It’s okay to be scared, often that’s a sign that you are pushing yourself towards greatness. However, it’s equally important to build up your confidence and we hope the conversations presented below can help provide some food for thought around how you can level up your confidence and self-esteem.

William Boston

My mother played a big part into my confidence and self -esteem. As a kid she made sure to let all of her children know that we were capable of doing anything. She always encouraged us to never give up, and till this day her favorite line is “Son, Keep your head up” Which she quotes from the song by Tupac her favorite artist. She never made me feel like I couldn’t do anything, she was the loudest person at any of my basketball games, which would be embarrassing at times, but she was showing her love and support. And as kids my siblings and I always knew that Mom had our backs, and I knew that nobody could tell me that I couldn’t do anything, because my Read More>>

Jayde Bancroft

This is one of my favorite questions to be asked! Starting a business can be quite nerve wrecking and to be quite honest my journey was never planned!
I originally wanted to create a product for myself and my roommate to enjoy but my confidence and self esteem were greatly boosted when I felt the love that others showed me while creating more than a hobby out of something that I genuinely love which is candle making! Read More>>

Derek McKeith

I believe that self confidence and self-esteem comes from your ability to overcome and deal with adversity. In my life I’ve had many situations that required I find a way to persevere and succeed, or failure and strife would be eminent. I also think having good, reliable, honest people with high moral character giving you advice helps enormously. Keeping a good circle around you is important. Read More>>

Sandra Daniels

For me, confidence has come from knowing I have the support and love of family and friends. When I was younger people used to tell me I had a lot of confidence. I didn’t really understand what they saw that was any different to anyone else. But I think it was growing up in a loving and supportive environment that made me feel I had nothing to fear. Read More>>

Jessica Faehnle

I developed my confidence from years of learning, education, conversations, style, applause and satisfaction from my clients, and even social media followers. Confidence and Self-Esteem are a process. It is an ever developing loop and roller coaster of feelings, success, trial, and failures. It doesn’t happen over night. If it does, then you are the luckiest or the most delusional person that there ever was. Like everything, it takes time to develop skill, following, idea of goals and style. I practice and learn something about business, photography, art, and networking every single day. The confidence and self-esteem in my current career of photography came from over 20 years of work and practice.
My self-esteem isn’t bound to my success as a photographer or as a business person. It is my success of knowing every learning from my past and in my life has brought me to the place I’m in now. I have confidence in knowing that even when I’m not doing exactly what I thought I would or business is not as good as it should be: I know everything will turnout ok. I know this, because it always turns out ok. Past experience has taught me that my hard work always pays off. I make good things happen. I have the faith in myself that I make decisions that make me successful. Confidence and self-esteem just don’t appear out of nowhere. Like I said, it is a process of learning from failures and successes that have developed my all around confidence and self-esteem. Read More>>

Cashmere Carter

I consider myself one who is blessed to just be born with it. Of course I have routines & practices that help keep my vybratyonz hygh, but ultimately I just know I’m the sh*t. Excuse my language but I believe confidence is something that has to be IN you, not on you. People fear only what they do not understand which is why it’s important to KNOW yourself. I’ve always been the black sheep, but I’ve just never been one to care what others think. I was born free, but my family & friends have always encouraged who I am. Read More>>

Dr. Rhonda Smith Ph.D

I developed confidence and self-esteem at an early age. I learned that people can be ignorant(lack of knowledge), cruel(saying harsh things, due to lack of understanding) and lack tact and diplomacy. Most people are unaware that the power of life and death lie in the tongue. God was gracious enough to show me who I was, am and will be. It’s not what people call you, it’s what you answer to. She is God-fearing. She is intelligent. She is kind, She is thoughtful. She is royal. She is regal She is beautiful. She is a Queen. “I am her!” Read More>>

Eddie Wiewel

Confidence and self-esteem are often times viewed as innate to the individual..

Personally, I don’t believe anyone is “born confident.” While there are certainly dispositions and personalities that might “appear more confident than others,” most times, this doesn’t tell the entire story.

In my case for confidence and self-esteem, no question my successes, failures and personal development routines all have all aided in growing these characteristics within me.

Past achievements such as accolades for sales productivity and successfully building a real estate business definitely have fueled my confidence.

On the other hand, failures such as my divorce at 23 years old have grounded and battle-tested me.

