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.
Samantha Wyrick
I grew up in a small in Arkansas with 5 siblings, most of whom were much smarter and had a lot mor confidence then myself. Throughout the years, I learned that I had to create my own path and that path led me to the hair industry. When i first started I was not one to talk a lot or engage in conversations easily. Everything sort of changed when I was promoted to Manager of my first Sport Clips store. It was a new location in a up and coming area and I had a team who really had no clue what to do. I realized that in order for them to succeed I had to “fake it until i make it”. Eventually that mentality became my reality and i realized that no matter what got thrown my way, if i believed i could do it and trusted myself, then everything would work out. To this day, now in a position where i coach, lead and grow Managers, I’m able to use to use that to help others gain their own confidence. Read more>>
Vivian Hawkins
I believe my confidence and self-esteem were instilled in me at a very young age by my dad and grandparents. They encouraged and supported me in all the extracurricular activities I wanted to pursue. They had three rules: First, if you start something, finish it—don’t quit. Second, strive for excellence or don’t do it at all. Third, only compete with yourself. Read more>>
Dr. Yvanna Pogue Vicks
For much of my life, I compared my accomplishments to others and was always striving for more. I struggled to accept my achievements and constantly focused on what was “next.” It wasn’t until I deepened my relationship with God that my confidence and self-esteem began to grow. I realized that everyone has unique gifts, and criticizing oneself can be hurtful, as it reflects on the creator. Just as it would offend a parent for their child to criticize themselves, it is equally disheartening to God when I do the same. By placing my confidence in Him, I’ve learned to have confidence in myself. Additionally, I’ve come to appreciate my accomplishments more fully by expressing gratitude to God. Read more>>
Tylaundra Ross
I developed my confidence & self-esteem by trusting God & putting my full faith in him. Going into my job was not mentally easy at first. I struggled if I was good enough or if I would ever excel in my position. After a lot of reflection, I remembered that God made me fearfully & wonderfully. I thought about all the skills that my parents have taught me growing up. I had to be reminded that I am a lot stronger than I told myself I was.
I knew that God had a plan for me. I had to ask myself will I live in fear forever & not live up to what God has for me? Or will I fully live the life that God gave me with my head held high? Read more>>
Silvana Johnson
Growing up, I struggled a lot with self-esteem and feeling secure in who I was. I often compared myself to others, not knowing how to truly value or love myself. Over time, I realized that confidence comes not from comparing myself to others but from learning and growing each day. As I matured, I began to understand that self-worth is about continuous self-improvement rather than external validation. Read more>>
Evelyn Sofia Rivera
I think as a young child I was given a lot of room to make my own decisions but also within a safe environment. My parents did an excellent job at allowing me to feel autonomous which in turn led me to feel capable of decision making. The consequences of my actions were almost always explained to me in great detail and from there I would determine what I wanted to choose. I think being given these kinds of choices as a small child definitely helped me build confidence. The only real time I had an issue with my self-esteem and confidence was when I was a teenager. I think decision-making as a teen gets harder as it’s an age where your inner and outer worlds are changing drastically. Being able to make my own decisions and still feel supported in them made me value learning because I felt safe to make mistakes. The confidence to fail and continue on is truly invaluable, especially when creating art. Read more>>
Brenda “ladie B” Gibbs
My confidence and self esteem had over the years been low for quite some time, taking blow after blow. It wasn’t always that way but I can say it’s easy to get there when you are unsure of who you are and God is not your center. From a young child, it seems that my confidence faded and as I became an adult, the trials of life tore at me seeming to take a bit of my confidence with each incident. Although I believed in God, I wasn’t keeping Him as a priority. He was sort of my crisis God and I had not taken the time to develop my relationship with Him, nor did I know I needed to in my earlier years. In dealing with having trust issues, it didn’t exactly allow me to gain the confidence and learn who I am in Christ since my trust issues didn’t allow me to fully invite Him into my life in the wholeness that I have now. So ultimately, the closer I got to Christ, the more I learned of who I was created to be and that I am made in my Father’s image. Read more>>
Lily Alvarado
I developed my confidence and self-esteem by equipping myself with tools that support my growth and learning from the experiences I’ve encountered throughout my life. I continue to work on myself every single day. For example, I prioritize discipline by waking up at 5 AM to work out Monday through Friday. This routine helps me maintain a clear mind and feel good both mentally and physically. Read more>>
