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.
Michelle Vogel
A huge part of my confidence was built through dance. I spent years performing for the NBA, WNBA, AHL, and in studios—and that experience was transformative. Funny enough, dance can either make you feel unstoppable or incredibly self-critical, and I definitely felt both. But over time, it taught me how to reclaim my power. I stopped obsessing over how I looked and started focusing on how I felt. Dance gave me the freedom to own my femininity, express emotion through movement, and most importantly, feel strong and sexy in my own skin. It taught me that my body is a vessel for storytelling—and that mindset changed everything. Read More>>
Babette Jones
My confidence and self-esteem were not handed to me—they were earned, built, and refined over time through faith, purpose, and perseverance. I developed them by learning how to walk boldly in my calling, even when the road was uncertain and the doors weren’t open. I’ve always believed that you don’t wait for permission to be great—you rise, you create, and you *become*. Read More>>
Sarah Soda
I’ve struggled with low self-esteem for much of my life and often prayed for confidence. A big turning point came when I created my social media character, Sue Dillon. Through her, I found a safe space to express myself and try on new confidence. It’s definitely a journey, and I still have a ways to go, but I can now walk into a room and express myself—even if I still feel shaky or unsure at times. The difference is that now, instead of shaming myself like I used to, I’m able to sit gently with my feelings and encourage myself through those tough moments. Sue Dillon has helped me learn self-compassion, and I’m proud of the progress I’ve made. Read More>>
Taylor
While many women attribute their confidence and self-esteem to the influence of their mothers, for me, it was my father who played that pivotal role. Throughout his life, he was my biggest cheerleader—there wasn’t a single day when he didn’t uplift or affirm me.
He consistently reminded me of my beauty, celebrated even the smallest milestones, and always looked forward to our back-to-school fashion shows after shopping. One of his most lasting impacts was encouraging me to embrace my natural features—especially my naturally curly hair, which he always admired and supported me in wearing proudly. Read More>>
Ben Theis
I’ve developed confidence by putting myself in positions where I needed to perform and deliver. Whether it’s running Skol Marketing, working directly with clients, or leading my team, I’ve learned that confidence comes from preparation, follow-through, and seeing things through to the finish line.
I hold myself to a high standard. I show up, do what I say I’m going to do, and take pride in solving problems the right way — even when it’s harder or requires going beyond the original scope. That’s how I’ve earned trust with clients and built my reputation, and that’s what reinforces my confidence. Read More>>
Katie Gleason
When I was in middle school, I started developing depression. And when I was in sophomore year of high school, I was severely bullied by people I thought were my best friends. These things forced me into a place where I felt hopeless, and despite the amazing people I DID have in my life, I was blinded to only focus on those who made me feel small. I was sent spiraling, forced to build myself back up again from my absolute lowest. Read More>>
Naomi Rotstein
I actually had pretty low self esteem and confidence as I was always a chubbier kid. I played sports and was SUPER active but never felt great in my skin. It wasn’t until High school when I started going to the gym with my mom after school – Golds gym…super hardcore and fell in LOVE with the entire experience. As soon as I walked in – it became a place I belonged. I went back everyday. I became friends with the trainers and GF instructors, took classes, learned and began to see my body change. Read More>>
Betty Urzua
It all started when I met my husband. Through him, I was introduced to new people, fresh ideas, and perspectives I had never encountered before. He handed me two books that would change the course of my life: From Fury to Freedom and The Magic of Thinking Big.
The first book, From Fury to Freedom, told the story of a dramatic conversion to Christianity. When I reached that part, I paused. I closed the book and thought deeply. I had a choice to make: I could either set it aside and continue believing what I had always been told—that Christianity wasn’t for me—or I could lean in and explore it for myself. I chose to lean in. That moment was the beginning of my personal transformation. Read More>>
Pat Freeman
Confidence and self-esteem are built through reps—just like anything else in life. The more you show up and do the work, the more belief you build in yourself. At first, things feel awkward or uncertain, especially when you’re not seeing immediate results. But over time, the consistency adds up. Every rep, every session, every moment you choose to keep going instead of quitting is a step forward. When you chase failure and lean into the discomfort of being bad at something new, you gain real growth. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being brave enough to keep showing up, again and again. Read More>>
Marlowe Currie
What a wonderful question. When I saw this question, I immediately began to think about Moses. Our brother Moses had a confidence issue, similar to my own. I was afraid to speak. I once thought that, I wasn’t qualified to speak or to do anything that was connected to my purpose. It wasn’t until I gave the Lord God, my complete, unashamed yes! This is when my confidence and self-esteem, was birthed. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Read More>>
Scott Slater
This question immediately brings to mind a memory from college at Drew University. I’ve always been somewhat of a shy type–I’m not necessarily the kind of person to approach someone in a bar, or to just insert myself into conversations at social gatherings. But that said, I do crave social connection so I often find myself walking that thin line between two parts of my personality. Read More>>
Randall Byrge
I remember doing my first pain pill and I remember how it made me feel, I was more confident less angry and it seemed to take all of my worries away. After a 12 year addiction I finally realized that was not true. Early on in recovery I was scared to even go into the stores in my home town in fear of who was mad or ashamed of me, I was removed from the word for 3 years ( 2 years in a program in Texas and 1 year in my parents house never going anywhere without them for fear of relapsing). Read More>>
ChaosInCosplay
We developed our confidence and self-esteem through cosplaying! Acting as a character allows us to present our insecurities without fear of being judge as we are not ourselves, and overtime showed us that having fun and being yourself is more valuable than harboring a fear of being judged. It look time, a mix of trial and error, supportive community, and learning to appreciate ourselves. At first, it was intimidating—putting ourselves and our work out there in costume, especially online where people can be quick to judge. Read More>>
Ryann Nicole
I used to think confidence would arrive once I hit the milestone.
