Confidence can open doors and is at the heart of so many amazing success stories across industries and disciplines and so we’ve always been interested in learning how we can help our readers and community members increase their confidence and self-esteem. Below, you’ll find highlights of some of the great conversations we’ve had on this topic.
Brandon Stalter
At the age of 21, I had experienced my first heartbreak and fell into deep depression. Within a short spam from the COVID-19 outbreak, three major events took place that veered me onto a different path in life. The first thing that happened, was shortly after I had gotten accepted into the Ohio State University, they were forced to shut down. The second event that quickly followed, was when I lost my job due to the outbreak. Read More>>
Tammy Ford
Honestly, I believe that we all have confidence and self-esteem challenges that are on-going. You have to put yourself out there and have a positive attitude while doing it. Doing it over and over again will give you knowledge of what works and what doesn’t and it’s what will propel you forward.
A perfect example is this: I post something on line and it is a hit and I feel great and then the next post is not as well received and then I am down on myself. That I believe is the challenge to over-come. Sometimes it’s a struggle and in the end I choose to focus what I am sharing and what I found joy in. Read More>>
Melissa Drake
I grew as leader by serving in leadership positions. I was a part of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers leadership development program with provides this training to its chapter leaders. Because of this, I believe this is what shaped my confidence and self-esteem. Read More>>
Aziyah Harps
I developed my confidence by learning to show up for myself fully and unapologetically, even when I was scared or unsure of how I’d be received. I realized early on that as Black women, we’re constantly told to be mindful of how we move, how we speak, how we carry ourselves, especially when we exude confidence. There’s often pressure to shrink ourselves to make others feel comfortable. But that’s never been me. I’ve always tried to live in my truth, even when it was uncomfortable or unpopular. Read More>>
Avaryana Rose
I definitely wasn’t born with it. I had always been a very timid, shy and introverted child. So much so, that I really struggled with eye contact. After doing years of allstar cheer, that definitely helped. As crude as it sounds, what really helped with my confidence was going through bullying. After relentless cyber and in person bullying, I learned to not care what other people thought or said about me. Their words couldn’t hurt me more than I let them. Read More>>
Kelly Magouirk
Honestly, it’s still a work in progress. I’ve been through therapy, overcome an eating disorder, and done a lot of deep personal work to get where I am today. Being in the beauty industry can be especially tough—you’re surrounded by high standards, constant comparison, and a lot of pressure to always “look the part.” But over time, I’ve learned to be kinder to myself. Confidence, for me, hasn’t come from perfection—it’s come from choosing to show up as I am, even when it feels vulnerable. Read More>>
Martin Shoemaker
In my teens, I submitted my first story. It got rejected, and I gave up.
In college, I submitted my second story. It got rejected, and I gave up.
Early in my programming career, I submitted another story. It got rejected, and I gave up.
And so on. And so on. I wanted to write, but I lacked persistence.
Finally, when I was 47, I got a rejection… and I didn’t give up. I sent to the next market, and the next. I studied. I wrote and submitted more stories. This time I kept at it for six whole months! Read More>>
Nashira Dudley
Every time I see a woman living a great life, instead of hating or being jealous I let that woman inspire me. I tell myself I’m going to be that girl too!
When my friends are winning I know God is in my neighborhood.
I want to be an inspiration as well, and show women how to be confident and have high self esteem too! Read More>>
Quentin Jordan Jr
My confidence and self-esteem are strong, focused, and evolving with purpose. I am not just putting in physical work – I am building a brand, creating content, and taking bold creative steps while being open to learning and growth – asking questions, refining my approach, and thinking ahead, which is a confident mindset rooted in long-term success, not ego. Read More>>
Kelsie Carlson
For me, confidence has come through consistency and discipline. I’ve learned that when I truly put in the work, when I show up prepared and grounded in my purpose-it naturally builds confidence. I remind myself often that I’ve earned my place in the rooms I walk into. I’m here because I’ve worked hard, not by chance. Being prepared makes me feel ready, and being consistent in that preparation has helped me grow into someone who feels genuinely confident in what I do. Read More>>
Victoria Pitts
The journey to develop confidence has been a long one. From a young age I had alot of criticism from those around me when it came to my appearance and worth. I was constantly ridiculed for being the chunky kid with braces and glasses. I was extremely shy and never felt comfortable speaking out or being noticed. When I would try to be different or express my individuality I was mocked and bullied, and at the time I cared alot about what other people thought of me. Read More>>
Monique Lott
We have found that developing confidence and self-esteem, is gained in the doing of hard things and proving to yourself over and over again that you can do something. We have grown as I have had to push through immense challenges and not given up.
