Confidence doesn't come naturally to a lot of people. And if you were one of the lucky ones who was born naturally confident, I’m jealous of you. Like many others out there, I've struggled with confidence my whole entire life. Whether it was at school, with friends, in my own family, at work, in dating—the list could truly go on and on—I've had bouts of extreme imposter syndrome or the feeling that I'm not good enough or capable enough. Maybe you're reading this and feel the same way.
That's not to say I'm an entirely meek person who lives in the shadows or background of life. If you know me, you know I don't exactly mind being the center of attention, and I'll talk to just about anyone. (This long-winded intro about myself should be a clue into my personality.) But I have those moments of self-doubt or uncertainty—even when, deep down, I know I'm capable.
This year, one of my intentions was to try to cultivate and grow my confidence and practice speaking up more. I've been reading books by inspiring women; journaling my thoughts, goals, strengths, and weaknesses; and soaking up as much as I can learn from the women around me.
One of those women around me is my boss, Who What Wear's co-founder and chief content officer, Hillary Kerr, who has a stellar podcast, Second Life, in which she interviews successful women about their career paths and the pivots they've made in their work life. Those episodes (and Hillary herself IRL) have given me much inspiration for my own career journey and building up my confidence and self-esteem.
So to help you find some inspiration of your own and provide you with some thought-starters, I've compiled a list of some of my favorite quotes about success, career, and finding your voice from the podcast. Take a look below.
Aimee Song
"Sometimes I think the thing is you just go and chase your passion. And I think it's so scary to completely make a career change and start from the bottom, but that's the way you're going to grow." — Aimee Song, fashion blogger, designer, and author
Listen to the episode here.
Aurora James
"You have to be willing to really take those jumps and dives and get out of your comfort zone if you are following your dreams. It's not easy." — Aurora James, founder and creative director of Brother Vellies
Listen to the episode here.
Anastasia Soare
"Every woman is beautiful, and she needs to be who she is. She needs to show her beauty and her power." — Anastasia Soare, founder and CEO of Anastasia Beverly Hills
Listen to the episode here.
Nancy Twine
"You're always going to have curveballs. It's those things that weed out most people from getting to a point of success." — Nancy Twine, founder and CEO of Briogeo
Listen to the episode here.
Andrea Lieberman
"One of my biggest things is think how you can, not why you can't. And if you're going to do it, then you have to own it. You need to own it." — Andrea Lieberman, founder and designer of A.L.C.
Listen to the episode here.
Emma Grede
"You have to give yourself permission to fail. It suddenly makes the scary part of a transition okay because not everything works out." — Emma Grede, co-founder and CEO of Good American
Listen to the episode here.
Anine Bing
"You have to hustle and make things happen yourself. You can't just sit and wait for somebody to knock on your door." — Anine Bing, founder and chief creative officer of Anine Bing
Listen to the episode here.
Eva Chen
"Everything happens for a reason, and just keep learning. And keep your eyes open and follow your passion. Because that's always been, I think, the guiding principle of my career." — Eva Chen, director of fashion partnerships at Instagram
Listen to the episode here.
Asya Varetsa
"I see so many people who have great ideas, but they want perfection, and that's something that stops them. Nothing's ever going to be perfect." — Asya Varetsa, co-founder of Sleeper
Listen to the episode here.
Cassandra Grey
"I've never learned more than falling on my face and having to pick myself back up and figure it out." — Cassandra Grey, founder of Violet Grey
Listen to the episode here.
Tina Craig
"I always say just ask. Ask for an internship. And I do a lot of mentorships. And reach out to people in that field you want to go into. Most likely, they'll answer you back, and they'll email you back." — Tina Craig, blogger at Bag Snob, founder of U Beauty, and co-founder of Estate Five
Listen to the episode here.
Gregg Renfrew
"You have everything that you need to be successful. You, yourself, just as a person, as a woman. You've got this." — Gregg Renfrew, founder and CEO of Beautycounter
Listen to the episode here.
Katie Sturino
"Passion is just as important as skill set." — Katie Sturino, influencer, body-positivity advocate, and founder and CEO of Megababe
Listen to the episode here.
Sharon Chuter
"The best gift you can give to yourself is to love yourself." — Sharon Chuter, founder, CEO, and creative director of Uoma Beauty
Listen to the episode here.
Jen Atkin
"No one is ever going to promote you the way you can." — Jen Atkin, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Ouai
Listen to the episode here.
Raissa Gerona
"When you really focus on yourself and what you want to do, you end up exactly where you want to be." — Raissa Gerona, co-founder of Alliance Apparel and chief brand officer at Revolve
Listen to the episode here.
Katherine Power
"Something might feel like a mistake in the moment, but it's really just a turn in the path that leads you somewhere else." — Katherine Power, CEO and founder of Who What Wear, Versed, Avaline, and Merit
Listen to the episode here.
Rea Ann Silva
"You have to be as fearless as the weight of your passion." — Rea Ann Silva, founder and CEO of Beautyblender
Listen to the episode here.
Amanda de Cadenet
"If you strip away everything you know, it is the best way to get to know yourself." — Amanda de Cadenet, photographer, media personality, and founder of Girlgaze
Listen to the episode here.
Shiona Turini
"So many things have been thrown at me that I've never done. You can't shy away from those things. Charge forward." — Shiona Turini, stylist and costume designer
Listen to the episode here.
Jennifer Meyer
"Ask everyone you know until you get the answer you want—which is yes." — Jennifer Meyer, jewelry designer and founder of Jennifer Meyer Jewelry
Listen to the episode here.
Sarah Lee
"I would say vulnerability is your superpower. Do not compare yourself with others because you are great, strong as you are yourself. You need to learn to fall in love with your flaws instead of feeling insecure or bad about them." — Sarah Lee, co-founder and co-CEO of Glow Recipe
Listen to the episode here.
Karla Welch
"If no one's being your cheerleader, be your own cheerleader." — Karla Welch, Hollywood stylist, designer, and founder of x Karla
Listen to the episode here.
Tracy Sun
"It's okay to be scared. If you weren't scared, you'd be a psychopath." — Tracy Sun, co-founder of Poshmark
Listen to the episode here.
Paige Adams-Geller
"Never let the actions of other people make you feel shame or blame." — Paige Adams-Geller, founder and creative director of Paige
Listen to the episode here.
Rachel Zoe
"You have to really know your strengths and really be okay with your weaknesses." — Rachel Zoe, fashion entrepreneur, stylist, designer, and author
Listen to the episode here.
Tamara Mellon
"You can turn your life around. You can do anything that you want to do, and you can be self-educated." — Tamara Mellon, designer, founder, and fashion entrepreneur
Listen to the episode here.
Next, 8 Smart Ways to Double Your Productivity.
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions.