The promotion. The plan. The body.
I believed confidence was something you earned, like a reward for effort. A badge for being disciplined enough, successful enough, in control enough. I thought if I just did enough, then I’d finally feel enough. So I did what I always did: I chased the next thing. I hit the goal. I stuck to the plan. I shrunk my body. I pushed through. I collected achievements like proof of worth. Read More>>
Michelle Carlen
To develop confidence and strong self-esteem it’s important to understand that a lack of personal confidence stems from held beliefs. Here’s the top four beliefs that cause a lack of confidence.
1. Belief that perceived faults are greater than one’s strengths
2. Seeing mistakes as permanent failure
3. Someone’s negative opinion of them stuck
4. As a result of a life event like job loss Read More>>
TERI CHRISTINE AKPOVI
For me, confidence has been a journey of anchoring my identity in Christ through prayer, having wise
mentors, and stepping into opportunities even when I feel nervous. I have learned that true confidence
grows through action and alignment with purpose. Every time I have worked with a leader to hire the
right person or guided a team through a challenging transition, I remind myself that God placed me there
on purpose. That truth fuels and strengthens my confidence every time. Read More>>
Juli Madacey
It turns out, when you’ve spent your whole life performing for approval, it’s pretty damned hard to know what you actually think or feel—because you spent all your time and energy editing yourself for someone else’s comfort.
I grew up in a stable, loving home, but it was also steeped in traditional, patriarchal values. I was raised to be a “good girl”—to never disagree, never cause discomfort, and never put my needs before anyone else’s. It wasn’t until my 30s that I realised I had no idea what I believed. All I had was a collection of the opinions I’d inherited. Read More>>
Julie Jones
For a long time, I thought confidence would come after I reached a certain level of success. I thought once I had more clients, more money, more external validation, I’d finally feel confident.
But that wasn’t the case. At least not in the way I expected.
Somewhere along the way, I realized that true confidence isn’t just the effect of my circumstances.
It’s built by putting in the reps… doing things that feel hard and scary, and realizing… I’m not going to die.
It’s witnessing myself take action before I feel ready. Read More>>
Wasiu Eshinlokun
By believing in myself and also keeping where I’m from in mind. Read More>>
Danting Li
I developed my confidence and self-esteem through consistently engaging in complex brand and web design projects such as Venus Jewelry, Nutrigent, Da Village, Redpoint, and Scorpio Luxury. These projects challenged me to push my creative boundaries—to brainstorm innovative yet strategically sound solutions that not only stood out in competitive markets but also aligned with real-world constraints like budget, technical feasibility, and business objectives. Read More>>
Jennifer Aguilar
My confidence comes from my mom. She immigrated from Guatemala and worked overnight shifts, sometimes seven days a week, to make sure my brother and I had everything we needed. Watching her show up every day with strength and love gave me a blueprint for resilience. I used to say I’m just “delusional” I fake it till I make it. But over time, I realized that even if I don’t fully believe in myself, being myself is enough. I don’t have to be perfect. Just real. Read More>>
James Artissen
I think I developed my confidence from people not believing in my vision as a young kid trying to figure out life, and wanting to be in the music business. Within all of the No’s verses yes’s I had to bet on myself, and create the confidence that I was as good or even better than my peers. Self esteem grew when I learned how other people dealt with pain, and trauma and I didn’t want to end up like them so I moved differently, and made my own way. Read More>>
Trisha Stetzel
For me, confidence wasn’t something I was born with—it was forged, tested, and earned through experiences that stretched me far beyond what I thought I was capable of. That journey began the day I raised my right hand and took an oath to serve in the U.S. Navy.
