You see her all of the time, the woman with all of the credentials, skills and professional tools to conquer the world. Except she’s missing one thing. A magical, little word, that begins with the letter C. Here’s a clue: one word, three syllables. Confidence.
It’s part of the unspoken rule of the professional, career woman portfolio package. Unfortunately, many of us are not given the Confidence 101 Course. Instead, it’s a game of trial and error, making the mistakes, knowing that we will overcome them.
The reality is that the most successful people have not always been the most talented. But those successful individuals had something that separated them from the masses - a great idea, and the confidence to pursue it.
Add a dose of motivation, a teaspoon of endurance, a tablespoon of hard work, and that dream just became a reality. A book, a company, a record label, or whatever it may be. The most talented could have done the same thing—if not better. Yet, they did not have the confidence to initiate the project. So, let the building self-confidence recipe begin!
1. Keep a journal
One of the best ways of building your confidence is to write down your thoughts. Sometimes things do not always turn out as planned, but the power of words can renew our spirit. Writing down our frustrations and fears empowers us to speak what we want into existence. If we can definitely write a list of what is going wrong, we can also create a list of everything we have done right.
2. Speak positive, do positive
Saying and doing nice things for yourself every day, no matter how minimal they are, is magic. Literally! It gives you a glow and makes you compelling.
3. Don’t be afraid to stand out
One of the surest ways to build self-confidence in pursuit of a successful career is to be you and flaunt it. There is no other you and that is what makes you a marketable entity. Enjoy the power in creating and pursuing a professional career, or opportunity, that is authentically you.
4. Track your progress
Continue to build your plan, your brand, or whatever you are trying to accomplish. Create a list of every little thing you have done. Trust and believe that it feels amazing to see everything that you have completed.
After looking through your recipe, just remember that confidence begins with a practiced appreciation and acceptance of yourself.
Post by Lauren K. Clark
Lauren K. Clark is a published writer from Atlanta, Georgia and a graduate of Spelman College. Lauren is currently based in Egypt, where she is a graduate student at the American University in Cairo and serves as a project coordinator for the University On the Square: Documenting Egypt’s 25th of January Revolution.
