strong. Read more>>
Markos Papadatos
I was able to develop my confidence and self-esteem simply by finding my true passion in life, and that’s writing, journalism, and storytelling. The best thing I ever did in my life was leave Corona, Queens! At the time, I was doing a job where I was miserable… I taught for the public school system in New York, which was a thankless profession. Read more>>
Storm Hedman
I feel that my confidence and self-esteem come from all the times that I put myself out there, and put myself into uncomfortable situations. For the longest time, I have been making content to showcase who I am and who I want to be. Read more>>
Michael Riordan
I’m 45 years old and I can’t say that I am 100% confident all the time or that my self-esteem is always high. It fluctuates all the time. Sometimes I’m brimming with confidence, and other times I want to crawl under a rock and hide. Read more>>
Teri Brown
Although I was a confident child and early adult, I lost that when a married a man who was emotionally abusive. I lived in that situation for 14 years, and by the time I left, I had trouble picking peanut butter in the grocery store for fear it would be the wrong choice. Read more>>
Travis Price
No one could hurt my feelings more than me. It’s been this way throughout my career. I’m extremely critical regarding my production and my lyrics. It’s at the point that I’m comfortable calling it an obsession. Read more>>
George Jac
In my journey as a versatile filmmaker, I’ve come to realize that confidence and self-esteem aren’t just innate qualities but are forged through continuous dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence. Read more>>