I was barely out of high school—young, determined, and maybe a little naive. But I was also hungry to prove myself. The military didn’t just give me discipline and direction; it gave me the first true taste of what it meant to own my worth. Read More>>
Tiffany Berger
Breathwork has been a powerful catalyst in the development of my self-esteem and confidence. Through this practice, I came to understand the vital difference between self-worth and self-confidence—realizing that self-worth is an internal knowing of my inherent value and eternal nature, while self-confidence is my belief in my abilities and skills as they relate to the world around me. Breathwork gave me the clarity to discern what is truly in alignment with my soul’s expansion and the courage to take aligned action toward it. Read More>>
Xinyi Yang
As an illustrator, I feel the most uncertain and least confident when I create using a new medium or tool that departs from the traditional 2D format. I once used laser cutting to create a physical dollhouse. At that point, the project had completely departed from the realm of illustration — it had become an installation, not a drawing on paper. Read More>>
Jingxuan Yang
I’m not naturally an optimistic or confident person. In fact, I’m highly sensitive and empathetic, and I tend to be extremely modest—perhaps even to the point of underestimating myself. While I’ve come to truly value these qualities, they’ve also led me into periods of anxiety and self-doubt. So when it comes to building confidence and self-esteem, I believe I have more to share than someone who’s always had a strong sense of self. Read More>>
Andrea Gutillo
For the most part, my childhood was a good one; stable, loving, and full of memories I am grateful for. I was raised Presbyterian and incredibly involved in church life until my mid-teens. I was especially close to my grandmother; her presence grounded me in ways I still carry. My mom was also a major force in my life. She believed in tough love and didn’t let me get away with much, which, at the time, I did not always appreciate. My dad, on the other hand, was more easygoing and let me slide. Looking back now, I see that my mom was usually right, and she has been my rock through it all. Read More>>
Vasudha
My confidence and self-esteem didn’t come overnight—it has been a journey filled with learning, challenges, and growth. When I started Shreeta Salon & Spa, I didn’t have a business background. I come from a working-class family, and I built everything from scratch in a new country with new responsibilities. Read More>>
Leyla Elkhishin
As a kid, I always felt so insecure whether it was by certain family members critiquing things, or years of bullying I endured at school. It wasn’t until I hit late 16, and broke up with my ex at the time that really helped me to start realising my worth. I realised if I continued to believe things others were saying about me to put me down, it would just continue to bring me down, especially since the things being said weren’t even true. Read More>>
Kayla Crane
I developed my confidence and self-esteem through a mix of therapy, self-reflection, and learning to set healthy boundaries. Over time, I started trusting my intuition and stopped tying my worth to others’ opinions. Read More>>
Annalyse Marchetti
I completely lost my confidence and self-esteem when my soccer career was taken from me after tearing both ACLs and meniscuses during the most important years for college recruitment. I had been a top-level goalkeeper for PDA (Players Development Academy; alum: USWNT players Tobin Heath, Heather O’Reilly) in New Jersey, won an ECNL national championship, and was on a path I had dreamed of since I was a kid. Read More>>
Deezy Hendo
Confidence and self-esteem grew over time through facing challenges and achieving goals. Each small success built on the last, proving that I could handle more. It’s also about changing the way you talk to yourself; being kinder and more encouraging makes a big difference. Surrounding yourself with supportive people who believe in you helps a lot too. Read More>>
Suzanne Igoe
This is actually a pretty cool story. I was born with Alopecia Areata, which eventually progressed to Alopecia Totalis. I lost all my hair when I was 17, and along with it, I lost my self-esteem.
When I was 19, I was driving home from college and heard on the radio about a bald head contest happening in Charlotte, North Carolina—about an hour and a half from where my parents lived. By the time I got home after my three-hour drive, I walked in the door and announced to my parents that I was going to Charlotte that weekend to enter the contest. Read More>>
Madz
A lot of people will tell you to “fake it til you make it” when it comes to confidence and self esteem. I say more of “create it to make it.” True confidence is about having a life, look, attitude, or work ethic that you are proud of. I think, in a way, you have to work for your confidence. Insecurity and self doubt are very common and normal, but you have to have things that prove those insecurities “wrong.” Read More>>
Kelli Johnson
I have always been a shy and introverted person, even as a young child. But for some reason, when singing was involved, that over-ruled the part of me that wanted to hide.
I have never been comfortable talking on the mic, or public speaking.
I think for me what helped me develop self confidence was becoming a waitress. Being up close and personal while delivering food to a table full of strangers forced me out of my shell, and soon I learned that the more I interacted with customers, the more money I would make. Read More>>
Jenny Geska
My confidence didn’t come overnight — it was built through experience, evolution, and plenty of moments where I had to remind myself of who I am and what I’m capable of.
I developed my confidence by saying “yes” to opportunities that scared me and “no” to things that didn’t align with my values. From performing on stage to leading as a realtor and travel agent, every chapter of my life added a new layer to my self-worth. Read More>>
