Confidence Is a Decision You Make Before You Feel It

I didn't feel super confident when I started The Spark.

It was 2022, I was at a writing retreat in Georgia, and I had an idea that had been floating around in my head for longer than I'd like to admit. No big plan. No certainty that anyone would care. Just a stubborn little spark of "what if" that I finally decided to act on instead of letting it die quietly like so many ideas before it.

163 issues later, I think about that decision a lot. Not because it turned out to be right, though I'm grateful it did, but because of what it actually was at the time: an act of creative boldness, dressed up as a small, pretty unremarkable choice. We wanted to revamp the newsletter a bit, and though we had an audience, we didn't know what the response would be. There was just this idea that I wanted to live outside my head.

That's the part of confidence nobody tells you about. It's not a feeling you arrive at. It's a decision you make before the feeling shows up, sometimes long before.

So, with that, let's look back at some of our past Spark interviews and see what some of our community members have to say about Confidence, Boldness, and Creative Authority.

What Creative Confidence Actually Looks Like

"If you want to do it, just go for it. You have the passion…Now, as for writing, I would say to carve out time to write, and if you don't know what to write about, try some stream-of-consciousness writing, which always helps me. Just write whatever comes to mind until you find a topic you'd like to discuss. Also, have fun and pivot if something does not work out! You can always try something different or go in a way you didn't think about." - Iris A.

"Research, research, research. Research your idea. Is there a market for it? Will people buy your service or widget? What price point? Be smart! Interview others who are doing your idea. Ask lots of questions so you can know how starting this business will impact your life. Are you willing to have that impact on your life? As a dreamer, I hate talking about money, but you must research the financial cost breakdown of this business. Draft a business plan from your research. Test it out. Research, research, research…

Just start. At some point, and you'll know the point – you've done your research. It all makes sense logistically. Inside, you're freaking out and excited at the same time. That's the moment. You must start. You must leap. Unfortunately, the net doesn't always appear, but what you learn from those falls is AMAZING and will propel you to the next step and then the next. Before you know it, you'll be three years into your business like me and loving every minute of it!" - Melinda G.

"You're not as old as you think you are. If you want to do something, find a way to do it. If that challenge is too daunting (because of other important commitments like family), start and just take baby steps in that direction. You're one baby step closer…and let's be honest: eventually, babies always get what they want." - Hunter S. 

"There will be a lot of no's, doors that may close in your face, people who may not get it, doubt or discourage you, but if you believe in yourself and your dream and you know deep down inside that you've got something special to share, KEEP GOING." - Flo O.