Nico
When I was younger, I thought confidence was something I was just supposed to have. It took me years to understand that confidence is something that can be cultivated. A lot of my life has been a process of trial and error. I have never been one to just take someone else’s word for it. I’ve always needed to put my body into the direct experience of something to truly understand and learn. When I was in my senior year of college (finishing a BA in Photography, which I still find incredibly ridiculous but also feel so grateful for) I had little to no confidence in myself, my work, or my abilities. But I just knew I needed to figure things out, because I needed to support myself. So I just started experimenting with my life. Some experiments were successes, some were failures, and I felt pretty insecure and full of doubt the whole time. Read more>>
Yoko Chow
I firmly believe in lifelong learning. With today’s rapid advancements in scientific approaches across industries and the rise of AI technologies, it’s more important than ever to stay informed and consistently update my knowledge. Being a proficient interior designer involves more than creating unique designs; it requires integrating these advancements to craft spaces tailored to each project’s needs. As an independent interior designer, I strive to create environments that are beautiful, practical, and comfortable. I remain open-minded and ensure I stay informed by regularly meeting with vendors, reading industry articles, and attending expos to learn about new materials and market trends. This commitment to continuous learning is how I maintain confidence in my work. Read more>>
Cristina Planas
Developing confidence has taken on so many different facets and meanings to me over the course of my life and various occupations.
As a kid I travelled a lot and spent a lot of time in Spain where my parents are from. I grew up with the feeling of being from neither here nor there. This in-betweenness and exposure to different cultures through a lot of travel gave me a sense of adaptability, and a sense of confidence being away from home and out of my comfort zone.
Of course my parents also were very loving and supportive in (most) of the things I chose to do. They’ve always been there for me to fall back on and I can’t deny what a world of difference that makes to my sense of safety in the world.
Even growing up in a safe and idyllic place like Canada just offers a feeling of wholeness that is hard to deny! Read more>>
Rachael Larson
In 3rd grade my parents divorced and my mom moved my sister and I from our home in Las Vegas NV, to Sioux Falls SD. As you can imagine, being a women of color raised by a single mother in the Midwest came with its share of hurdles. I have no connection with the African American side of my family, so as I began to mature and explore who I was, this presented its own set of identity challenges. As a result of my upbringing, I started to question my emotions and self worth early on in adolescence. My teenage years were a mix of high and lows within my family and socially. Although I made life long great friends and had a supportive, loving extended family, I was always struggling with a feeling of being an outsider. Read more>>
Amber Royer
When I was a new writer, a lot of people were generous to me. Sometimes it was tough love. For instance, an agent once sat me down and told me that I had potential, but I was submitting manuscripts to her two drafts too early. But engaging with the local writing community made writing a less lonely endeavor, and helped me to improve my skills in a way I wouldn’t have on my own.
That’s one reason why I host the Saturday Night Write Craft Discussion Group. I get paid to lecture on writing, and as a Book Coach, but once a month I do a free two-hour session, open to everyone, on a particular discussion topic. I also host a Facebook Group by the same name where members can discuss writing conundrums, ask me questions, and share news. All of that does take a bit of time, but it is worth it to see folks who have been attending start improving their writing and advancing their careers. Read more>>
Wesley Waldrup, Lpc
Confidence sometimes feels like a wet fish… it’s hard to grasp! Over the years and through trial and error, I have learned to listen the “knowing” part of myself, which has at times allured me to walk toward my fear of being bold and more often, it helps settle my fear of being seen. We all have access to this, if we can learn to listen to its wisdom. “Knowing” is our steadfast belief in our worthiness, the tenderness of compassion toward our insecurities and the whispers of intuition that mirror our deepest, daring authenticity. This “knowing” is an enduring source of courage that allows us to build confidence, one small step at a time. Read more>>
Joshua Burton
I struggled with self-esteem from my childhood until my 20’s. My confidence didn’t begin to sprout until I was in undergrad and started to take poetry classes. Finding this genre and experiencing some success in it definitely helped my confidence, but the thing that helped the most was the kind and encouraging words from teachers. Having teachers who respected my writing and my mind was life changing and in these classes was when confidence finally began to uprise. Read more>>
