How to Build Confidence Through Action

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.

Confidence isn’t handed out at birth—you have to build it. In fact, 75% of employees don’t feel confident at work.* In a recent Q&A, someone asked, "What if I don’t have that built-in confidence you seem to have?" The truth? I don’t always have it either. I grow the muscle through small, intentional actions: 1️⃣ Ask for feedback. In your next 1:1, ask your manager to call out one thing you're doing well. Hearing it directly can be a game-changer. 2️⃣ Celebrate wins. Write down two projects that scared you at first but turned out great. Remind yourself you’ve faced challenges and nailed them. 3️⃣ Practice with purpose. Got a presentation? Record yourself, watch it, make tweaks, and do it again. Each round makes you sharper. 4️⃣ Speak up. If you rarely chime in during meetings, try it once a week. Add one comment, idea or question. Small moves have big impact. 5️⃣ Send a quick thank you. After a meeting, message someone about their insights. It’s a low-key way to get seen without the spotlight. Not everyone chases down a CEO to ask them to be their mentor or follows a stranger off the subway (guilty 🤷🏻♀️). But there are ways to grow your boldness that feel authentic and manageable to you: Confidence isn’t about giant leaps. It’s built by small, consistent actions every day. What’s one thing you’ve done recently to boost your confidence? ♻️ If this hit home, pass it on! And follow me, Jenny Wood, for more tips on thriving at work and in life. *According to a 2019 study from the University of Glasgow of male and female workers.

"Stop calling meetings so you can simply organize your own thoughts with witnesses." - Amber Naslund 😂 Facilitators need to organize and create purposeful meetings, but it's equally important that you speak up! I know this can be intimidating for many of you. (it was for me as well) Here are 10 ways to speak up in your next meeting: (progressive steps to build your confidence) 1. Know the agenda: "I've reviewed the meeting topics..."   → Familiarize yourself with the meeting structure beforehand. 2. Prepare one talking point: "I have a thought on the second item..."   → Jot down a single idea you feel comfortable sharing. 3. Acknowledge others: "Thank you, [Name], for bringing that up."   → Start by simply showing you're engaged and listening. 4. Ask a clarifying question: "Could you elaborate on...?"   → Seek more information on a point someone else made. 5. Piggyback on ideas: "To add to [Name]'s point..."   → Build upon a colleague's contribution with a short comment. 6. Offer a brief experience: "I encountered something similar when..."   → Share a quick, relevant personal anecdote. 7. Summarize a discussion: "If I understand correctly, we're saying..."   → Recap a part of the conversation to ensure understanding. 8. Present prepared research: "I found some data on this topic..."   → Share a fact or statistic you've looked up in advance. 9. Suggest a small action item: "I could look into that for next time."   → Volunteer for a manageable task related to the discussion. 10. Express a thoughtful opinion: "From my perspective..."   → Share your own viewpoint on a topic, backing it with reasoning. TL;DR (try to speak up in the first 30 mins) 1. First meeting: Learn the agenda beforehand.    → Simply knowing what to expect can boost your comfort level. 2. Next meeting: Expand on someone else's thought.   → Try the "piggyback" technique: "Building on [Name]'s point..." 3. Following meeting: Introduce your own idea.   → Start small: "I had a thought about..." 4. Keep growing: Each meeting, challenge yourself to contribute a bit more.   → Progress from asking questions to sharing insights to leading discussions. For those who need to speak up, remember that confidence grows with practice. For those who facilitate meetings, I'll leave you with this: #aLITTLEadvice

Confidence is built, not born. Most people believe confidence comes from natural talent, success, or external validation—but that’s not the real secret. True confidence is built, not born, and it comes from one key factor: evidence. I remember when I was on the diving team in High School. I had so much fear over a dive that my coach was pushing me to learn. I was sure that I was going to screw up and hit my head on the diving board. My coach spent hours with me explaining what I needed to do and each time I attempted this particular dive, I would end up smacking my back on the water because I could not complete the motions I needed to complete in the air. My brain kept telling me that I was going to screw up which caused me to quit mid-air to protect myself. I repeated that dive 30 times, my back bright red from the repeated impact on the water. My coach more frustrated with each attempt. He told me we were not leaving until I figured it out. Low and behold I finally completed the dive. My form was horrific, but I did it. I remember the feeling when I landed that dive. When I surfaced from the water I started to cry. I'm not sure if that was from shear exhaustion or the relief that I actually did it. I also remember the thought going through my head "Why didn't you do that earlier"? Luckily, I had a coach that didn't give up on me. He taught me something valuable that day that I have never forgotten. I was the only one holding myself back from success. Confidence Comes from Action, Not Waiting You don’t feel confident before taking action—you build confidence by taking action. Every time you step outside your comfort zone, you prove to yourself that you are capable. 👉 Action Step: Do the thing before you feel ready. Confidence follows courage. Mastery Breeds Confidence Ever notice how some people seem effortlessly confident? It’s not magic—it’s preparation + experience. Confidence grows when you repeatedly do something until you gain competence. 👉 Action Step: Choose one area to improve, practice relentlessly, and watch your confidence soar. Confidence is a Choice Many think confidence is a feeling, but it’s really a decision. You choose to show up, even when you’re uncertain. You choose to believe in your potential, even before others do. 👉 Action Step: Push through your fear, step up to the plate and give it your best shot. Be okay for things to not work out perfectly the first few times you attempt something new. No one is great at everything the first time they try. Final Thought: Confidence isn’t about never doubting yourself. It’s about taking action despite the doubt. Much love, everyone! P.S. - That dive ended up being my best executed dive and my absolute favorite.