Confidence Isn’t Cocky: NLP Secrets Every Entrepreneur Needs to Hear

byJarieLyn

416 followers

5 months ago

From Inner Critic to Inner CEO: The Real Talk on Self-Confidence for Entrepreneurs

Let’s set the record straight:
Self-confidence is not strutting around like you invented Wi-Fi. It’s not arrogance. It’s not narcissism. And it’s certainly not about pretending to have your life together on LinkedIn while you’re eating cold pizza in yesterday’s hoodie. (We’ve all been there.)

Real self-confidence?
It’s quiet. It’s grounded. It’s powerful. And it’s absolutely essential if you’re building a business, chasing a dream, or just trying to not crumble into a puddle when someone critiques your Instagram strategy.

The Anxiety Loop: Your Imagination Gone Rogue

Here’s what a lot of people don’t realize—your brain’s #1 job is to keep you safe, not to make you successful. So it replays worst-case scenarios on loop like it's auditioning for a drama series:
“What if I fail?”
“What if people think I’m dumb?”
“What if I mess up and everyone notices?”

Spoiler alert: 99.9% of the time, no one’s noticing. They’re too busy obsessing over their own imaginary disasters.

This fear loop is not intuition. It’s not a “gut feeling.” It’s just your imagination throwing a tantrum in the form of limiting beliefs.

Confidence ≠ Perfection. It = Permission.

When you lack confidence, everything feels dramatic. One mistake and your brain goes, “Well, that’s it. Pack it up. We’re failures now.”
But a confident mind reframes failure as data. As feedback. As fuel.

Self-confidence gives you permission to be messy and still show up.

Entrepreneurs, Listen Up...

If you’re lacking self-confidence, your motivation tanks. Your creativity hides. Your ability to connect with people—whether it’s customers or collaborators—flatlines.

And let’s talk relationships, shall we?
When your inner dialogue is louder than your actual presence, it’s hard to engage with people authentically. Confidence makes you present. It makes you magnetic. When you have it, people feel it. When you don’t—they feel that too.

NLP Reframe: Flip the Script

Negative thought: “People will think I’m stupid at the party.”
NLP Reframe: “I’m going to meet some interesting people and share good energy.”

It’s not delusion. It’s decision.
Language matters. Self-talk matters. Because your subconscious is always eavesdropping—and it believes whatever you repeat. Speak with intention.

So How the Heck Do You Build Confidence?

You don’t build it by waiting for someone to validate you. That’s a trap.
If you don’t believe the compliment, it slides right off you like a fried egg on Teflon.

Confidence is built by one person: you.

• Impress the hell out of yourself.
  Yep. That’s the secret sauce. If you’re not impressed with you, why should anyone else be?
• Track the wins.
  Did you hold the door open for someone today? Did you solve a tech glitch without crying? Did you not give up when it got hard? Add it to your “I’m a badass” list.
• Write a brag list.
  Seriously. Write down what you’re good at. What you’ve overcome. What you’ve done for others. Your hobbies, skills, talents, quirks. Get uncomfortably honest about your greatness.
• Stop comparing.
  That person you think has it all together? They’ve got their own hot mess behind the scenes. Focus on your lane.
• Talk nice to yourself.
  This isn’t woo-woo fluff. It's neural programming. Say it like a mantra:
  “I am capable. I am resilient. I am evolving.”
• Reframe constantly.
  NLP isn't about faking it. It’s about choosing empowering language so your brain starts believing a new story—and acting accordingly.

Confidence is a Catalyst

When you believe in yourself, everything changes.
Your posture changes. Your decisions become bolder. Your relationships improve. And setbacks? You’ll handle them with style and strategy—not meltdown energy.

Confidence is the foundation of entrepreneurship. Not branding. Not even funding. You can’t sell the dream if you’re not sold on yourself first.

✍️ Final Takeaway:

You were not born to play small and second-guess every move. You were born to evolve, to lead, to create—and to strut into every room (or Zoom) like you belong there. Because you do.

Here are some sample reframes and a confidence tracker for you to use any way you wish.

1. I am in control of how I respond—and that’s my superpower.

2. Every action I take builds my confidence.

3. Mistakes are data, not identity.

4. I choose courage over comfort.

5. I already have everything I need to figure this out.

6. What I focus on expands. I choose to focus on growth.

7. My mind is trained for success.

8. Failure is not final—it’s feedback.

9. Confidence is a skill. And baby, I’m building it.

10. I am more than enough. Right now. As I am.

Dear Me, I’m Proud of You: A Self-Belief Builder Your 30-Day Confidence Tracker

Today I impressed myself by: ________________________________

Encouraging phrase of the day: ______________________________

My confidence level today (circle 1–10): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

One negative thought I reframed: ____________________________

A small win I’m celebrating: _________________________________

A kind thing I did for someone else: _________________________

XOXO,

~JarieLyn~