Donellia L
In the beginning, I never anticipated being in marketing or brand strategy. Designs By Donellia started as a side hustle—something I did to make extra money to fund my now-closed clothing store. At that time, I sold websites, branding materials, and offered design services, but I constantly doubted myself. I wasn’t getting concrete opportunities, and that lack of validation made me question if I was really good enough. It felt like I was shouting into a void—working hard but not seeing the return. Read more>>
Savannah Steiner
At a young age I struggled with confidence issues in all aspects of my life. I never thought I was good enough at anything. I needed people to tell me I was doing a good job, or I needed to win an award for my work to feel worthy. The constant need to look outside myself for others approval dominated most of my teenage years. Though, despite the faulty confidence, I did have a deep desire to express myself. And for the most part, my ways of expression were received with applause. But when it wasn’t highly received, I would fall into a deep dark depression. My sense of worth, as I understood it, was tied to my self-expression- whether in the arts, performance, or, ultimately everything. In high school, we held t-shirt design contests where students could submit your design for specific clubs and activities. A few times my designs were chosen. I would go up to my teachers, tail between my legs, asking them if they personally thought it was good — even if it was chosen! It’s like I needed to hear it from the teacher otherwise it wasn’t true. Like I was waiting for a superior to tell me it’s okay to like my work. I’ll never forget this one time when I had submitted a t-shirt design for Key Club. Read more>>
Cayla Merrill
Developing my confidence and self-esteem is an ongoing process but I do feel there was an inflection point in the Fall of 2021. I attended a masterclass put on by Sora Schilling who is a trainer at the Beautiful You Life Coaching Academy where I completed my Life Coaching training in 2019. During this 3 day experience, she demonstrated a technique that would change my life called Energy Coaching. It was a combination of reflection, somatic work, and imagination that supported me in tapping into something that felt like a missing puzzle piece for me. After over a decade of being obsessed with self help and “fixing” myself through books, and yoga, Energy Coaching opened a new way of relating to myself that didn’t involve judging my thoughts into an anxiety spiral. Energy Coaching in addition to therapy, invites me to connect to my body, rather than just my head, it has supported me in being kinder to myself and others. Read more>>
Ellen Mirro
My approach to confidence has always been “fake it until you make it,” or know what
you don’t know and learn from the experts. As an architect, the broader your experience
the more expertise you can exhibit the higher the level of confidence you gain.
Partnering with other architects on big projects has been a real boon. Architecture is
one of those professions where knowing a little about a lot of things really helps with the
design. The key is to know what you don’t know and bring in the appropriate experts. Read more>>
Melanie Adams
Confidence and self-esteem have been key to my success as an energy professional and entrepreneur, but they didn’t come overnight. They were built step by step, through experiences, challenges, and learning to trust myself. Early on, I realized that to bring something new—like flame-resistant clothing for women—to an established industry, I’d have to be willing to embrace uncertainty and advocate for myself and others. When I worked in oil and gas, I constantly struggled to find PPE that fit well and allowed me to feel comfortable and confident in the field. It became clear that this wasn’t just my problem; so many women in the industry faced the same issue. I’d never thought of myself as someone who could start a company, but I knew the problem needed addressing. Taking that first step to say, “Why not me?” was monumental for my confidence. It wasn’t about knowing everything but about committing to learn and grow. Sustaining my confidence early on was imperative. Read more>>
Toy Laster
My confidence and self-esteem were cultivated through years of hard work, resilience, and consistent action. Rebranding myself and building a party business, DFW Pole Dance Parties, from the ground up, earning the title of Best Bachelorette Spot in Dallas and receiving nearly 300 glowing reviews, didn’t happen overnight. My dedication to creating an empowering and memorable experience for brides, birthdays, and special occasions has been the foundation of my success. Read more>>
Cash Lawless
On competence, the more competent I become, the more confident I become as I see the real world out comes of decisions made from that competence. This strengthens your trust in yourself to navigate more encounters with hard things in life, which translates to confidence. You can tell yourself in the mirror you are capable as many times as you want, but these affirmations don’t serve any purpose unless real world evidence backs them up. Read more>>
