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.
Sheila Folk
A product of a highly creative, intuitive, and accomplished professional artist and a smart, driven,!successful businesswoman, coming up with practical, creative solutions has always been a part of my DNA. Once I recognized that as a key strength of mine, I knew I could achieve anything I set my mind to! I saw results, got used to knowing what it feels like to succeed, and built my confidence in myself from actually experiencing the benefits of combining my personal strengths with commitment of still and plain, old-fashioned hard work! Read more>>
Atticus Ramirez
I was born female, proud of this and even more proud that I took the leap to become my authentic self 7 years ago. I’m nearly 36 and came out a bit late after knowing for nearly a decade due to low self confidence, self worth and constantly putting the feelings of others before my own.
After coming out there was still a long journey ahead of me to become the man I’ve always known I was. Read more>>
April Pollock
There’s really only one way I have truly found to be confident in business (or in life), and that is to know who you are. When I have had duplicity in my life in the past, it seemed that I would consistently struggle with imposter syndrome because I was trying to be different people in different settings, or with different groups of people. Now that I am a mom of two little girls as well as a wife and small business owner, I simply do not have the time to live two different lives. Read more>>
Kate Heron
I kind of got to a point last year where I said: life is too short to be against myself. The world will do that for me. And it’ll attract energy to where you’re bringing in things that confirm or that even worse – make it even more extreme. I had been incredibly critical of my art and self for so long- decided that I need to fully believe in how I exist and create. It’s not easy but it’s worth it to live that way. Read more>>
Violetta Plyushko
Growing up, I was always hard on myself. I constantly felt like I wasn’t enough—pretty enough, smart enough, or tall enough. I battled a lot of self-hateful thoughts. I would always put others first, no matter what, and be there for them through thick and thin. But when it came to myself, I would let myself down and never see my own worth. A turning point came close to my last year of high school when I faced a bad car crash and almost lost my life. Read more>>
Leonia Mckoy
I remember it was a week day morning after dropping the kids at school I drove for at least an hour to see a client. My husband made sure the boxes with my ceramic pieces were stacked carefully in the car. We were very low on funds and school fee was outstanding. On the plus side, I had pieces to be sold. I introduced myself to the owner of a certain establishment and unloaded my art pieces for him to see. Luckily for me, he had an interest in art and one piece caught his fancy. However he wanted ‘a steal’ and hoped I could accommodate such. Read more>>
Jennifer Lackey
I believe confidence and self esteem come from finding your passion and working toward perfecting your art. No one is perfect, however, when you are passionate about something, like I am wedding planning, then you tend to work harder to make it the best that it can be. Read more>>
Mckenzie Jevnikar
My confidence has definitely been a journey! A lot of it came from finally learning to embrace who I am – the good, the messy, and everything in between. I’ve always been passionate about learning, so I poured myself into personal development, investing in courses, mentorships, and surrounding myself with people who inspire me, which definitely helped build my confidence. However, motherhood was what truly shifted my perspective and solidified my self-confidence. Read more>>
Sean Degnan
Confidence is a funny thing. If you have too much of it, you may come off cocky, but if you don’t have enough of it, you may come off as weak. These labels that get attached to a character trait are just that…a label. When you truly have confidence and high self-esteem, you do not pay any mind to those labels or opinions given from those who talk too much. Read more>>
Ethan Alexander Jewett
Growing up in the 1980s, I was small and emotionally fragile, bullied by my stepfather at home and by other kids at school for being different. I was told I wasn’t manly or assertive enough. I didn’t play football or basketball. I didn’t conform to the rigid gender roles my society assigned to boys. Anxiety, insecurity, and low self-esteem shaped my identity; I made every effort to bury my true self under layers of submissive denial. I believed that my experience of alienation must be due to some kind of deficiency within myself. Read more>>
Sunshine
My confidence and self-esteem comes from my deceased grandmother, “Madea”. At an early age, she validated me by instilling values which taught me that I could be anything in life I wanted to be. She was my biggest cheerleader and really believed I could do anything. The confidence she had in me made me feel like I could conquer the world. Madea was and still is my motivator in a world where there are so many stumbling blocks to jump over. I know she is in heaven saying, “You got this! Just trust God and don’t give up!” She was very strong and she inspired me to have that same strength and confidence in myself. Read more>>
Kasi Lacey