Lastly, my personal development routine includes daily sales/negotiation training, reading 1 book per-month and having systems in place for managing my business have allowed me to move forward confidently. Read More>>

Tamika Robinson

My journey to true self-esteem and confidence started when I went to college. My life was shaky at best in high school, and I pretended to be confident because I didn’t want anyone to know; behind my smile, my life was falling apart. Divorce, anger, depression, hurt, and hate plagued my heart, but I knew once I was in college, I could reinvent myself, and that is what I would do. Read More>>

Alicia Perkins

There was a time when confidence felt like a language I didn’t speak. It was hard to see past my self-doubt and believe in my abilities. As time passed, my understanding of confidence evolved. I used to view it as a trait you either had or didn’t, like being tall or short. But I began to realize that confidence wasn’t a fixed attribute, it was a skill to be developed, a muscle to be strengthened. Read More>>

Micah Cree

As far I can remember since I was a little girl . I was never a shy child I always enjoyed performing in front of family and peers. Since the day my mother heard me open up my mouth singing word for word falling by Alicia keys . In my cart seat age 3 .From a very young age I’ve always had this strong confidence, poise energy about myself .As I gotten older over the years I study some of my music influencers Selena , Brandy , Tina Turner, and Alicia keys .Destiny Child was most definitely a big influence of me. Watching all these strong women . Shape me into the woman I am today.. when it comes to self esteem I know who I’m am and I’m who I say I am . Read More>>

Gifti Moiwa

Self Confidence and Self Esteem is a continuous journey that gets better with consistency and resilience. I just learned through personal experiences and that of others that everything begins with Self-Love. I came to a realization that I am 100 responsible for my Happiness in this world. So I started to Love and appreciate myself for everything that I am while doing what I can to become a better version of myself each day. I’ve learned to look within instead of seeking things outside of myself. It’s also key to remember that we are all wonderfully made and unique in our own ways so there’s absolutely no need for comparisons, which we’ve heard said that it’s a thief of joy which is absolutely true. Read More>>

Coley Giovanni

Having grace with myself was a crucial turning point in the development of my confidence & self esteem – not being so hard on myself, while holding a space for me to be my rawest – unapologetically.

When I did this, I stopped pointing out flaws and started to see myself as powerfully unique.

I was understanding all the things that make me who I am – my triggers, how I process & what I want to work on.

Most days are easy to remember, I’m really THAT GIRL – for the days when it’s a little harder, I just fake it. Read More>>

Jada Renee

I developed my confidence at a young age by being interested in the arts and sports! I played basketball and did all types of artsy things from writing books, painting , drawing in sketch books , church pamphlets in Sunday services lol, drawing on clothes , poetry and more! I had a ton of creative energy as a child and used my love and passion for basketball to help create my confidence and sense of identity as a youth. I was the only girl playing basketball on my street growing up and usually the only girl playing basketball with any friends until I started playing with the girls basketball team which instantly created my competitive nature because boys simply think girls can’t play better than them lol so when I would play with the guys I would really have to prove myself and showcase my skills….which were self taught and also built up that confident. I had a natural love to play the game and a huge love for shooting my three pointers and half court shots lol This created a force inside of me with sports that helped guide my confidence in many other aspects of my life. Once I began playing for school I began to be known for playing basketball in school amongst my peers and would use my time at home to invest in my art talents. I believe having the two sides of my personality as a kid also helped me gain confidence because with Art I had a creative skill that was self taught and individual to me and my personal interests with no judgment as the creator of the art. I’ve always felt a deep need to feel confident about one’s creations simply because with confidence you won’t be able to push those creations forward. Also believe a lot of my confidence and traits as kid came from my environment and the energy of growing up in Cleveland, Ohio. Read More>>

Jordan Reid

My confidence and self-esteem are built on the strong foundation I had growing up. I remember my parents always encouraging, motivating, and pushing me to be the best version of myself I could be. My parents instilled a belief in me that I could accomplish any goals I set out to achieve. Read More>>

Blaxz Alexander

As human beings, most of us are born with an innate understanding that anything is possible. From a young age, my interests were able to be explored and cultivated – from music, to fashion, to being able to explore the world. My parents were generally hands-off when it came to raising me, and that space allowed for many triumphs, experiences, and learning how to bounce back from failure with a sense of self intact. Read More>>