Mvp Mike
I develop my confidence and self-esteem from taking chances to get to my higher self. Growing up, I have learned to be uncomfortable with being uncomfortable. As you experiences new environments and network with different people, you learn that although no one’s experience is the same, you can learn from anyone you come across. I wasn’t always comfortable to perform my music and I didn’t always feel the best to host events with hundreds of people. However, I know that I am in that position at that time for a reason. I take the attitude that no one could do my job like me. With that mindset, the sky is the limit for me and my brand. Read more>>
Elle Speed
My confidence and self-esteem stem largely from the strong, inspiring women in my life—my mother and grandmother. They’ve both shaped how I view myself and approach challenges. My mom, in particular, always told me that when you look good and do good, you perform at your best. She instilled in me the importance of putting my best foot forward and striving for excellence in everything I do. I’ve carried this mindset with me in every endeavor. I always have a clear vision of the end result and work backwards to ensure I’m giving it my all. It’s not about perfection, but about knowing that I’ve done my best. That gives me the confidence to hold my head high and feel good about who I am and what I’ve accomplished. Read more>>
Siobhan Bodrug
I’m an emerging singer-songwriter/recording artist from Toronto, ON. I have had an interest in music since I was a child because my father is a musician/producer and I grew up in a recording studio. As a kid, I would watch recording sessions and be fascinated with the process. But even though music was in my genes, I wasn’t sure where to start when it came to being an artist myself. My own journey started when I was 11 years old. I would play at bars & small festivals in my hometown. Even though I loved performing after the fact, it was a great source of anxiety for me. Every time I would step on a stage, my dad would have to reassure me and tell me everything was okay. This was my first huge obstacle as an artist. Read more>>
Xxmorrison
Authenticity and commitment. The more authentic you are with your true self, the more confidence you build over time. You slowly begin to believe in yourself, and not for others, but rather as a token of becoming something deep within that aligns with the true you. Judgment from others starts to mitigate the closer you get to self belief and the commitment to your craft is the cherry on top that solidifies your stance on the subject, making it almost impossible to ever give up. Read more>>
Snore Doumbia
I currently work in the film/video industry as a full time freelance camera operator. Being one of the few people in physical control of what is captured on camera is an amazing experience that gives its own sense of confidence over time. Though, even now with some of the exciting projects I’ve been able to be a part of I wouldn’t say that I’m entirely confident. I think confidence comes from a perceived knowledge we develop about ourselves and I know with certainty that I don’t know a lot of things. I’d say my confidence comes from my comfort in accepting that. It takes strength to admit the things we don’t know and I’ve seen that most successful camera operators are just people who asked a lot of the right questions (and made the right friends) so they had all the pieces of the puzzle they needed to become the one who people think has all the answers. Read more>>
Emily Reynolds Bergh
I have developed my confidence as much through successes as failures. Throughout my career, I’ve learned what I’m naturally good at through successes, like landing client coverage in The New York Times or maintaining client relationships for 6+ years. But I’ve also gotten more confident through failure, like when launches don’t go exactly as planned. Those moments have taught me how to be a better PR pro, and I’ve made it a point to learn from those mistakes. Now, I’m confident I won’t repeat them. I’d recommend aspiring PR professionals just get out there and work to build their portfolio. The confidence will come! Read more>>
Shyana Barrozo
Developing my confidence and self-esteem has been a combination of foundational support and personal effort. Growing up, my mother played a crucial role in shaping my self-worth. She consistently instilled positive affirmations in me, teaching me the importance of believing in myself. She never allowed me to speak negatively about myself, always encouraging me to recognize my strengths and value I brought to the world. Read more>>
Jason M Palmer
After surviving a disfiguring chainsaw accident at the tender age of ten that left me nearly lifeless, I had to grow up very quickly. Being bullied became a normal everyday occurrence from every walk of life. I was conditioned to give up my power and my voice which resulted in being ostracized from nearly every group activity. That would lead to a recluse lifestyle that I could never understand. Read more>>
Jonnie Helfrich
Confidence in my abilities and a positive self-esteem started developing in my home as a child. I have always been a strong, independent sort, and my parents were amazing encouragers.