My confidence and self-esteem have come from years of experience, challenging my negative thoughts, learning to validate myself, and leaning on the support of friends and family. I’ve built an incredibly successful career and a life beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I have spent years working on myself, learning, reading, and always staying curious while trying the next thing and learning from each experience. I have also learned that failure is just an opportunity to learn and believe that life happens for you. Read more>>
Rachel Taylor
My journey with self-esteem and confidence has been deeply intertwined with my connection to myself and my experiences. Growing up in a small, affluent town with parents who owned their own businesses, I observed their successes and challenges. However, my sense of self was profoundly impacted when my parents divorced during high school. This event shattered my ideal image of a perfect family and intensified my struggle with self-worth. Read more>>
Liz Martinez
Growing up, I was incredibly shy – to the point it was painful. I was always the quiet one. Always the wallflower. Always made myself as small as possible. Anything to avoid talking to others or having a spotlight on myself. I have always been blessed with a supportive family. Even when I was little, they all made me feel special and loved and like I was a supers. Read more>>
Gwak
Confidence and self-esteem start in your mind. It’s easy to doubt yourself, but taking just one step forward can reveal your true potential. With each step, you’ll realize you’re capable of far more than you imagined, and that realization will naturally boost your self-esteem. Read more>>
Lynn Sisler
I developed my self-esteem and confidence over many years. I was a shy kid and a good student because I was a rule follower. I wanted to please everyone, even if that meant doing something that was not in my best interest. Fortunately, my parents always supported my interests, including my life-long obsession with animals and drawing. Read more>>
Selina Christensen
When I think back on my past self (who lacked confidence in many ways), I laugh! How easy it would have been for Selina-of-the-past to be more comfortable and joyful each day if she had made a simple shift – a shift in her mindset. Thankfully, I’ve since practiced this shift. I’ve given myself permission to change the narrative that I tell myself, and I’ve started to believe that new, beautiful narrative. Read more>>
Annick & Mallory Gerard & Brodeur
By establishing an open, forgiving, and explorative atmosphere between the both of us. It made us feel like we both could throw ideas out and there was no such thing as a bad idea. There were some funny ones, but never a bad one. Read more>>
Sherri S Wick
My confidence and self-esteem were deeply rooted in the foundation my mother laid for me, starting with my faith. She instilled in me the belief that as long as I focused on God, He would carry me through any situation. This unwavering belief provided me with a solid foundation of security and strength. Read more>>
Jennefer Moseley
Being the youngest sibling of 3, the only girl and a latch key kid growing up, I definitely had to discover my strengths at a very young age. Standing up for myself was the only option, at least in my mind. In many ways, developing confidence, even when I wasn’t completely sure of myself, became a form of survival for me. Being very active in sports and dance were extremely helpful as I was lifted by coaches and teachers, which supported my self esteem. Read more>>
Romana Janoskova
So….first off, I have not always had confidence or self esteem! I have not always had many of the qualities that others would assign to me these days…structured, disciplined or mentally strong even. I very much lived and breathed the victim mentality all the way through into my mid 20s. Read more>>
Yashica Topalovic
Naturally, I’m an observer & so from a very young age I remember being intrigued by women’s behavior especially those who seemed to do it all! I was surrounded by these women daily. With their manicured nails, dazzling jewelry, beautiful families & successful businesses.! They all had 1 thing in common, CONFIDENCE!! At times their self esteem would drop & there was a slight change in their demeanor but the determination & confidence remained. Read more>>
Syerra Donaldson
I’m a Black woman who, for much of my life, didn’t know the value of my self-worth. Growing up, I was often met with disapproval from others who didn’t like how I looked, dressed, talked, or acted. Without a strong male figure to offer protection or boost my confidence, I was left vulnerable to manipulation, believing I was less than. The words of men shaped my view of myself, and sadly, they often spoke negativity into my life. They took much from me, leaving me feeling depleted. Read more>>
Lauren Nichols
When I chose to jump head first into the world of wedding photography, I was really scared… As a photographer, you hold a lot of power in your hands during someones most important day… the day they get married. A lot of times, you are capturing things the bride and groom didn’t get to see first hand, or forget in the stir of the day. I believe the pressure of the knowledge that someone has hand picked you to capture such a uniquely significant moment is enough to push me into this “one chance” headspace, because truthfully, there is one chance to capture those special moments. Read more>>
Antonia Livers
I developed a skin condition called vitiligo when I was 14. I knew exactly what it was since my aunt had it too. I knew what to expect, but actually living through this change is a different ball game. It started out really small, but it progressively developed over time.
