The late 1980’s: early in my career, I was plagued by low self-confidence. But I knew what to do: prove myself. Study and effort led to achievements and success: the foundations of confidence.

Confidence comes from hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication. (Roger Staubach)

Self-confidence is a key to every door. Good things are often yours for the asking; have the confidence to ask! And it’s not only you that benefits. When you display self-confidence, it inspires those around you to do likewise. Everyone wins.

Confidence is contagious; so is lack of confidence. (Vince Lombardi)

How?  Eight immediate ways to gain self-confidence:

1. Keep a daily achievement journal. Every day, list two things you’ve accomplished. Large or small, it doesn’t matter: a completed task or just a milestone; an error avoided… anything that counts as a success. Each Monday morning, start your week off right by glancing through the previous week’s achievements.

 Self-confidence is the memory of success. (David Storey)

2. Begin tasks or projects by completing small, easy steps. Once you’re off and rolling, you’ll feel more confident with the tougher steps.

Nothing builds self-esteem and self-confidence like accomplishment. (Thomas Carlyle)

3. Don’t be a perfectionist. You’re probably agonizing over insignificant details that will make no difference in the end.

4. Don’t negatively compare yourself to others.

5. Acknowledge your strengths. You have many – don’t deny it!

 Low self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-brake on. (Maxwell Maltz)

6. Accept self-doubt… and keep moving! Uncertainty is no excuse for standing still. Action breeds confidence. Don’t let doubt paralyze you.

 Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong. (Peter T. McIntyre)

7. Let past successes guide you: what did you do right that time, and how can you do the same now?

 As is our confidence, so is our capacity. (William Hazlitt)

 Just believe in yourself. Even if you don’t, pretend that you do and, at some point, you will. (Venus Williams)

8. Prepare, prepare, prepare! Do whatever it takes to be as ready as possible for whatever you’re embarking on.

 Confidence is preparation. Everything else is beyond your control. (Richard Kline)

You can, if you think you can! Get your mind right: choose self-confidence.

3 DAYS OF CHOOSING SELF-CONFIDENCE

Day 1: Start your daily achievement journal. Maintain it for at least two weeks, so it will become habit.

Day 2: Do item 7: list your past four greatest successes, and one thing you learned from each.

Day 3: Do item 2: think of two small, easy steps to jumpstart a task or project you’re not confident about.

… interested in some inspiring tips on 99 other positive choices, and some exercises to get you started?