I learned that I was and would be all sorts of things … a daughter, a student, an athlete, a poet, a canoeist (later a kayaker and rafter), a friend, a wife, a mom and a business owner. I was encouraged to be the best I could be in each of those areas of my life. It’s helpful knowing that I can draw strength from any area when another area seems lacking. Read more>>
Martha Gleason
My voice journey began when I was ten years old. I was feeling the effects of some childhood trauma and disfunction in my family and was having difficulty falling asleep. So I developed a self soothing strategy. I would lay on my back in bed at night and visualize myself becoming Cher. I saw myself standing on a t-shaped platform, wearing a white satin halter dress, sparkly platform shoes, with long straight hair- except my hair was red hair, not black like Cher’s. I would literally see myself singing her songs and feeling so confident and free. After connecting with this confidence building visualization, I would fall asleep easily. Read more>>
Diane Lachhman
Confidence and self-esteem are deeply personal journeys, and for me, they were shaped by embracing my individuality, staying resilient through challenges, and finding purpose in my work. Early in my career, I realized that the fashion industry celebrates diversity, but it also tests your inner strength. Read more>>
Apriel Mcdade
growing up, i stayed to myself which gave me time to really get to know who i was. i realized what i was good at, and what i wanted to continue to improve on. i knew that it would take a positive environment to be an inspirational person others would want to look up to. i started with daily affirmations customized for me for confidence. i spent most of my years as an athlete, so that helped with my mental, health, and wellness. i only surround myself with positive people because that’s the key to growth. i love art which is very therapeutic for me. my favorite art is fashion which put a positive impact on my self-esteem. it led into me starting a SelfLove Clothing Brand to positively impact the confidence and self-esteem in others. i want others to know that healing takes time and that they deserve to feel and look good. being different is what makes you stand out. there is only one you in this world that nobody can out do. never dim your light because it’s too bright for others. keep shining because you deserve it. Read more>>
Christy Cason
My name is Christy Cason, I developed my confidence from my parents Milton and Corine Mayfield. As a child my parents instilled in me that I had the opportunity and ability to construct my life as I wanted to. I have come to believe that I am the architect of my life, and I can design it the way I want it to be. I am the youngest of four siblings, I had examples to follow or not follow so I learned at an early age to be an independent thinker. We took family vacations when I was young and that sparked my interest in travelling around the world. Read more>>
Sarah Kurtenbach
to myself, ‘People like me, and I’m going to make a new friend!’”
Being a daddy’s girl, I took those words to heart and began repeating them to myself whenever I walked into school, camps, friends’ houses, or any other new environment.
What started as a simple thought soon turned into a belief, and eventually, it became my truth.
I realized this process could apply to other areas of my life. For instance:
When I walked into a gym, I thought, “I love being here! My body feels stronger already.” Read more>>
Rosey Mcbride
One evening after work, I checked the mail. As I was shuffling through the mail, a postcard from the local fellowship read, “Are you anxious? “This had my name written all over it. They were advertising a women’s study group. The next thing I knew, I registered and attended the meetings. This led me to attend more social gatherings and join professional networking groups. During my downtime, I also filled my free time listening and watching motivational videos on you tube. This led to me watching Law of Attraction and learning about affirmations. I began practicing what I learned. I started working through my insecurities and my self-esteem. I developed my confidence. I engaged in doing more things that I love. Read more>>
Luca Castagnini
I have always been very self conscious since I was a kid.
I was very focused on fitting in and I was always trying to stand out while also trying not to become a potential target for bullies at school. That initially brought me to develop a broad net of friends since I had a lot of acquaintances and I would bounce around between one group and the other. I thought being liked and sought after by other people would actually help developing self-esteem. But that’s when I realize it doesn’t work that way actually.
