The Confidence Game

Whitney WolfeSophia AmorusoJessica Alba.  All of these women have one thing in common: confidence.  These women are tenacious powerhouses and thought leaders who each started with a small idea that, with dedication, hard work and vision, eventually turned into an empire. Each of their success stories only reiterate what we all know but oftentimes can find ourselves forgetting: we allhave the power to achieve our goals and it starts with confidence.

If you’re feeling stuck and unsure of yourself, here are a few tips to help you out:

1. Never leave home without confidence

You would never forget to brush your teeth before heading out for the day, right? Confidence carries the same importance. It may be hard to remember your self-worth and abilities day in and day out, but knowing you are in control to make your day worthwhile will allow you to be more productive and more assertive in your decision making abilities. Hold your head high and know your value. If you find yourself forgetting it from time to time, take a deep breath and say to yourself, “You’ve got this.” You’ll be amazed at how incredibly powerful repeating that mantra can be!

2. Risk it to reap the rewards

A confident careerist knows that taking chances and risks to achieve success is part of the game. It doesn’t always come easy and it certainly doesn’t mean that mistakes aren’t made along the way. It takes courage to know what you want and to ultimately take action. By opening yourself up to the possibility of failure, you’re also opening yourself up to learn valuable lessons, meet new opportunities head on and feel empowered along the way.

3. Mistakes are not a road block

As with any risk, sometimes failure appears. Failure does not mean you should give up nor does a hit to your confidence. Learn from your mistakes and you’ll realize they weren’t mistakes in the first place. They are just merely bumps in the road. Mistakes make you stronger and show you skills that you never thought you had.

4. Do what you love, love what you do

You will never work a day in your life if you truly love what you do. Find some joy in going to work every single day otherwise your burnout rate will keep increasing while your happiness levels will continue to decrease. If you’re not passionate about your work, others will be able to tell. Would you want to invest in someone who can’t stand their job? Probably not. Be the joy, find your spark and run with it. 

5. Ask for help 

A strong support system helps to make achieving goals possible. Your confidence is rooted in what others see in you. It helps to have someone who will give you a hug and say, “It’s all going to work out!” even if you can’t see it for yourself. You need to make time for friends and family because your work will thank you for it. Taking a break with people you love allows you to step away from a project and get a new perspective.

T. Harv Eker once said, “Successful people have fear, successful people have doubts, and successful people have worries. They just don’t let these feelings stop them.” Don’t let fear or failure become an obstacle for your success. Know your value, own your power and knock it out of the park – and if all else fails, repeat after me: You’ve got this.