Before I get into today's topic, I need to share something that happened this morning
I hit the snooze button on my alarm clock.
A few minutes later, I heard the familiar ding of an email notification. It was a message from my boss.
For many people, those are ordinary moments. For me, they haven't always been.
Throughout my career in college athletics, something as simple as an email notification or an unexpected phone call from a supervisor could instantly raise my anxiety. My mind would race.
"Did I make a mistake?"
"Did I forget something?"
"Am I about to be criticized?"
Those thoughts chipped away at my confidence over time.
It wasn't until I made a commitment to work on myself—through mentorship, counseling, honest reflection, and learning to challenge those thoughts—that I began to notice a change. Those same sounds haven't disappeared, but my response to them has.
That experience taught me something I wish I had learned much earlier.
Confidence isn't something you suddenly wake up with.
It's something you build.
One of the most common questions I hear from students and young professionals is, "How do I become more confident?"
My answer usually surprises them.
You don't become confident first.
You become confident because of what you repeatedly do.
Many people believe confidence magically appears after landing the internship, getting the graduate assistantship, or accepting their first full-time position. The reality is much different. Confidence is built long before those milestones ever happen.
It's built through preparation.
It's built through repetition.
It's built by keeping the promises you make to yourself.
Confidence Is Earned in Small Moments
Think about the people you've met who carry themselves with confidence. They probably don't know everything, and they certainly haven't avoided failure. What they have done is accumulate hundreds—if not thousands—of small victories.
They show up early.
They send the follow-up email.
They ask thoughtful questions during meetings.
They volunteer for projects that stretch their abilities.
They learn new skills.
They introduce themselves to people they admire.
None of those moments seem significant on their own. Together, they create a foundation that makes bigger opportunities feel less intimidating.
Confidence isn't built in one defining moment.
It's built one decision at a time.
Stop Waiting to Feel Ready
One of the biggest mistakes I see is waiting until confidence arrives before taking action.
"I'll reach out when I'm more confident."
"I'll apply after I get more experience."
"I'll introduce myself once I know more people."
The problem is that confidence doesn't come before action.
It follows action.
Every successful athletic administrator, coach, communicator, and leader has experienced self-doubt. The difference is they chose to act anyway.
Action builds confidence.
Waiting rarely does.
My Perspective
When I started my career in athletic communications, I didn't walk into my first media interview believing I had everything figured out.
I learned by preparing.
By making mistakes.
By asking questions.
By showing up again the next day.
Over more than 25 years, I've learned that confidence isn't the absence of uncertainty. It's trusting that you've prepared yourself to handle whatever comes next.
Even today, I'm still building that confidence.
Put It Into Practice
This week, identify one small action you've been avoiding because you're waiting to feel more confident.
Maybe it's introducing yourself to someone in your profession.
Scheduling an informational interview.
Asking your supervisor for more responsibility.
Attending a networking event.
Publishing something you've been hesitant to share.
Or volunteering for a project that's outside your comfort zone.
Don't choose the biggest challenge.
Choose the next challenge.
Then do it again.
Small wins create lasting confidence.
Reflection
What's one action you've been putting off because you've been waiting to feel confident enough to take it?
I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Stay Connected
Confidence isn't something someone else can give you.
It grows every time you choose preparation over excuses.
Every time you take action instead of waiting.
Every time you prove to yourself that you're capable of more than you believed yesterday.
Keep showing up.
One small win at a time.
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