In my experience the understanding my own uniqueness and creativity, alongside the support of my family and close friends, made me develop my confidence and self-esteem, both professionally and overall as a person. Read more>>
Shantelle Rodriguez
My confidence comes from constantly learning and taking classes. It takes years of experience. Honestly sometimes I still have self doubt and sometimes my confidence is low if it’s a big client or job that I really admire and want to impress. For example there was a photographer who I admired her work just last year, Linda Leyva. I had been following her through social media and loved her work. She needed a head MUA/ hairstylist for her clients. She offered me a trial shoot to see if we vibed and how my work was in person. I was so nervous because I really respected her and thought this would be a great opportunity for me to grow in my work, turns out we were a match. Read more>>
Elizabeth Cherilus
My environment built my confidence and self-esteem. I grew up in an area with not a lot of representation of the African American women outside of my family. Learning what beauty is to me, came from understanding the importance of differences, authenticity, and empowerment. Carving my own lane from a new generational standpoint and a cultural aspect, I gained ann understanding of what “me” is to me. Not needing to fit into anyone’s box, I developed confidence and self-esteem within myself. Read more>>
Martha Clarkson
Into my mid-twenties, my confidence was a bit Jekyll and Hyde. I looked forward to the speeches I gave at graduations, for instance, and writing and directing a short film in high school (that won an award) gave me no pause, but I’d turn shy if I had to walk into a room of strangers. Once my career in commercial design launched, I realized the ensuing years in the business world would be full of meeting people, navigating unknown waters to solve problems, and understanding a client’s objectives. So I girded my loins, so to speak. Shoulders back, enter the room, make eye contact. Wade in. That’s the key. Nothing is to be accomplished decorating the wall as a bystander. I am interested in people and their stories, and pretty soon it became just a way of life to not be skittish. Self-esteem was never an issue because of two loving parents at home who believed in me. Their ongoing mantra was “you can do anything.” It doesn’t take long before you believe in yourself completely when you grow up infused with that positive message. Read more>>
Ay Gabe!
My confidence and self-esteem developed from having two very loving and supportive parents. There has never been a point in my life where I felt unwanted, unloved or unimportant. I think that lack of insecurity allowed my confidence and self-esteem to grow naturally over time. I never had to fight for approval or love. It was present all day, every day. Read more>>
Divine Lotus
I’ve always believed that light shines brightest when it’s embraced fully — when we stop dimming ourselves to fit in or to avoid judgment the power and joy you feel shines like the brightest star. But that wasn’t always how it was for me. Here’s my truth, growing up, I was bullied, I was teased and I really got picked on to the point of me hiding from myself .Words were thrown at me like stones, aiming to clip away at my self-worth. And for a long time, it did. I started to question my beauty, my strength, even my voice. I lost myself in the noise of people trying to make me hate who I was. There were so many clouds of doubt, and tears of shame but, I realized that the only way to let my light shine was to embrace it fully — “flaws”, scars, and all. One day, I woke up and decided to silence that noise. I decided to start loving me—not for anyone else, but for me. Read more>>
Aleka Ward
My confidence and self-esteem are deeply rooted in the unwavering support and encouragement of my mother. She consistently affirmed my worth, reminding me that I was beautiful and capable of achieving anything I set my mind to. Growing up with darker skin presented its challenges, as we were often teased, but my mother always made sure we understood our inherent beauty. Additionally, being raised by a single mother who fully supported our dreams had a profound impact on my development. While many parents might encourage their children to pursue conventional career paths, such as law or medicine, my mother always respected and nurtured our individual aspirations, even when they deviated from traditional expectations. Her belief in us has been instrumental in shaping the person I am today. Read more>>
Becki Ayers
Being a successful artisan requires confidence; you can’t shrivel when things are uncomfortable. Nature taught me this. Growing up bordering National Forest land I had a lot of freedom to explore. I got an idea in my head and just did it. Regardless of the obstacle, I would find a way to overcome it. I climbed the tallest trees, slipped & fell countless times in rivers, and found myself adding more and more miles each time I hiked. Before I knew it, I was challenging myself on a world stage instead of my childhood haunts. Read more>>
Dominique Delobbe
Being raised by demanding parents within a high-achieving family had a profound impact on my confidence and self-esteem during my formative years. Until I reached the age of 40, my primary identity was that of a wife. I struggled with insecurity and a low self-worth. Three distinct events provoked a profound change in my life. training a horse, going through a divorce, and dealing with the loss of my mother. Having lived a sheltered life, I never had to defend myself in the face of adversity. The process of training my horse helped me develop unknown skills and strengths. Ending a significant relationship to preserve my self-esteem enhanced my sense of pride and self-respect. I had long believed that my parents did not take me seriously and underestimated my abilities. This proved to be an inacurate self-perception. Read more>>
Sj Grundon
Finding my purpose was a journey that took time and reflection. I started out as a flea market vendor and quickly realized I had a passion for creating experiences, connecting with people, and building a sense of community. I recognized there was a gap in the market but never imagined I’d be the one organizing flea markets. I thought, ‘That would be cool to put on, but I don’t know how to do that.’ I had the mindset that it was something others could do, but not me. Read more>>
Sharone Bechor
Confidence is not something that comes naturally to everyone. As a business owner, there is a lot of self doubt. Especially in a business that has been run the same way for so long. It is risky making any change, but this store couldn’t stay around if we didn’t adapt. For me, one pivotal moment was when I took over the family business, Rock and Soul DJ Equipment. People were more and more starting to buy online, and I knew that it was crucial to be online and create an online presence if we wanted to survive, but how. How much would it cost? Who did I have who could help me? I think we need to give ourselves a lot more credit for what we are capable of. The music industry is fast-paced, and I was stepping into a role that required not only knowledge of equipment but also an understanding of our loyal customer base. Read more>>
Charde’ Walker
Confidence and self-esteem are ongoing journeys, especially for someone like me who grew up navigating systemic challenges and personal doubts. A huge part of my growth came from embracing my identity and recognizing the value I bring as a Black woman in this field. Here’s how I developed my confidence:
1. Leaning Into My Story:
I grew up with a single mom who worked tirelessly to provide for us. That experience taught me resilience and how to turn obstacles into opportunities. Recognizing the strength in my own story helped me see the strength I could help others uncover in themselves.