When we first started our transportation company in 2012. I had just given birth to our third child, and I was helping take care of my mom with cancer. We had also just started an excavation company a couple months before. Read More>>
Janice Nelson
I developed it by knowing “who I am”. Having confidence and knowing your worth comes over time. Being the youngest of six, I played dress-up and was told I was beautiful, which made size irrelevant to me, Read More>>
Chase Meade
Confidence wasn’t something I was born with—it was something I had to build, piece by piece.
Growing up, I struggled deeply with depression and anxiety. Doubt and inadequacy clouded my thoughts, and I didn’t see a path forward. I had no plan, no sense of purpose, and no belief in myself. I was completely lost. Read More>>
Kaden Tranum
Confidence doesn’t show up over night. it grows within us over time, through trial and error, small wins, and learning from setbacks is how we build our confidence.
Personally, I am an extroverted person and very outgoing, but that doesn’t mean I have all the confidence in the world. When I had the ideas of starting Tranum Graphics, there was definitely some self-doubt and a piece of me that thought that this may not work. Read More>>
Paris Monet
Growing up a plus-size girl, I had to learn early how to navigate a world that often didn’t reflect or embrace my beauty. Instead of shrinking myself, by the age of 12, I had I leaned into self-expression through fashion, beauty, and creativity. These were my my outlets, not to hide who I was, but to highlight all that made me unique. Doing my makeup, dressing in bold styles, and embracing my own aesthetic became acts of self-love and rebellion against the box society tried to put me in. Read More>>
Laura Ackerman
I attended art school in the mid-70’s, with an all-male faculty- these people were in charge of my career: and in the mid-70’s- there weren’t any collegiate rules on sexual harassment. So, mostly girls in an all-men environment- only a few of us were considered “talented”. I was made to apply for my Bachelor’s Degree 3 times: each turn with the review board was to see if my body of work was qualified enough for a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts (the degree I wanted). Long story short, I failed to impress the panel of men three times, and received my Bachelor’s of Art. Read More>>
Tre Abeita
It started as a child for me, my father always made me speak up, shake hands, introduce myself and learning those simple social habits as a kid separates you from people who weren’t taught proper social skills. It helped me gain respect and stand out. Read More>>
Kelsey Krasnov
After becoming a mom nearly 8 years ago, I lost myself—my style, my confidence, and honestly, my sense of identity. At just 22, I felt like I had to fit into this mold of what a mom should look and act like. My life revolved around my son, and somewhere along the way, I faded into the background. Read More>>
Jayson “Lefty” David-Vattoly
I guess to me it was over time seeing improvements in different aspects of my life, work, art, relationship, mental and physical health. Seeing improvements in all of that is an happy moment for me, and I’m sure anyone else, which in turn improves my confidence and self-esteem I’d say Read More>>
Angela Scheuneman
How I Developed My Confidence and Self-Esteem
Confidence didn’t come easy for me, it came from choosing to show up, even when I was scared. I learned early on that growth lives on the other side of discomfort, so I made a promise to myself: I would push through fear, not let it hold me back. Every time I stepped outside of my comfort zone, whether it was picking up my camera for the first time, putting myself out there as a business owner, or standing in a room feeling like I didn’t belong, I reminded myself that I didn’t have to feel ready to be ready. Read More>>
Jess Coale
OOf this is a good one. I struggled with self confidence and self- esteem issues for the majority of my life. I felt small, ashamed of who I was, picked on constantly, laughed at for what I showed interest in, belittled in every way. I couldnt figure out for the longest time what was wrong with me. I carried that insecurity with me for YEARS before I had a complete overhaul of my life a few years back and realized a major key; There is absolutely nothing wrong with me. Read More>>
Kym Nicole Oubre
Confidence wasn’t something I was born with, it was something I had to build. I grew up second guessing myself a lot. I didn’t always feel beautiful and definitely didn’t feel seen. I didn’t think I was beautiful, and I struggled with believing I was enough. I found power in expression–first through makeup, then through building my self-worth. Read More>>
Anne Karber
My confidence grew through a simple but powerful cycle: trying, failing, learning, and growing. I have never been afraid to put myself out there and give things a shot, even when I didn’t know exactly how it would turn out. That trial-and-error approach gave me real-life experience—something a lot of people miss out on because fear holds them back. Without experience, confidence has nothing to stand on. I earned mine by doing the hard things, learning from mistakes, and proving to myself over and over that I can figure it out. Read More>>
Rob Gurden
I was a shy kid—and honestly, that shyness never fully disappeared. But over time, I found that confidence doesn’t mean being the loudest in the room. For me, it came from stepping up even when I felt unsure, and doing things that mattered to me.
