“When people look at successful individuals, they often assume they were born with confidence or naturally gifted with competence. But here’s the truth: everything starts with courage.”
The Order Matters
- Courage
- Confidence
- Competence
You can’t skip ahead. You can’t build confidence without courage and develop true competence without first finding your confidence. The process is important, and every step requires action.
People often focus on confidence or competence when it comes to personal growth. But there’s one thing that always comes first: courage. Courage is the foundation for everything else. It’s what pushes you to take that first action, even when fear is loud and doubt is louder. Without courage, you never begin, and without beginning, confidence and competence remain out of reach.
Courage: The Starting Point
Courage isn’t about having no fear—it’s about acting in spite of it. It’s the willingness to move into the unknown, to say, “I’m going to try this even though I don’t feel ready.” For me, courage has shown up in some of the hardest moments of my life, where nothing felt certain, and everything felt like a risk. But in those moments, taking action—no matter how small—created momentum. Courage is what turns thoughts into movement and possibilities into reality.
Confidence: Built Through Action
Confidence doesn’t come from waiting for the perfect time or mastering a skill beforehand. It grows through courageous acts. Every time you take a bold action, you’re sending yourself a message: I can do this. That self-trust builds over time, and with each small win, your confidence grows. Confidence isn’t the absence of fear—it’s the presence of trust in yourself, and that trust is earned through action.
Competence: The Result of Courage and Confidence
True competence—the ability to master a skill or navigate a challenge—only comes after courage and confidence have paved the way. Every action you take, every mistake you learn from, every small success you achieve helps you grow into someone who not only knows what they’re doing but also believes they belong in the room. Competence isn’t given; it’s earned through repetition, effort, and a willingness to learn.
Start Where You Are
If you’re waiting to feel ready, you’re missing the point. Courage doesn’t wait for readiness—it creates it. You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin. Take that first action, trust the process, and let courage lead you to confidence and competence. The journey may not be easy, but it’s worth it. And remember, every act of courage is one step closer toward becoming the person you’re meant to be.
I really love seeing inspirational things like this you are a example of perseverance and strength. I will be applying those steps you mention to continue my growth and regaining my confidence, so that I to can become competent and more sure of myself.