2. Pursuing Education and Expertise:
Investing in my education and training gave me the knowledge and skills I needed to feel competent in my work. The more I learned, the more confident I became in my ability to help others. Read more>>
Lava Vein A.k.a. King Okimo
I developed my confidence and self-esteem by by facing my fears. I also invested a lot of my time on personal development content on the internet and also by reading books. Upon consuming this content, I put the information into practice which grew my self-esteem overtime. Read more>>
David Filar
At the time of writing this, it’s day 373. Three-hundred and seventy three straight days of running a minimum of a 5k every single day. So what, Dave?
Having the rhythm of a daily discipline has changed my life for the better. When you make a promise to yourself to execute something daily, you limit the amount of time for excuses. You are forced to learn how to be efficient with your time and understand the value of prioritizing the things around you. But most of all your confidence grows to uncharted territory. You’ve broken every limitation you previously thought about yourself. That bar that you previously set, is now extremely low. You realize you’re undeniable and can achieve so much more. I would urge anyone to practice something daily – writing, reading, running… anything. Your self-esteem will reach a point where you don’t even recognize yourself anymore. Read more>>
Fadil Inceoglu
Confidence and self-esteem are not traits I stumbled upon. They are the result of years spent learning to live true to myself—rationally and with a deep embrace of my individuality. Like many, I struggled to find the foundation of what made me feel confident. I discovered, through trial and error, that my worth does not rest in others’ approval or validation. Instead, it comes from within: from identifying my values, staying true to them, and working tirelessly to achieve my goals. Guided by reason and a sense of purpose, I built the confidence and self-esteem that now shape both my art and my life. Read more>>
Amy Barnhart
My confidence and self esteem are driven by remembering my purpose, which is to share music that can guide people through life’s storms, transforming pain into beauty and struggles into moments of hope and empowerment. My goal is to help listeners believe in possibility. These goals pull me through my self doubts. Keeping that vision and purpose in mind, helps me continue to show up and each time I show up it gets easier and easier. I wont reach my goals by hiding or avoiding what scares me. Each new level feels like another glass ceiling to break through but when I do, I feel more and more confident. Read more>>
Melanie Curry
I am an artist! I’ve always wanted to be an artist. My earliest memories are about discovering or creating art.