GAY-Z

I develop my confidence and self-esteem from knowing who I am as a person. I know that God sent me to earth to heal this world through my experiences and through the lens of no matter how tough things are you ALWAYS must keep a positive outlook on life. One of my favorite songs made is ‘Optimistic’ by Sounds Of Blackness, this song encourages me to never give up no matter how hard things are. My life hasn’t been easy to say the least but no matter how many challenges God throws my way I just keep pushing through until I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know that my life is harder than most people because God wants me to change my pain into positivity so that I can inspire people who are down on their luck. The lyrics for ‘Optimistic’ state “As long as you keep your head to the sky, you can win!” I live by these words because I know that storms don’t last always and if you keep pushing through the challenges life brings you, YOU WILL WIN! Read More>>

Chenadra Washington

Certainly! Confidence is something that I developed over time, even though most people may find it hard to believe that I used to be awkwardly shy. One of the key realizations that contributed to my confidence was recognizing the valuable insights and thoughts I held on various topics. I began to embrace my unique perspectives and understand that my voice mattered. Simultaneously, I made a conscious choice to align myself with how I believe God sees me, embracing my inherent worth and potential. I distanced myself from anything that contradicted that positive view and focused on nurturing a healthy self-image. Continual self-discovery played a crucial role as well—I made it a continuous process of getting to know myself better. By staying connected to my authentic self, I found that my confidence naturally grew. Embracing my thoughts, values, and strengths enabled me to embrace who I truly am, and that alone has been a driving force behind my confidence. Building self-esteem was a significant component of developing my confidence. I focused on nurturing a positive self-perception, celebrating my achievements, and practicing self-compassion. By valuing and appreciating myself, I fostered a solid foundation of self-esteem that supported my journey towards increased confidence. Read More>>

Benji Pedro

Well with me I Allways took leading the way with great passion. Growing up through middle school and high school I was more on the popular side of the community so going out and being social really was the ground work I used to start applying it to my music career. This help me build the confidence to perform in front of ppl in a natural way because I was so use to being out and socializing in my early years. My self esteem kinda went hand and hand because after a while the feedback u get from the ppl that see u everyday gives u confidence in a sense to feel better about what I was doing.I threw parties as well in high school which lead to more of a boss feeling role as we were a big teen party group so this was a big target on my back but it was a great feeling to know everybody came here off your word to mouth. That kinda motivation gave me the self esteem and confidence I have and use in my music career today. Read More>>

Kendra Kayliana

Confidence is built from within. It takes dedication daily. You have to show up for yourself even on your worse days. Practicing mindfulness through meditation is a key tip I have for any woman looking to boost their confidence. You can even meditate on affirmations. Affirmations are positive phrases you say to yourself. Always remember to fill your cup every morning and night. Show up and you’ll feel ultimate freedom. Your self esteem sky rockets through meditation as well. You will be so in tune with your thoughts and emotions. Read More>>

Dr. Dorily Esquilin

My confidence and self-esteem developed from the modeling and continuous affirmations of my parents in my upbringing. They both focused on ensuring that my siblings and I learnt self-respect, self- love, and self-acceptance, while embracing hardships and learning how to overcome them. This mindset has helped me to believe in my strengths and abilities as well as to work on my limitations, while enjoying the ride towards growth and maturity. Read More>>

Amber and Jocelyne

By showing up everyday telling ourselves we are going to be better today than what we were yesterday. Overtime, your confidence naturally grows as you work towards bettering your skills. Giving up was never an option. Mindset is everything. If you tell yourself that you are going to be better then you will be. Training your mind to think more highly of yourself instead of speaking negatively will help shift your mindset more positively. Read More>>

Cortez Hornsby

Becoming Aware of who I am and understanding the power I have within to create myself.

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself and fulfilling your purpose simultaneously. I am the Owner of Cortez Crystal Healing. An Establishment created with the intentions to educate and provide alternative healing services and products. I am a Massage Practitioner. I specialize in Therapeutic Massage. Therapeutic massage is a combination of Massage Techniques like: Neuromuscular , Myofascial, Lymphatic drainage, Deep tissue or pressure, Swedish, Sports, Acupressure , Trigger point and Stretch) This style allows me to thoroughly assist my clients with their healing. After connecting with the body intuitively along with a visual analysis, I am able to educate and provide instructions on how to maintain homeostasis naturally. I love to create natural products for the: hair , skin , nails and body. I create fragrances with essential oils and botanicals. I have an Etsy shop: I sell home goods and jewelry. Please Follow my Social media to keep up with future popup shops and vendor events I may attend. I would love for you to experience the Healing one day. I am very generous and always excited to share my energy. Read More>>

LaVonna Roth

Even though confidence is never at a point where we can say, “Ta da! I have arrived and am forever confident”, there are things we can do to be more confident overall.

