Why Courage, Not Affirmations, Builds Confidence

We’ve made it to the final episode of Season 6! Honestly, I’ve lost count of how many episodes we’ve done together, but I do know this: I’m so grateful for you. Thank you for being here, for trusting me, and for committing to your own journey of becoming a more courageous fundraiser, leader, and human.

In this episode, I’m talking all about how to build confidence — and not in the fluffy, "say affirmations in the mirror" kind of way (though hey, nothing wrong with that!). I'm diving into the real, practical ways I’ve built confidence myself and how I’ve seen my clients do the same.

Here’s the truth: Confidence is self-trust. And self-trust is built one promise at a time.

I break down:

• Why we often break our word to ourselves (and how it erodes trust)
• How understanding your own motivation style (shoutout to Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies!) can change everything
• Why your environment matters so much — and how to get in rooms with people who are braver than you
• The critical link between courage and confidence (spoiler: courage comes first)
• Practical steps to build momentum, keep your promises, and track your growth
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Plus, I get into the difference between confidence and arrogance, how people-pleasing keeps us stuck, and why living by obligation will always dull your light.

I share a few client wins too — like someone who raised $560K in just 6 months as a one-person shop. Not because they suddenly became confident overnight, but because they created an environment where courage was the norm.

Take this with you:

Make a list of the things you’ve been putting off.

Give yourself a deadline.

Tell someone.

Take the risk.

Track the win.

Repeat.

If you’ve been feeling like confidence is just out of reach — listen to this. I promise, you are more capable than you think. And building self-trust is totally possible, no matter where you’re starting from.

 I’d love to hear from you:

What’s a courageous risk you’ve taken recently? Share it in the comments or DM me on LinkedIn — let’s celebrate together.

If this episode resonated, pass it on to a colleague who needs a confidence boost today.

Here’s to living by design, not default.

Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training. 

If you're an org with at least $800k annual budget and major gifts is your top priority, but you need a better strategy and approach, get on the waitlist for the next CourageLab cohort here: https://julieordonez.kit.com/couragelab2