Tagging alongside my mother in the grocery store, I remember begging and pleading for the giant box of crayons or the beginner set of watercolors with brushes. My cash-strapped mother would shake her head and push on. But when we got home, she’d set up a few, small Dixie cups with water, each with drops of food coloring, and hand me an old, much loved, and battered paintbrush. Then I would ‘paint’…On the backside of envelopes or other scraps of paper, I’d paint wherever I could find a usable space, and I was delighted to share my faint masterpieces with anyone who would hold still long enough to look! Read more>>
Artur Klimov
I believe that confidence starts to build up in childhood, when you successfully overcome obstacles and achieve your small goals. The importance of support from our parents is crucial. They direct and support us emotionally when we are lost, confused or discouraged. In this age we are very vunerable and very acceptive to anything they say to us. I was lucky to have strong support from my mom in everything I did. Growing up I understood that persistence and discipline is a key to success, and as many goals I achieved as more and more I gained confidence in myself. It’s very important to be self aware of any destruction environment which destroys you confidence. It can be your friends or job. Friends can really undervalue you, as they feel uncomfortable with someone who improving themselves, and you might believe that your achievements are not important. At job you might feel the same, when you don’t get results from your activity. Read more>>
Katsiaryna Asipik
Developing confidence in my work as a floral designer has been a long journey, filled with challenges, growth, and moments of self-doubt. Since I was a child, I dreamed of working with flowers. I imagined owning my own flower shop one day, but life took me on a different path. My degree and building a career became my priorities, but my dream never left me. Read more>>
Mike Fox
Confidence and self-esteem are truly a gem to keeping things going, even after the rush of the initial emotional motivation vanishes. I’ve also learned that there is a difference between confidence and arrogance, and daily run away from the latter. I’ve found my confidence comes from both knowing that I poured my passion into what I do, and the purpose of the end-game; knowing I hit the target – and also from my family. My wife and daughter are the glue and support to what I do – and in turn, reciprocated. The push, nudge and motivation to keep going gives that drive and esteem knowing my importance and role in their lives. Read more>>
Elyse Douglas
Self-esteem and confidence came late in life. Due to my fathers job, our family of six was constantly on the move. We were relocated approximately every two years which had a huge impact on my ability to form meaningful bonds with my peers or establish relationships with mentors. This, along with the challenge of growing up in a dysfunctional family atmosphere due to my parent’s alcohol abuse, had the biggest impact on the formation of my personality. Most of my encouragement came from my mother. She praised my artistic abilities all of my life and encouraged me to become involved in the arts and so it has been my pursuit practically all of my life. I married very young, which in retrospect was a way to disengage from my unhealthy family dynamic. I left home at the age of 19 and moved to California where the marriage ended in divorce only 2 years later. I was lonely and on my own, looking for a way to support myself. Read more>>
Amy Crutchfield
My professional confidence and self-esteem were shaped by some incredible experiences early on in my career. I was fortunate to work with some amazing leaders who saw potential in me that I hadn’t yet recognized in myself. They placed me in roles that stretched beyond what I was really qualified for but felt I could rise to the occasion. Given they had placed so much trust in me, I knew I had to do whatever it took not to let them down. Rather than trying to find someone for the role that ticked every box with all of the skills needed, they took a leap of faith on me and believed I could do it. Not only did I not want to disappoint them, I also wanted to earn the respect of those I’d be working with who had a lot more experience than I did, so I worked incredibly hard to do that and ultimately did. Read more>>
Christine Lim
Honestly, developing confidence and self-esteem has been a process, and I think it’s something I’m always working on. Starting Salted Cow was deeply personal because it reflects the food and flavors that I grew up with and love. I found confidence by leaning into what felt authentic to me—celebrating the buttery richness of baked mochi and the bold, unique flavors of Southeast Asian inspired snack mixes. Read more>>
Shannon Mains
Growing up this was an area that I always struggled with. Being the tallest kid in the class, and a girl, meant that I was always made fun of or picked on. I struggled to believe I was worthy. I remember being so scared to go to middle school because I didn’t have the confidence in myself. I was nervous for the new school, new teachers, new students and a completely different way of attending classes all day, having to from from all day in 1 room to wandering between 7 classes a day. It got to a point that it was debilitating. So in 7th grade I started learning about the importance of learning to control my thoughts and emotions. I learned breathing and relaxation techniques, which as I got older turned into the importance of learning that my thoughts and words have power. As I transitioned out of my 12 year nursing career and into entrepreneurship, I found so much more value in learning and practicing daily to believe in myself. I used the motto “if they can do it, so can I”. I spend a few minutes every day reading books on mindset, journaling and taking care of my mind. Read more>>
Kalpak Deshmukh
Developing confidence and self-esteem has been a journey shaped by the challenges and milestones in my career and personal life. Transitioning from a software engineering background to the creative field of VFX wasn’t a straightforward path. It required me to step into an entirely new world, one where technical skills needed to blend seamlessly with artistic vision. At the start, I felt like an outsider, constantly questioning whether I had what it took to succeed. Read more>>
