The Confidence Myth That's Keeping You Stuck.
"I’m not confident enough."
I probably hear this sentence every single week.
Sometimes it’s, “My communication skills aren’t great.” Other times it’s, “I don’t know if I’m ready.” Or, “I wish I had more confidence before I do this.”
Starting a business.
An interview.
A promotion.
A salary negotiation.
A LinkedIn post.
Starting a business.
Speaking in front of a big crowd.
Different situations. Same belief.
And this is usually where I stop them.
Because confidence is not where we start working together.
Action is.
Then we start doing the work, collecting proof. And that changes everything.
We've Been Building Confidence in the Wrong Order
Most people believe confidence comes first.
They think they need to perfect their pitch, practise in front of the mirror, take another course, prepare a little longer, and then they'll feel confident enough to take action.
But that's not how confidence works.
The truth is much simpler.
Confidence comes from doing the work.
Not from thinking about it. Preparing forever. Waiting until you're ready.
The more real experience you create, the more confidence has something to stand on.
Action Comes First
This is the part most people want to skip.
Have that difficult conversation. Publish the post before you're certain people will like it.
Every action creates movement.
And movement creates progress.
What Counts as Proof?
Proof isn't always something big.
It's evidence that you've done something your previous self wasn't willing or able to do.
It could be:
You spoke up in a meeting instead of staying quiet.
You applied for a role that intimidated you.
You published your first LinkedIn post.
You asked for feedback.
You increased your prices.
You had a conversation you've been avoiding for weeks.
These moments look small. But your brain keeps score.
Every uncomfortable action becomes evidence that says, "I've done hard things before."
That's where confidence starts growing.
Ask Yourself Better Questions
This week, stop asking: "How can I become more confident?"
Ask instead: What evidence can I create this week?
What's one action that will leave you with proof you're capable of more than you think?
My Final Thought
The older I get, the less I believe confidence is something you find.
I believe it's something you build.
Through action. Repetition. Through keeping promises to yourself.
Every uncomfortable step leaves behind a small piece of evidence.
Eventually, you stop asking whether you're confident enough.
Because you've already shown yourself that you can do hard things.
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