8 signs you’re no longer faking confidence—you’ve actually built it

When you first launch a startup, you might find yourself playing the part of a confident entrepreneur.

But let me tell you, genuine confidence doesn’t come from merely pretending. It’s built over time, through successes, failures, and everything in between.

So how do you know when your feigned confidence has turned into the real deal? Well, it’s not as tricky as you might think.

There are eight clear signs that reveal if you’re no longer just putting on a brave face—you’ve actually built solid, unshakeable confidence.

Now, let’s dive in and uncover these signs to help you understand where you stand on the spectrum of confidence.

Because trust me, understanding yourself is the first step to scaling those entrepreneurial heights.

1) You’re comfortable with making mistakes

Here’s the thing.

Mistakes happen. They’re a part of life, and more importantly, they’re a massive part of running a business.

In the beginning, you might have been terrified of making mistakes, thinking they’d expose your lack of confidence. But now? You’ve come to understand that errors are simply stepping stones on the path to success.

You don’t shy away from them; instead, you embrace these mishaps as learning opportunities. You take responsibility, learn from them, and move on.

No longer does the fear of making mistakes paralyze you. Instead, it drives you to be better. It’s a sign that you’re not just pretending to be confident—you’ve actually built it.

Quite a change, don’t you think?

2) You’ve stopped comparing yourself to others

Let’s get a little personal here.

There was a time when I used to look at other entrepreneurs and think, “Why can’t I be more like them?” I’d constantly compare my journey, my progress, to theirs.

And guess what? It was draining, demotivating, and completely unnecessary.

But as my confidence grew, this constant comparison slowly faded away. I realized that my journey is unique, just as theirs is. I learned to focus on my own growth rather than measuring it against others’.

Now, I celebrate others’ successes without letting it undermine my own. This shift in perspective didn’t happen overnight—it’s a sign that I’ve been able to build genuine confidence.

And if you’re experiencing the same change, you’re on the right track too.

3) You’re not afraid to ask for help

Here’s something you might not know.

The most successful entrepreneurs out there aren’t afraid to ask for help. They know that they don’t have all the answers, and they’re okay with it.

In the early stages of your entrepreneurial journey, you might have felt a need to prove yourself, to show that you could do it all on your own.

Asking for help might have seemed like a sign of weakness, a dent in your armor of feigned confidence.

But as your genuine confidence builds, you understand that asking for help is not a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of strength.

It shows that you’re secure enough in your abilities to recognize when someone else’s expertise could be of benefit.

If you find yourself reaching out to others for their insight or assistance without feeling insecure, give yourself a pat on the back. You’re building real confidence.

4) You can handle criticism

Criticism—it’s a tough pill to swallow.

Initially, any negative feedback might have had you questioning your abilities, shaking your pretend confidence.

But here’s the turning point. As you build real confidence, you start to view criticism differently. You see it as constructive feedback, not as a personal attack.

You’re able to separate yourself from your work and understand that the criticism is towards what you’ve produced, not who you are as a person or an entrepreneur.

If you’re finding yourself open to critique, using it to improve rather than letting it deflate you, it’s a sure sign that your confidence is no longer an act—it’s the real deal.

5) You’re not seeking validation

I remember how in the early days of my entrepreneurial journey, I constantly sought validation. I wanted to make sure I was on the right track, doing things correctly, and meeting everyone else’s expectations.

But over time, as my confidence grew, I realized that the only validation I needed was my own. I started to trust in my abilities, my decisions, and my path.

I learned to value my own opinion of myself above anyone else’s. Sure, feedback is important. But at the end of the day, I know my worth and don’t need others to affirm it for me.

If you’re finding yourself less reliant on others’ approval and more trusting in your own judgement, then that’s a key sign you’re no longer faking confidence—you’ve actually built it.

6) You’re okay with not being the smartest in the room

Here’s an interesting twist.

You might think that being confident means always having to be the smartest person in the room. But that’s not the case at all.

True confidence comes from understanding that you don’t have all the answers and that’s perfectly fine. You can still lead and make decisions without knowing everything.

In fact, surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you in certain areas is a smart move—it fosters growth, learning, and innovation.

So, if you’re comfortable with not always being the top dog and see the value in learning from others, then take it as a sign. You’re not just faking it anymore, you’ve built genuine confidence.

7) You’re not afraid to be yourself

In the beginning, you might have felt the need to put on a persona to appear more confident. But as you build real confidence, you realize that there’s no need to pretend to be someone you’re not.

You start to feel comfortable in your own skin, embracing your quirks, strengths, and even your shortcomings. You understand that your individuality is not a weakness but a strength that sets you apart.

If you’re at a point where you can proudly be yourself without the fear of judgement or rejection, then it’s clear. You’re no longer faking confidence—you’ve truly embraced it.

8) You’re comfortable with uncertainty

The entrepreneurial journey is filled with uncertainties. In the early stages, these uncertainties might have rattled your pretend confidence.

But as you build real confidence, you become comfortable with the unknowns. You recognize that uncertainty is just another aspect of running a business and it doesn’t deter you—it excites you.

You’re able to make decisions and move forward, even when the outcome is unclear. This ability to stay steady amidst uncertainty is a surefire sign that your confidence is real and robust.

Wrapping up

If you’ve made it this far, you’ve probably realized that truly confident people are some of the most inspiring individuals to be around.

Because genuine confidence doesn’t stem from arrogance or a sense of superiority. It comes from a deep-rooted belief in oneself and the ability to navigate through life’s ups and downs with grace.

If you’re seeing these signs in yourself, then congratulations. You’re not just a person who’s learned to mimic confidence—you’ve actually built it from within.

And that’s no small feat. It’s a testament to your resilience, your growth, and your journey as an entrepreneur. So take a moment to acknowledge this achievement and continue to cultivate this genuine confidence.

Because who knows? You might just inspire someone else to start their own journey towards building real confidence.