Every business that has ever been created, grown, or transformed stands on the shoulders of two crucial forces.
Courage and confidence.
In business, these are not “soft skills.” They are not personality traits, reserved for a lucky few. Like any muscle, they can be created and cultivated, and strengthened through action. And if you want to be successful, they aren’t optional. They’re essential.
Courage is the decision to move forward before you feel ready. It’s the willingness to act, even — and especially — when uncertain. When launching a business, or taking a position in one, you aren’t given guarantees. Not many anyway. Only a belief and a choice. Courage is saying yes to opportunity when the outcome is unclear. It’s hiring before you’re comfortable, investing before results are proven, and making decisions without perfect information. Growth never happens inside certainty; it happens just beyond it.
And courage in business is not loud or dramatic. Most of the time, it’s quiet and uncomfortable. It’s the choice to make decisions without perfect clarity. To move forward when the numbers aren’t fully certain. To lead when you don’t have all the answers. Courage is choosing progress over perfection, again and again.
But courage alone isn’t enough. That’s where confidence comes in.
Confidence is the trust you build in yourself through the courageous action. It’s not arrogance, and it’s not pretending you have it all figured out. True confidence comes from showing up, learning, adjusting, and continuing forward even when things don’t go as planned. Every sales conversation, every tough client interaction, every difficult decision, strengthens confidence — not because you were perfect, but because you handled it.
Here’s the key relationship: courage creates action, and action builds confidence. Waiting to feel confident before you act is a trap. Confidence is not the prerequisite — it’s the reward.
In business, courage shows up as visibility. It takes courage to market boldly, to share your story, to put your ideas into the world knowing not everyone will agree. It takes courage to raise prices, set boundaries, say no to the wrong clients, and walk away from opportunities that don’t align with your vision. And every time you do, confidence grows — because you’re proving to yourself that you can lead.
Confidence then becomes a multiplier. Confident leaders make clearer decisions. They move faster and communicate with conviction. Their teams trust them. Their clients and customers feel safe with them. Confidence creates momentum, and momentum attracts opportunity which leads to growth.
But let’s be clear: confidence doesn’t mean fear disappears. Fear is part of growth. Courage is simply the willingness to move with fear instead of waiting for it to leave. The most successful entrepreneurs are not fearless — they’re practiced. They’ve built confidence by repeatedly choosing courage.
If you want to grow your business, don’t ask, “How do I become more confident?” Ask, “Where do I need to be more courageous right now?” That next bold conversation, decision, or step forward is exactly where confidence is waiting to be built.
Courage starts the journey. Confidence sustains it. And together, they are the foundation of every meaningful business success.
Here’s to courageous action, and the confidence you will reap as it’s reward.