What you will learn in this episode: 

• Why sometimes we need our confidence to speak up a little louder

• How all seasoned designers go through periods of lacking confidence

• How I rebuilt my confidence and you can too!

Today, I am going to continue with last week’s theme of confidence.

I wanted to share my journey today on building – and then rebuilding, my confidence in this industry. All the things we discussed in last week’s Episode 121 came down to confidence, whether that’s pricing your projects that show your worth, whether that’s taking on new projects that you think might be a stretch, or hiring people. All of it does boil down to having the confidence to know that it will work. You may not know how it’s going to work, but it will work. 

We all know what confidence means, but I decided to look up actual definitions. And they ran the gamut from ‘The feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something.’ Or, ‘The state of feeling certain about the truth of something.’ Or ‘The feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities.’ And my favorite was: ‘Confidence means feeling sure of yourself and your abilities. Not in an arrogant way, but in a realistic, secure way. Confidence isn’t about feeling superior to others. It’s a quiet inner knowledge that you are capable.’ 

Sometimes our confidence is actually too quiet, though.

And most of the designers I talk to already have the confidence. They just need the A-OK from me to let them know that, yes, they are on the right path.

So perhaps we need to tell our confidence to speak up a little louder. 

And I know mine needed to speak up much louder, particularly at a specific time in my career.

Some stories are harder for me to share than others – particularly ones where the wheels completely come off – but this story has a happy ending….and more importantly, an incredible lesson for all of us to learn from.

For the designers that are new or lack the confidence they need, please, invest in yourself. Listen to podcasts like this. Get in the courses you need. Attend the seminars that you think will move you forward. Hire a coach if that’s what you need. There is so much available out there! 

I hope you hear something from today’s story that you can relate to and realize that it is a temporary moment and to not stew on it the way I did! 

Like this Episode?

• Be sure to check out Episode #121: Pricing Projects, Building Confidence, and More with Rebecca Hay

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