Ever feel like you’re stuck waiting for the right moment to take a big leap and put yourself out there as an authority in your field?

Like you’re on the edge of the arena, hoping for a boost of confidence to finally step in?

Over the last two decades I’ve personally worked with some of the world’s most recognised experts, speakers and thought leaders, and here’s the truth.

Confidence isn’t something you wait for.

It’s something you create.

And unfortunately it’s this myth of “waiting for confidence” that holds so many incredible experts back from achieving their full potential.

We’ve all been there, right?

Caught in a cycle of self-doubt, thinking, “I’ll start when I feel ready.”

But confidence doesn’t just appear.

It’s forged through action, by stepping into the arena and facing our fears.

One powerful way to do this is by creating an alter ego.

Todd Herman talks about this in his book ‘The Alter Ego’, where he explains how accessing hidden aspects of yourself can help you embody the traits needed to tackle new challenges.

Take Beyoncé, for instance.

She created her alter ego, Sasha Fierce, to help her perform with confidence on stage.

Beyoncé herself suffered from crippling stage fright, but the character she created for herself was bold and fearless.

By creating and channelling an alter ego, she was able to deliver powerful performances without feeling overwhelmed by nerves.

Another example is Kobe Bryant, who adopted the alter ego “Black Mamba.”

Kobe used this persona to tap into a relentless and focused mindset on the basketball court.
The Black Mamba was all about precision, aggression and winning. This alter ego helped Kobe bring his A-game every time he played.

The Confidence Myth goes like this: “I will show up once confidence shows up.”

The reality is that confidence only shows up when we do.

Confidence is the result and not the ingredient.

Successful people don’t wait for confidence before they leap. By the time confidence arrives, they’ve already stepped into the arena.

So, how do we break free from the Confidence Myth?

We need to develop what I call a mindset of certainty.

So how do we do that? Here’s how you can start right now:

Embrace passionately imperfect action. Don’t wait for the perfect moment to take action. Take small steps, make mistakes and learn from them. Each action will build your certainty muscle.

Identify your Alter Egos. Think of three people who embody how you want to show up in your life or business. Write down their names and describe what you love about the way they show up.

Visualize success. Use your alter egos to visualize how they would handle your challenges. Channel their energy and approach your tasks from this new angle.

Embrace rejection as part of the process. The more you hear “no,” the closer you get to a “yes.” Learn to treat rejection as a necessary (maybe even celebrated) part of success. After all, for each “no” you receive, it means you took action.

Practice power responses. When facing criticism or rejection, rather than letting Imposter Syndrome take over, choose a new power response. For example, being curious, having gratitude for the feedback, or quickly moving on.

Commit to action. Write down five “Go for No” actions you can take in the next 30 days. Make it a game and track your progress.

Remember, confidence isn’t a prerequisite for success; it’s a by-product of action.

By shifting your mindset from waiting for confidence, to moving forward with a mindset of certainty, you open the door to incredible opportunities.