In this episode Im talking about competition. What if you could build a wildly successful career without competing like everyone else? Listen in to learn how to approach competition to avoid burnout.

Timestamp

1:00 — Story Time: How I competed against my friend for a promotion.

4:46 — Mindset Shifts: Why competition can be a trap, and four shifts you can make to redefine what it means to succeed at work.

12:00 — Strategies: From preparation to playing the right games, these career tactics help you win without burnout.

20:22 — Challenge for Listeners: Identify one area you are competing needlessly.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

In Part 1 of The Confidence Blueprint, we talked about how to build confidence: what it looks like, why it matters, and what actually works.

But what happens when your confidence takes a hit? When failure, rejection, or self-doubt throws you off?

Part 2 is about how to rebuild your confidence when it's been shaken. I’ll walk you through the exact strategies that helped me bounce back, plus how to shift your mindset when things get tough.

Timestamp

:36 — Storytime: A personal story of failing two audits, self-doubt creeping in, and the turning point that helped rebuild belief.

5:16 — What It Feels Like To Lose Confidence: Isolation, shame, overthinking, and that “sliding down the hill” feeling — this is what it really feels like to lose your edge, and why it’s more common than we think.

10:10 — Reframing Failure: Failure isn’t the end — it’s feedback. Learn how to reframe losses so they sharpen your skills and fuel your next step.

15:22 — Strategies To Rebuild Your Confidence: 4 practical tools to build yourself back up: highlight reels, small wins, positive self-talk, and more.

22:20 — Signs You Are On The Right Path: Not sure if your confidence is improving? Here are clear signals you’re headed in the right direction.

24:14 — Challenge for Listeners: List 3 to 5 things you’re proud of from this year. Big or small. Then reflect on what they say about you.

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want a better career? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com

Confidence is the foundation of career success—but most people don’t know how to actually build it. In this episode, I break down the strategies I’ve used to build and maintain confidence throughout my career. From getting promoted 11 times to launching this podcast, I’ve relied on confidence to take risks and make bold moves. I also share a story I’ve never told publicly, give you a confidence audit to test where you stand, and close with the exact steps you can take to become more confident—starting today.

Timestamp

:56 — Storytime: How I overcame self-doubt and launched my podcast and business.

5:33 — What Confidence Is and Isn't: Clear signs of real confidence vs. false bravado.

7:57 — Why Confidence Matters: The role confidence plays in promotions, life choices, and career momentum.

9:38 — Nature vs. Nurture: Do you have to be born confident—or can you build it?

11:21 — The Confidence Audit: 7 questions to help you identify your current confidence baseline.

14:55 — What Confidence Sounds and Looks Like: How confident people speak, act, and show up in the real world.

20:26 — Strategies to Build Confidence: Tactical habits and mindset shifts that actually work.

31:47 — Challenge for Listeners: What is one bold risk you should take this week?

Confidence Blueprint Series:

• Part 2 - How to Rebuild It drops July 30th

Resources

• Book: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** by Mark Manson

Career & Leadership Coaching

• Want to level up as a leader? Clients who work with us earn 57% more and get promoted 3x faster on average: Book your free career clarity call here.

Engage

• New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Be sure to subscribe.
• Send in your career, leadership, or self-development questions and I’ll answer them on air.
• Email: theintrovertleader@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austinchopkins
• YouTube: ​Austin Hopkins
• Career Coaching: www.sts-coaching.com