Strategies to Build Entrepreneurial Confidence

When I started sharing my speaking journey publicly, everything changed. The traditional business advice says "fake it till you make it." But after working with hundreds of entrepreneurs, I've learned something counterintuitive: your biggest breakthrough comes from being transparently vulnerable about your struggles. I was on a call with a successful founder last week. When I asked if he'd spoken at conferences, he froze. "I can't even handle team meetings without sweating." When I shared my own speaking disaster story, forgetting my entire opening at a 500-person conference, something beautiful happened. He realized everyone wanted him to succeed, not fail. Here's what I learned about building in public through transparent speaking: 1. Vulnerability Broadcasting  Share your panic attacks, forgotten openings, and sweaty moments openly. Building your confidence journey in public permits others to be human. Your struggles become someone else's breakthrough story. Speaking fears are universal, your transparency breaks the shame cycle. Others see that success isn't about perfection, it's about persistence. 2. Story Stack Development  Document your 5 go-to stories for any situation and share them. Building your narrative library in public creates accountability for authenticity. Your stories become templates for other entrepreneurs to adapt. Transparency about your frameworks helps others structure their own experiences. 3. Confidence Protocol Sharing  Show your exact pre-speech routine and why it works. Building your confidence systems in public creates replicable frameworks. Your meditation, breathing, and preparation become roadmaps for others. 4. Authority Multiplier Transparency Document how one speech creates 50+ opportunities. Building your authority systems in public shows the compound effect. Your podcast invitations and connection requests become proof of concept. Transparency about speaking ROI motivates others to overcome their fears. 5. Failure Reframe Strategy Share how disasters become your best teaching moments. Building your resilience story in public transforms setbacks into comebacks. Your 15 seconds of silence become someone else's courage catalyst. Transparency about recovery shows that perfection isn't the goal. Others learn that audiences want value, not flawless delivery. This isn't just about becoming a better speaker, it's about creating beautiful, systemized, and impactful ways to share your expertise with the world. When you build your speaking journey in public, you're not just overcoming fears. You're showing other entrepreneurs that their voice matters and their message deserves to be heard. __ Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Curious how this could look inside your business? DM me ‘System’ and I’ll walk you through how we help clients make it happen. This is for high-commitment founders only.

If you’re constantly second-guessing yourself, it’s not because you’re broken. For years, I thought I had to feel confident before I acted. Turns out, that’s backwards. You act first. The confidence comes later. ↗️ Here are 5️⃣ tactics I’ve used—from the cockpit to entrepreneurship—to build internal trust and take bold action even when I didn’t feel ready: 1. Act before you feel ready. ✅ Confidence isn’t a prerequisite—it’s a byproduct. Small, imperfect actions stack up. That’s how momentum builds. 2. Rehearse. Rewire. Repeat. ✅ Pilots don’t just wing it (pun intended). We run simulations in our heads, on paper, and in practice. Reps reduce fear and increase speed. 3. Debrief everything. ✅ No growth without reflection. After every mission (or meeting), ask: What worked? What didn’t? What’s next? No shame. Just intel. 4. Set your “Go/No-Go” criteria early. ✅ Identify your decision points before the pressure hits. That’s how you act with clarity instead of emotion. 5. Focus on the next closest alligator. ✅ Overwhelm kills action. Dial in on the one thing that matters right now. Handle the next threat once you get there. Which one do you need most today? Drop a number in the comments. 👇 ------------------------ Hi, I’m Michelle "MACE" Curran, a former fighter pilot turned speaker and author. I help people turn fear into fuel and take bold action, improving their lives and creating higher-performing teams.

Some of the worst advice out there... not only can you smell it a mile away, but it actually sets you back more than in propels you forward. “Fake It Till You Make It." The mentality might seem harmless... or even empowering. but here’s the truth: it’s a strategy that holds you back in the long run. When we rely on posturing or “faking it,” we create temporary value... a shaky foundation that breeds uncertainty and self-doubt over time. This approach can chip away at genuine confidence, leaving you second-guessing your abilities rather than embracing your true strengths. If you’re “kind of” believing in what you can do, it will lead to “kind of” results. And let’s be honest: no one invests in that. Here’s a path that builds lasting impact and real credibility: 1. Embrace Where You Are Right Now. Actionable Step: List out the top 3 strengths you bring to the table today. Focus on where you already add value. Use this clarity as your guide when you’re in new or challenging situations. This way, you’re building on a solid, authentic foundation... not pretending to be somewhere you’re not. Starting with a clear view of your strengths gives you a confidence rooted in reality... and equips you to approach each opportunity with authenticity. 2. Get Clear on Your Unique Value. Actionable Step: Identify one specific problem you can solve that aligns with your skills and expertise. Write it down in one sentence (e.g., “I help teams bridge strategy and execution gaps to drive measurable results.”). Use this as a go-to when you’re speaking with potential clients or partners. This clarity around your value will set you apart, making it easier for others to see why they should work with you... not just anyone who fits the role. 3. Bridge Your Gaps Authentically. Actionable Step: Acknowledge a skill or area you’re actively developing. Take one concrete action toward growth each week... whether that’s: - reading - building relationships - mentoring Share this journey with trusted colleagues or clients... without underselling yourself... so they experience your commitment to excellence and your drive to evolve. Owning both your strengths and areas for growth builds long-term credibility and shows others that you’re committed to being the best version of yourself. It’s how true leaders inspire and foster trust. And trust accelerates EVERYTHING.

