Confidence Comes After the Work, Not Before It

You’ve probably heard it in your own head: 

“I’ll go for that next role once I feel more confident.” 
“I’ll speak up in the next meeting.” 
“I’m just not ready yet.” 

But here’s the truth. Confidence doesn’t show up first. It’s what arrives after you’ve taken the risk, after you’ve practiced, after you’ve done the work. 

In this episode of the PMO Strategies Podcast, I’m sharing the uncomfortable but liberating truth about where confidence really comes from. And why waiting for it is exactly what’s keeping you stuck. 

Confidence Isn’t a Feeling You Wait For 

It’s easy to believe that confident people are just wired that way. That they’re fearless, polished, and born ready. But that’s not how it works. 

Real confidence comes from doing the hard things without a guarantee. You earn it by showing up, by being unpolished, by failing and adjusting. Confidence grows after you’ve built some capability, not before. 

It’s not about personality. It’s about reps. 

When Everything Fell Apart, the Preparation Held 

At a recent keynote, every backup plan I had fell apart. There was no mic. No slides. Less time than planned. Nothing went the way I expected. 

Still, I walked onstage. I knew my message. I knew what the audience needed. And I knew how to deliver it. That didn’t come from being fearless. It came from years of preparation and practice. 

The calm didn’t come from confidence. It came from competence. And that’s what I want every leader to have in their toolkit. 

You Don’t Build Confidence in Theory 

Confidence doesn’t grow from more research, another certification, or another month of planning. It grows through movement. You have to test your message, share your voice, and let real-world feedback shape your growth. 

That’s why inside our IMPACT programs like the IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind, we build safe spaces for leaders to practice. They rehearse presentations. They pitch their ideas. They try things out and get real feedback before it counts. 

Confidence grows when the stakes are low and the work is real. Not perfect. Just practiced. 

The Shift That Changed Everything 

Early in my speaking journey, I thought I had to perform. That I had to prove something. 

But when I let go of how I looked and focused on who I was serving, everything shifted. I stopped performing and started helping. I felt steadier. More clear. More effective. 

That wasn’t a mindset trick. It was earned through action. And it stuck. 

Confidence Is Earned. You Can Earn It Too. 

If you’re hesitating right now, ask yourself this. Are you truly unprepared, or are you waiting for a feeling that only comes after the work? 

You don’t have to feel fearless. You have to be willing to show up and try. That’s how you build the muscle. That’s how you grow into your next level. 

And that’s how you create lasting IMPACT. 

👉 Click play above to learn how to build confidence by doing, not waiting.