I came from a background that as a child created moments of high uncertainty and self-doubt. I didn’t feel good enough nor smart enough. It was easy for me to compare myself to others. It was easy to expect perfection of myself. And, it was easy to be an overachiever. Read More>>

Dynasty Johns
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I used to have 0 confidence growing up especially in middle school. I would say when i got introduced to modeling and got told i was perfect for it, it boosted my confidence 10 times more a long with me telling myself i’m worth everything and anything I do runway modeling mostly, I love love love how confident and comfortable i feel on the runway even though it can be a little scary at times but when the crowd has all eyes on you it’s the best feeling it’s such a good confidence booster. Speaking of runway modeling I have a fashion show July 22nd at dream city orlando and I would hope to see some people there! Read More>>

Savanna Hulbert

Self-esteem and Confidence comes from you turning down the outside noise. I had to learn that I myself and the work I do is only reflective of what I want it to be. You gain this mentality by doing those self reflections and asking yourself those important questions. When you know what you want and who you are, nothing anyone says or does will stop you and your work ethic. Read More>>

Brittney Smith

Brittney: I am excited to bring one of my favorite people on board to help me with this interview. Denyjah and I met back in 2020 and she has been one of my right hand partners with the growth of PEARLS. We have been able to develop a really fun and developing mentor/mentee relationship. PEARLS works with girls in the inner-city by way of mentorship, social outings, community service projects and our community closet. It’s exciting to meet and build relationships with girls from all over Cleveland and being part of their world, helping them to navigate and connecting them with resources and or individuals that can assist with the process. Our goal is to help girls build healthy levels of self-esteem by providing them with practical opportunities to help contribute to their confidence. Denyjah has joined me to share how she works to build her confidence. This makes me happy because it is allowing her to step out of her comfort zone to share more about how talented she is with this audience. I am always rooting for these girls. They are amazing! Our focus is to provide girls with the opportunity to build on themselves by developing healthy and impactful relationships with mentors. Read More>>

Daniel Fiorda

I grew up under my father’s tutelage, just by looking at and watching him performing his tasks at his work, is where I learn confidence and I developed self-esteem At a very young age, I was introduced to an environment where an infinite number of objects were amassed chaotically. Over time I confronted a feeling of obsolescence and oblivion.’ like an archeologist–However, when I look at the objects that I select for a new piece, I feel that I am unearthing a vestige of the very recent past. That gives rise to my interest in creating an aesthetic that leads the spectator to experience the visuality of an archeologist of the future.
Other experiences are added, and other materials too. I have experimented with concrete, plaster, and mixtures of my own invention. Some work, others do not, but during the process, the time comes when things fall into place and everything harmonizes. As an artist one distills, detoxifying oneself. Read More>> 

Andrea Garcia

I run an art studio in Second Ward called Loose Screws. I like to work in paper mache, installations, and community building. I like to center my work on experimental performance and out-of-the-box concepts. I work with different art spaces to host paper workshops on a monthly basis. I am also an organizer for Open MFA. Open MFA is an artist collective that provides community, dialogue, and cross-disciplinary collaboration for artists based in the Houston area. Loose Screws Studio is currently growing to include different disciplines & artists that work together to create all immersive art experiences. Read More>>

Jameel Petry

I developed my confidence at a very young age with support from my mother and other relatives. My mother allowed me to embrace myself comfortably as a child. My name is Jameel Petry. I currently live in Atlanta, Georgia and I’m a licensed Aesthetician. My professional journey has been full of ups and down but I wouldn’t trade one moment. As of right now I don’t have a location of my own but I’m currently working towards doing so. Read More>>

Ki Brows

I developed my confidence and sel-esteem when I realized that I had lost it. I was in a place once where I just didn’t recognize myself; I didn’t know who I was or what I wanted. I’ve always known how beauty I was and how great of a person I was but I lacked self-worth and self-love. It took me taking the time out to learn my likes and dislikes and put a little bit more into things that made me feel good to develop a happier more confident me. Read More>>

