- Confidence is built through action, not waiting to feel ready.
- Small, consistent tasks create momentum and evidence of progress.
- Tracking objective data overrides emotional doubts.
- Tolerating fear and acting despite it, reduces fear over time.
Table of Contents
Case Study: Leila Hormozi’s Journey From Fear to Fortune
The story of Leila Hormozi, a Serial Entrepreneur and the Founder of Acquisiton.com, is one of grit and transformation. At 21, she moved to Orange County, California, with no job, no money, and a hefty dose of self-doubt. She landed a role as a personal trainer at a 24-hour fitness gym, only to find it was more about sales than squats. Facing impostor syndrome and dwindling finances, she could have quit. Instead, she doubled down, devouring sales books, working 4 a.m. to 9 p.m., and practicing skills relentlessly. Her first sale was a breakthrough—not for the paycheck, but for the realization that she could shatter her own limiting beliefs.
This experience laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial success. Hormozi went on to co-found Acquisition.com , scaling businesses across industries to over $85 million in annual revenue. Her journey underscores a key message: confidence isn’t born from feeling ready; it’s forged through persistent action.
The Psychology of Confidence: Why Action Matters
Albert Bandura, a pioneering psychologist, introduced Self-efficacy Theory in 1977, positing that confidence (or self-efficacy) stems from four sources: mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion, and physiological states. Mastery experiences—successfully completing challenging tasks—are the most potent.
Similarly, Karl E. Weick’s 1984 concept of small wins supports Hormozi’s approach. In his paper, Small Wins: Redefining the Scale of Social Problems, Weick argued that breaking down overwhelming problems into smaller, achievable goals reduces fear and builds momentum. In business, this might mean tackling a complex project by starting with a single task, like drafting an outline.
Research by Teresa Amabile and Steven J. Kramer, published in Harvard Business Review, further validates this. Their study of 12,000 diary entries from knowledge workers found that small progress—completing a minor task or solving a small problem—significantly boosts motivation and positive emotions..
The Science of Small Wins
The power of small wins extends beyond personal development. Weick’s small wins framework can be applied to organizational change, showing how incremental successes can shift cultures and systems. For example, a company struggling with low morale might start by recognizing one employee’s contribution weekly, building a culture of appreciation over time.
Amabile and Kramer’s The Progress Principle further highlights the business impact. Their research showed that employees who experience small wins are more creative, productive, and engaged. Managers can foster this by setting clear, achievable goals and providing resources for progress.
Roadmap for Confidence
1. Confidence as an Output of Action
Confidence DOES NOT precede action. Instead, it’s the result of doing things, even when fear is screaming in your ear. This shifts the focus from waiting for the “right moment” to creating it through effort.
2. Tracking Progress with Data
The importance of objective evidence cannot be ignored. In business, this might mean logging sales calls or project milestones to see growth over time.
3. Starting Small
For those paralyzed by big goals, tiny steps are the key. In a professional weight loss program, clients started by making their bed daily and photographing it. This small win built confidence, enabling bigger changes. In a corporate setting, this could be as simple as sending one follow-up email a day to build client relationships.
4. Tolerating Fear
Fear is a normal response, not a stop sign. By acting despite fear, you train your brain to see challenges as manageable. Picture fear as a “little friend in your purse,” something you carry but don’t let control you.
Key Citations
Action Items
- Identify a Small, Achievable Goal
- If public speaking feels like a nightmare, start by delivering a one-minute speech to a trusted colleague. Choose something so small that failure is off the table.
- If public speaking feels like a nightmare, start by delivering a one-minute speech to a trusted colleague. Choose something so small that failure is off the table.
- Track Your Progress
- Use a notebook or app to log each speaking practice, noting what went well (e.g., “kept eye contact”). Even minor wins, like “didn’t flee the room,” count. (Pro tip: If you track “didn’t burn dinner today,” you’re still winning.)
- Use a notebook or app to log each speaking practice, noting what went well (e.g., “kept eye contact”). Even minor wins, like “didn’t flee the room,” count. (Pro tip: If you track “didn’t burn dinner today,” you’re still winning.)
- Face Your Fears Gradually
- After mastering one-minute speeches, try two minutes, then five. Move from speaking to colleagues to a small team meeting. Each step reduces fear’s grip.
- After mastering one-minute speeches, try two minutes, then five. Move from speaking to colleagues to a small team meeting. Each step reduces fear’s grip.
- Celebrate Small Wins
- After each speaking session, reward yourself with a coffee, a quick walk, or a victory dance in your office. These micro-celebrations reinforce progress and keep you motivated.
- After each speaking session, reward yourself with a coffee, a quick walk, or a victory dance in your office. These micro-celebrations reinforce progress and keep you motivated.
These steps aren’t just for public speaking—they apply to any goal, from launching a startup to running a marathon. Start small, track your efforts, and don’t let fear call the shots.