Fact: No one is born with confidence. Not even your boss who seems to have it all figured out. Not even the CEO who just nailed that keynote. Want to know the truth I've learned after coaching hundreds of leaders? Confidence isn't a personality trait – it's a practice. (And I've got the neuroscience receipts to prove it) Your Confidence Blueprint: The 4S Framework 🧠 1. SELF-CARE: -Make "non-negotiable time" actually non-negotiable -Treat your energy like your most important KPI -Build morning rituals that fuel, not drain -Your calendar is a confession of your priorities 2. SELF-AWARENESS: -Track your wins daily (yes, even the tiny ones) -Map your energy peaks (when do you feel unstoppable?) -Know your triggers (they're trying to tell you something) -Run regular "confidence audits" 3. SELF-BELIEF: -Collect evidence of your capabilities -Challenge the story you're telling yourself -Turn "I should" into "I choose" -Imposter syndrome? Make it your compass, not your cage 4. SELF-EXPRESSION: -Own your voice (even if it shakes) -Take up space (physically and metaphorically) -Share before you're ready -Make bold asks (the answer to unasked questions is always no) 🔥 The Game-Changing Shift: Confidence isn't about feeling ready. It's about starting before you feel ready. > Start with ONE practice from each pillar (From the infographic attached below) > Master it for 21 days. > Then level up. Ready to build your confidence muscles? P.S. Remember: The most confident person in the room started exactly where you are. #LeadershipDevelopment #PersonalGrowth #Confidence #CareerGrowth #LeadershipCoaching

Is that critical inner voice sabotaging your confidence? Here's your 3-step battle plan to silence it for good. Recently I witnessed a remarkable transformation at UC Berkeley School of Information. Graduate students who entered my public speaking workshop trembling with anxiety left confidently presenting their ideas. No magic involved. Just structured approaches, peer support, and breaking down intimidating challenges into manageable steps. Self-doubt can turn ordinary tasks into overwhelming obstacles. After a journey conquering my own inner critic (and helping clients do the same), I've identified 3 game-changing techniques to build up self-trust: 1) Recognize Your Inner Parts (Internal Family Systems) Your mind isn't one unified voice—it's a committee of different parts! That harsh critic? Just one member trying to protect you in its misguided way. When self-doubt strikes, pause and ask: "Which part is speaking right now?" Is it your perfectionist afraid of failure? Your overachiever terrified of looking incompetent? Don't fight these parts—acknowledge them: "I see you're trying to protect me, but right now I need to trust my capabilities. I've prepared for this." 2) Reframe Imposter Syndrome as Growth Energy Did you know up to 82% of professionals experience imposter syndrome? It's especially prevalent in tech where we're constantly navigating uncharted territory. But what if that uncomfortable feeling isn't a problem to solve? Try this perspective shift: - That discomfort signals you're stretching into new growth territory - Channel the nervous energy into preparation, not paralysis - View each learning curve as evidence of growth, not failure 3) Apply the "Let Them" Theory Mel Robbins' approach is brilliantly simple: Let people think what they want. Let them react however they choose. Let them misunderstand you. You can't control others' perceptions, but you absolutely control how you show up. Ask yourself: "What weather am I bringing today?" Replace every spiral that begins with "What if they think I'm not good enough?" with "Let me": - Let me trust I'm contributing my best - Let me decide I'm enough, regardless of external validation - Let me focus exclusively on what I can control You don't need permission to lead or perfection to add value. Everything you need is already within you - you just need to trust yourself to use it. Next time self-doubt creeps in, identify which inner voice is speaking, recognize that discomfort signals growth, and focus on what you control rather than others' opinions. What technique will you try first? Share in the comments! #SelfConfidence #LeadershipDevelopment #ImpostorSyndrome

The number one career killer? It isn't a lack of skills or opportunity. It's low self-esteem and shyness. I've seen high performers stay silent in meetings. I've watched innovative ideas die in draft emails. I've seen dream jobs slip away unclaimed. The real cost of self-doubt is... ❌ Promotions you didn't ask for ❌ Businesses you never started ❌ Ideas you never shared Let's be honest about what holds us back: ↳ Past failures ↳ Perfectionism ↳ Self-judgment ↳ Fear of rejection ↳ Imposter syndrome Ready to break free? Start with your own psychology: 1/ Rewrite Your Story ↳ Replace "I'm not ready" with "I'm learning." ↳ Turn "I might fail" into "I might succee.d" ↳ Change "What if I'm wrong?" to "What if I'm right?" 2/ Create Success Triggers ↳ Set 3 micro-goals each morning. ↳ Reward progress, not perfection. 3/ Build Confidence Through Systems ↳ The 5-second rule: Act within 5 seconds of an idea. ↳ The 2-minute start: Begin anything for just 2 minutes. 4/ Master Professional Courage ↳ Send proposals to 3 dream clients weekly. ↳ Speak up in the first 5 minutes of every meeting. 5/ Leverage Social Proof ↳ Document your journey publicly. ↳ Share both victories and lessons. 6/ Create Momentum Habits ↳ Stack wins (no matter how small.) ↳ 1% better every day compounds. 7/ Become Rejection-Proof ↳ Thank people who reject you. ↳ Keep a "rejection collection." The truth is: Every opportunity missed is a lesson learned. But the next one? That's yours to take. ____ P.S. It's never too late to change your narrative. Make the rest of 2025 the year you put an end to missed opportunities. ♻️ Follow Dr. Miro Bada and share this to help others 📌 Save this post for future reference!⁣⁣⁣⁣ If you want a copy of my top 60+ infographics (free): 👉 Like, Repost, then signup here: www.PeakProtocol.co