I hated what I looked like. I hated to look different and feel different. Read more>>
Laquinceya Wilson
I developed my confidence off my music. My name is Laquinceya Wilson , “ Lil Q” .Growing up I got bullied and talked about for my skin and my size.I use to think that I was very ugly or to darkskin. Also,I had no confidence or self-esteem. Until one day , my grandmother died and I made my first song and it made me so happy I knew then that music was my key to gain confidence. Read more>>
Kevin Benoit
When I was a child, I was bullied pretty persistently in school. It was actually pretty brutal. I was always one of the smaller students. I started wearing glasses around 4th grade, but before that I couldn’t see so I was always squinting and to make out as much as I could. I was also a child of Haitian immigrant parents who believed in uniforms, even though I could count on one hand how many students in our school followed the school’s “uniform policy.” Read more>>
Amanda Mocci
Growing up, I wasn’t naturally confident—I was more of an introvert, and to some extent, I still am. The turning point for me came when I discovered something I truly loved doing: graphic design, and later, portraiture. Finding an area where I wasn’t just passionate but also competent helped me start to build confidence in both my work and myself. Read more>>
Honey
When I was younger my confidence and self-esteem was extremely low. I was bullied in elementary school because of the way I looked and how my hair was. As I got older I learned that being accepted for who I truly am was important to me. Also understanding that you can’t please everyone has also been apart of my confidence journey. Read more>>
Derek Waksmunski
I developed my confidence and self-esteem by growing up in the backwoods of Pennsylvania, where I learned self-reliance and resilience from living close to nature. The challenges of that environment taught me how to solve problems and take care of myself. My dad’s example also played a big role—he gave up his profession as a wedding photographer to support our family, showing me the importance of hard work, sacrifice, and adaptability. These values helped shape my approach to life and gave me a strong sense of identity. Read more>>
Marilia Moreno
Ever since I was a child, I was shy and a little insecure. I was popular with friends and loved to talk, but if a teacher called my name, I would blush so hard I thought I might faint. This all changed dramatically in college when I began studying advertising and marketing. I had to present alone in front of the class, and soon, I started enjoying it. I became fascinated with the power of television in Brazil and its ability to reach the masses. Read more>>
Sam Reti
As a musician, performing on stage was always a raw and open experience for me. Every time I stepped onto that stage, I was sharing something deeply personal, fully aware that things might not always go as planned. That vulnerability could be nerve-wracking, but it was also what made those moments so powerful. Over time, I found that repeated exposure to this kind of vulnerability helped me build resilience. I learned to trust my abilities and recover from mistakes. This process fostered a sense of confidence in me because I knew I had prepared and honed my craft enough to stand by my performance. Read more>>
Mary Rose Kreger
Developing confidence in myself as an author only came by putting in the hard work first. During the past ten years, I have spent thousands of hours writing, drafting, and posting my stories. I accept criticism and feedback from editors, beta readers, and other writers to improve my work. As my writing experience grows, so does my confidence. Now when I share a new post or story, I have a much better understanding of what type of content will interest my readers, and also which stories I most want to tell. My confidence has grown naturally over time, through learned experience. Read more>>
Kelly Gordon
Confidence comes from competence, and as a yacht captain, the more time spent at sea, the more you learn. Navigating challenging waters, managing crew, handling complex mechanical systems, and ensuring passenger safety all require a high level of skill. Over time, these experiences reinforce your abilities and make you more sure of yourself in difficult situations. Each successful docking or storm you navigate builds your sense of mastery. Read more>>
Yum Mi
My confidence and self-esteem comes from being told I wasn’t enough most of my life. I now no that I was always enough and the rest is history. Read more>>
Alice Waraxa
I know this will sound silly to most people, but my confidence in my art or work comes from those around me. It is not that I look for an external source of validation but the words people in my life and mostly strangers share with me about, my work ring in my head when I do not want to continue. There will always people who offer up their opinions of what I am doing either negative or positive. It is the conversations that I have with other artists or business owners when I am out in the public selling or talking at an event. I have learned that my reaction and my response is made from the confidence I have. Ask me why I do what I do? I have an answer! Tell me how you would do it better! But do they do it at all? Read more>>
Bam Hall
I developed my confidence and self-esteem through the support of my family, especially my Grandmother who always made me feel special. However, my journey to self-confidence wasn’t always smooth. From childhood to adulthood, I faced struggles like comparisons with peers over fashion or feeling self-conscious about my insecurities. With time, I learned to accept myself, embracing my imperfections and caring less about others’ opinions. This self-awareness and self-acceptance have significantly boosted my confidence over the years. Read more>>
Katie Laiche Lovetro
Building confidence and self-esteem for me has been a lifelong journey and what really helped me develop those traits was a deep devotion to really understanding myself on a soul level.. Not just what my little human self thought and felt but confidence in something bigger than what I could see. It has taken some deep inner work and self compassion and grace to get me to where I am today and I have made it part of my mission in this life to help others in any way that I can to also dig in the depths and find what lights them up. Read more>>
Toshiea Wright
I developed my confidence and self esteem from building myself up, loving myself, caring for myself, and using makeup to enhance my beauty. Read more>>
Amiya Chowdhury
A large part of my confidence, truly, came from my family. I started studying music at quite an early age, and in a culture where music isn’t particularly viewed as a safe career choice, having a continuously supportive family that praises each sweet note to each grand achievement is an indubitably healthy influence in everything I do. I am also very open to constantly learning, and I believe that there is not one single human being who knows all there is to know about anything – such a mindset keeps me from believing that becoming a professional is a goal kept captive in a tall mountain somewhere, and it simply guides me to keep learning and keep working, ignoring any possible hint that self-doubt may hurl toward me. Life is to learn and be learned. Read more>>
