OWN THE ROOM

THE SIMPLE NEWSLETTER - ISSUE # 017

It’s Tom — back again with another edition of The Simple Newsletter.

Today, I want to talk about something that sits at the core of every success story: confidence. Not the loud, flashy kind — but the quiet, steady belief in your ability to show up, take action, and figure things out.

Too often, we let limiting beliefs creep in and chip away at that confidence before we even step onto the field. We doubt ourselves. We hold back. We start seeking approval instead of standing firm in who we are.

This week’s thought and lesson are all about recognizing that — and about reclaiming the kind of confidence that allows you to not just chase opportunity, but to be the one sought after.

Let’s get into it.

TOM'S THOUGHT

Sometimes we have to be very careful about how much we allow our limiting beliefs to compromise our confidence — in ourselves and in our abilities.

It’s troubling how easily a limiting belief can destroy our confidence. You might catch yourself thinking, "I could never do that," or "I'm not good enough for that," or "I just don’t have what it takes." And that kind of thinking doesn’t just limit you — it removes you from the opportunity before you even step up to the plate.

We stay in the locker room, not even putting on the uniform, never giving ourselves a chance to play the game.

Confidence is critical in every part of business and life. If you lack confidence, you’ll hesitate to make sales, hesitate to prospect, hesitate to take the kinds of risks that move you forward. Without it, we can fall into imposter syndrome — believing we don't deserve a seat at the table.

I often think about athletes coming up through the minor leagues. They work hard to make it to the big leagues, but if they don’t believe they belong there, they'll never make it. It's the same for business owners, entrepreneurs, and anyone chasing something bigger.

Recently, a client shared two affirmations he’s been working on:

• "When I walk into a room, I own the room."

  
  

• "I will not seek opportunities; I will be sought out."

Those words really stuck with me. Because when we move through the world with genuine confidence, we aren't just chasing opportunity — opportunity begins to find us.

We stop chasing approval, stop doubting ourselves, and start operating from a place of certainty, security, and value.

When you are confident in who you are and what you do, the possibilities are not limiting — they are limitless.

TOM'S LESSON

The lesson this week is simple but not always easy: confidence is essential, and it must be protected and nurtured.

Being confident doesn’t mean you’ll always know exactly what to do. It doesn’t mean you'll never be uncertain or nervous. True confidence is about believing you have the ability to figure things out. It's about trusting yourself enough to take the first step, even if you can't see the entire staircase.

If you find yourself feeling hesitant, stuck, or paralyzed by self-doubt, pause and reflect on your past experiences. Remember the times when you were confident, when you trusted yourself and succeeded. Those moments are proof that the ingredients for confidence already live inside you.

Confidence is transferable.

If you were confident leading a project, you can be confident making a sale. If you were confident coaching your child’s team, you can be confident leading a business meeting.

The situations change, but the inner qualities are the same.

And here’s something important to remember: you don’t have to be confident in everything. It’s okay — and completely normal — to feel uncertain in new areas. True confidence is knowing what you know, admitting what you don’t, and having the willingness to go and learn what you need.

Confidence is not about pretending to be perfect.

It’s about being grounded in the truth of your abilities, your willingness to learn, and your refusal to take yourself out of the game before you even begin.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

As you move through this week, notice where your confidence feels natural — and where it doesn’t.

Where it’s strong, lean into it.

Where it feels shaky, don’t judge yourself — get curious.

Confidence grows through action, not waiting. Put on the uniform. Step onto the field. Take the swing.

You don’t have to know everything. Be confident in what you do know, and trust yourself to figure out what you don’t.

And remember: you are meant to be sought out, not just seeking.

Play the game. Take the shot. Trust yourself.

— Tom

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