Jessica McIntee

I developed by confidence & self-esteem through self work & development. Truly spending time with myself & perfecting my craft helped me build a great level of confidence. The Boss’s Shop headquarters is located in Austell, GA. We have expanded to several areas within the state & in Jacksonville, Fl. We are proud that we managed to grow our clientele throughout the Southeast region. Read More>>

Areeba Ahmed

If I recall, I didn’t have that moment where I snapped my fingers and my personality changed completely. From elementary to high school, I was an introvert. And I mean, “the kind of girl doing her work in the corner of the classroom with only a few friends” type introvert. I was a people-pleaser, only focused on my studies and had no public-speaking skills. I used to hangout with the same two friends at lunch, and always said no to social gatherings. There was only one reason behind my personality: the change. The change I faced when moving across the ocean, the change I felt when people treated me as a South Asian “newcomer”, the change that led loneliness to spawn over me being distant from family and friends. Five years elapsed, but my progress was insignificant. Read More>>

Teddy Woodson

That’s a good question and i’m gonna tell you I develop my confidence and self esteem well it mainly comes from God When I’m finished down when I’m feeling like unimportant. He reminds me that I have a purpose I have a value. I’m his beautiful masterpeace. He reminds me that no weapon formed against me so fast but that hes always with me so nothing can stop me I also developed it from knowing that I have overcome so many obstacles and I’m more than a conqueror. And the lord did not give me a spirit of fear so yeah that’s how I develop my confidence myself. Read More>>

Thomas Wilson

Honestly my confidence is still growing everyday, I believe it really built itself over time through my fans and friends that continue to support and show love I’ve always played music from the time I could walk until now. I started making beats during Covid on my iPhone in 2020 and haven’t looked back since. I started rap songs in the summer of 2021 and people loved it so I continue doing it because I love music, it’s just a plus that people love what I do as well. There is some really big plans this year musically, I have some songs with some very notable artists in the music industry being worked on right now and can’t wait to let everyone hear it later this year. I will say that’s probably my favorite thing about what I do. I love making connections with artist and other producers I work with. Be on the lookout for my new songs coming out this year! Read More>>

Cindy Cymerman

My self confidence comes after my first born was diagnosed with sensory sensitivity. I had to learn different techniques to help him overcome obstacles.

I am Peruvian mom, who came to the US when I was 17 yrs old and now raising my little boys in Dallas.

I’m a stay at home mom, wife, and social media content creator.

My Instagram and TikTok account is all Play based activities and homeschooling the early years.
I share mom relatable moments and fun toy recommendations.
Our sacred room in our home is our playroom and backyard where all the learning and fun happens. Read More>>

Nika Esono

The key is consistency and perseverance, and they are two difficult factors to maintain because every day you face a new challenge and many times you tend to give up. It is very important to keep in mind that dreams are not achieved overnight and that it is a constant struggle that can last days, months or even years.

It is also very important to surround yourself with positive people who encourage you to keep going. Thanks to the people around me. They motivate me to grow professionally, and this helps me to believe more in myself every day. Read More>>

Shawnti Refuge

My confidence and self-esteem was developed through various ways, such as setting achievable goals, embracing my strengths, practicing self-care, and seeking support from positive and encouraging people.

My name is Shawnti Refuge. I’m the CEO of Shawnti Refuge Journals. I was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. I’m a wife mother of three. I started Shawnti Refuge Journals in 2021, two years after I experienced a Mental BREAKTHROUGH (as opposed to breakdown).

After being put on medication, I decided that wasn’t what I wanted for my life, through therapy, I was able to dig deeper and get to the root of my issues and learn how to heal from them.

One of the coping skills that I learned was guided journaling. Through Guided Journaling, I was able to acknowledge, face, and heal from many issues that I didn’t know I even had! Read More>>

Delma Gomes

I developed my confidence and self esteem by being kind to myself, focusing on the good in me and realizing that it’s okay to make mistakes. Hi. My name is Delma and I am a Home based baker in Houston,Tx.1. Persistence 2. Resilience
3. Humility
It takes persistence to continue carrying on with the business in spite of difficulties. Resilience to spring back from anything that overcomes the way and lots of humility to deal with the criticism that comes from owning a business. Read More>>

Markeon Edwards

Markeon developed confidence by confiding in himself. The more you look within, the less you have to lookout for validation.When Markeon started his journey, there wasn’t much laid out for him to begin with. He began to find insight and a light within himself that never dimmed. From that moment and on, he’s been following the light of uplifting others in a way that builds there confidence to give them wings to soar to their destiny. Read More>>