Coaching tennis played a huge role in that journey. Early on, I was nervous about being in front of a group, giving instruction, or managing different personalities on court. But the more I did it, the more I realized I had something valuable to offer. Seeing players grow—not just in skill, but in belief in themselves—mirrored my own growth. It gave me a purpose and a reason to push past my comfort zone. Read More>>
David Clarke
Developing my own confidence and self-esteem has been a pretty long journey. It has definitely been more of a marathon than a sprint, even if there there have been a few sprints sprinkled in along the way. I grew up in and around some conservative parts of the Greater Houston, Texas metroplex. From a young age I knew I was different, even if I didn’t have the language for it then. I was definitely an effeminate kid forced to exist in a world that didn’t make space for that. That disconnect planted deeply rooted seeds of self-doubt, and, for years, when I looked in the mirror I saw someone unworthy of joy, love, and belonging. Read More>>
Kathleen Swaydan
Confidence and self-esteem do come easily or quickly. Both are the results of hard work, peer acceptance and time. The hard work is putting in the time to create, practicing a skill and improving on that skill. I’m a studio artist. I have been creating art for as long as I can remember but it wasn’t until my late 40s-early 50s that I truly acknowledged my creative ability. I joined art associations, participated in art fairs and put myself “out there” Read More>>
Claire Brady
My confidence wasn’t something I was born with—it was cultivated through the unique environment my parents created in our family. As new immigrants, they understood that education wasn’t just about grades, but about raising children who could hold their own in any conversation while still maintaining their sense of wonder and playfulness.
Reading was central to our household, and my parents encouraged us to engage with ideas and speak up. Read More>>
Asia Merino
Honestly, it was a work in progress. I had to really sit with myself and learn to love myself just as I am. It wasn’t done overnight—it took time, patience, and a lot of self-reflection. I leaned heavily on daily affirmations, journaling my thoughts and wins, and even practicing gratitude to shift my perspective. Over time, I realized that the only validation I needed was my own. I stopped comparing myself to others and focused on my strengths and values. Learning to trust myself and celebrate even the smallest achievements built my confidence from the inside out. Read More>>
Carmen Rusu
My husband and
I came from Romania in 1999 with 2 children , 4 suitcases and $5000.
My husband Corneliu was hired as a social worker to open a community bookstore in Hoboken Nj. Symposia Bookstore
My role was supportive at that time . When he moved to another city for another type of work , I took over the managing of the bookstore. That’s when I started to develop myself , leadership skills , trouble shooting skills , etc . I flourished , I enjoy so much what I am doing , I am developing community around me through all the activities I am organizing . Read More>>
Chanel Stafford
My self-confidence was developed at a very young age, largely due to the way my mother raised me. She consistently spoke life into me with affirmations like, “You are beautiful,” “You are smart,” “You can do anything you put your mind to,” and “You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you” (Philippians 4:13). She held high expectations and instilled in me the belief that excellence is the standard. Read More>>
