My Confidence was Borrowed Before it was Built

Notes: 6-figure solopreneur, solopreneur success secrets, start your own business entrepreneur, seven figure solopreneur, seven figure entreprenuer, solopreneur profitable, profitable entrepreneur, solopreneur success stories, one person business, one person solopreneur, one person entrepreneur, solopreneur millionaire, one person millionaire business, entrepreneur building confidence, landing clients solopreneur, how to build a one person business, how to build a solopreneur business

When I look back at my career and my road to success, I know that the confidence I grew into was heavily influenced by those around me who spoke positively into my life.

In many ways, my confidence was borrowed before it was built.

When I was 28, my solopreneur business was three years old. I was finishing my bachelor’s degree and working an admin job as a temp to keep a roof over my head. Every single dollar was important.

I applied for a job as an administrative assistant for a corporate gig. It was a good paycheck, had all the benefits, and would help me stabilize while I built my solopreneur business.

Within nine months, I went from an assistant admin (the lowest job in the company) to managing the entire staff. I did that successfully for another couple of years until I left to pursue my solopreneur business full-time.

One day, during my time as manager, I asked the VP how many people had applied for my job. He said that he had received “around 500 applications.”

I was shocked.

When I asked why he picked me, he said that during the interview he saw leadership potential in me and hoped that he might eventually be able to replace the current manager with me if things went well.

I was shocked again.

This was an industry that I had no previous experience in, no education to support, and I didn’t think I brought anything special to the table except for my work ethic.

Knowing that he saw something in me that he didn’t see in 500 other applicants drastically changed my confidence in myself.

If he saw this, why couldn’t I?

In the years ahead, my solopreneur business in digital marketing took off, and I started landing bigger and bigger clients. I was surrounded by numerous millionaires and leaders in the community.

I started recognizing that many of the people with power and influence weren’t necessarily good at business. I saw their missteps, the miscommunications, the employees who felt unseen, and the gaps between the work and the profit.

I realized that, for so many of these leaders, their success came down to nothing more than their own belief that they deserved money, power, and influence.

I adjusted accordingly.

I once had a guy from a big, successful agency tell me that the owner of the company where he worked was pissed off at me because I kept landing web design clients they would have otherwise landed.

I was just trying to pay my rent, but when I realized that I was competing against major long-term players and being chosen for projects, I started to think I might actually be good at web development.

Once again, someone saw value in my work before I fully appreciated it myself.

I had a local web developer whom I ended up becoming really close friends with. I would always check his SEO rankings out of admiration and try to beat him.

I became friends with him because I ran into his wife one day. I found out she was married to him and told her how much I looked up to him. I told her that if he ever wanted to grab a drink, to hit me up.

He did, and we hit it off.

Two years later, he told me that he was shocked that we became friends. He said he had seen my work, noticed that I was starting to infringe on his SEO rankings, and hated me for it. Then he met me, and that completely changed.

I was shocked to find out that he was jealous of my work for even a second, but it boosted my confidence again.

In the 18th year of my business, one of the biggest multi-million-dollar developments to hit my region was unhappy with their social media team and output.

When they reached out to me, I quoted them a higher price than the agency they wanted to fire. I told them I would put them on a 90-day trial if they wanted to work with me.

They balked at the idea of paying me more than they paid the agency that had seven dedicated people working on their account.

I told them that I could do all seven of those jobs better, deliver tangible results, and create stronger engagement online.

And I did.

And they did pay me more than they paid the agency. After 90 days, I kept moving forward with the contract and received praise from leadership for my work.

By that point, I believed what others had been telling me for years.

My early confidence came from the feedback of those around me. I had no reason not to lean into it.

Like anyone, I am my own worst enemy.

But I learned that leaning into my confidence gave me greater success and financial opportunities.

And in return, now I do the same anytime I see someone with hustle or natural talent.

I take time to write them a note, pull them aside and compliment their work, or recommend them to someone I know.

The people around you might see your potential long before you do.

Where do you receive positive feedback about what you bring to the table?

Lean into that.

You're probably closer to your next big breakthrough or accomplishment than you think.

If you enjoyed this note, sign up for The Stay Ahead Solopreneur’s Sunday Newsletter. Subscribe for free, weekly notes on how to stay ahead, make profit, skip the mistakes, and build a life on your terms — no hand-holding, just real-life inspiration.