CINXE.COM
<!doctype html><html lang="en"><head><title data-rh="true">Confidence doesn’t just “poof” out of nowhere. 💨 | by Mike Curtis | The You Design System | Oct, 2024 | Medium</title><meta data-rh="true" charset="utf-8"/><meta data-rh="true" name="viewport" content="width=device-width,minimum-scale=1,initial-scale=1,maximum-scale=1"/><meta data-rh="true" name="theme-color" content="#000000"/><meta data-rh="true" name="twitter:app:name:iphone" content="Medium"/><meta data-rh="true" name="twitter:app:id:iphone" content="828256236"/><meta data-rh="true" property="al:ios:app_name" content="Medium"/><meta data-rh="true" property="al:ios:app_store_id" content="828256236"/><meta data-rh="true" property="al:android:package" content="com.medium.reader"/><meta data-rh="true" property="fb:app_id" content="542599432471018"/><meta data-rh="true" property="og:site_name" content="Medium"/><meta data-rh="true" property="og:type" content="article"/><meta data-rh="true" property="article:published_time" content="2024-10-17T13:02:12.131Z"/><meta data-rh="true" name="title" content="Confidence doesn’t just “poof” out of nowhere. 💨 | by Mike Curtis | The You Design System | Oct, 2024 | Medium"/><meta data-rh="true" property="og:title" content="Confidence doesn’t just “poof” out of nowhere. 💨"/><meta data-rh="true" property="al:android:url" content="medium://p/e9739bdcd368"/><meta data-rh="true" property="al:ios:url" content="medium://p/e9739bdcd368"/><meta data-rh="true" property="al:android:app_name" content="Medium"/><meta data-rh="true" name="description" content="As much as we might think confidence can magically appear, it’s not something we’re born with or something that suddenly shows up when we need it most. It is built — layer by layer — through…"/><meta data-rh="true" property="og:description" content="Without a foundation of preparation, confidence crumbles."/><meta data-rh="true" property="og:url" content="https://medium.com/mikewcurtis/confidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368"/><meta data-rh="true" property="al:web:url" content="https://medium.com/mikewcurtis/confidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368"/><meta data-rh="true" property="og:image" content="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png"/><meta data-rh="true" property="og:image:alt" content="the word confidence in a cloud"/><meta data-rh="true" property="article:author" content="https://mikewcurtis.medium.com"/><meta data-rh="true" name="author" content="Mike Curtis"/><meta data-rh="true" name="robots" content="index,noarchive,follow,max-image-preview:large"/><meta data-rh="true" name="referrer" content="unsafe-url"/><meta data-rh="true" property="twitter:title" content="Confidence doesn’t just “poof” out of nowhere. 💨"/><meta data-rh="true" name="twitter:site" content="@mikewcurtisut"/><meta data-rh="true" name="twitter:app:url:iphone" content="medium://p/e9739bdcd368"/><meta data-rh="true" property="twitter:description" content="Without a foundation of preparation, confidence crumbles."/><meta data-rh="true" name="twitter:image:src" content="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png"/><meta data-rh="true" name="twitter:image:alt" content="the word confidence in a cloud"/><meta data-rh="true" name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/><meta data-rh="true" name="twitter:creator" content="@mikewcurtisut"/><meta data-rh="true" name="twitter:label1" content="Reading time"/><meta data-rh="true" name="twitter:data1" content="2 min read"/><link data-rh="true" rel="icon" href="https://miro.medium.com/v2/5d8de952517e8160e40ef9841c781cdc14a5db313057fa3c3de41c6f5b494b19"/><link data-rh="true" rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" title="Medium" href="/osd.xml"/><link data-rh="true" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:304:304/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156"/><link data-rh="true" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120" href="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:240:240/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156"/><link data-rh="true" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="76x76" href="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:152:152/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156"/><link data-rh="true" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="60x60" href="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:120:120/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156"/><link data-rh="true" rel="mask-icon" href="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:1000:1000/7*GAOKVe--MXbEJmV9230oOQ.png" color="#171717"/><link data-rh="true" rel="preconnect" href="https://glyph.medium.com" crossOrigin=""/><link data-rh="true" id="glyph_preload_link" rel="preload" as="style" type="text/css" href="https://glyph.medium.com/css/unbound.css"/><link data-rh="true" id="glyph_link" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://glyph.medium.com/css/unbound.css"/><link data-rh="true" rel="author" href="https://mikewcurtis.medium.com"/><link data-rh="true" rel="canonical" href="https://medium.com/mikewcurtis/confidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368"/><link data-rh="true" rel="alternate" href="android-app://com.medium.reader/https/medium.com/p/e9739bdcd368"/><script data-rh="true" type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"http:\u002F\u002Fschema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","image":["https:\u002F\u002Fmiro.medium.com\u002Fv2\u002Fresize:fit:1200\u002F1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png"],"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fmedium.com\u002Fmikewcurtis\u002Fconfidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368","dateCreated":"2024-10-17T13:02:12.131Z","datePublished":"2024-10-17T13:02:12.131Z","dateModified":"2024-11-15T00:01:11.666Z","headline":"Confidence doesn’t just “poof” out of nowhere. 💨 - The You Design System - Medium","name":"Confidence doesn’t just “poof” out of nowhere. 💨 - The You Design System - Medium","description":"As much as we might think confidence can magically appear, it’s not something we’re born with or something that suddenly shows up when we need it most. It is built — layer by layer — through…","identifier":"e9739bdcd368","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Mike Curtis","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fmikewcurtis.medium.com"},"creator":["Mike Curtis"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The You Design System","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fmedium.com\u002Fmikewcurtis","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":500,"height":60,"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fmiro.medium.com\u002Fv2\u002Fresize:fit:1000\u002F1*2eZaT425FrRVUufVJn_lkQ.png"}},"mainEntityOfPage":"https:\u002F\u002Fmedium.com\u002Fmikewcurtis\u002Fconfidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368","isAccessibleForFree":"False","hasPart":{"@type":"WebPageElement","isAccessibleForFree":"False","cssSelector":".meteredContent"}}</script><style type="text/css" data-fela-rehydration="508" data-fela-type="STATIC">html{box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%}*, *:before, *:after{box-sizing:inherit}body{margin:0;padding:0;text-rendering:optimizeLegibility;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.8);position:relative;min-height:100vh}h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, dl, dd, ol, ul, menu, figure, blockquote, p, pre, form{margin:0}menu, ol, ul{padding:0;list-style:none;list-style-image:none}main{display:block}a{color:inherit;text-decoration:none}a, button, input{-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent}img, svg{vertical-align:middle}button{background:transparent;overflow:visible}button, input, optgroup, select, textarea{margin:0}:root{--reach-tabs:1;--reach-menu-button:1}#speechify-root{font-family:Sohne, sans-serif}div[data-popper-reference-hidden="true"]{visibility:hidden;pointer-events:none}.grecaptcha-badge{visibility:hidden} /*XCode style (c) Angel Garcia <angelgarcia.mail@gmail.com>*/.hljs {background: #fff;color: black; }/* Gray DOCTYPE selectors like WebKit */ .xml .hljs-meta {color: #c0c0c0; }.hljs-comment, .hljs-quote {color: #007400; }.hljs-tag, .hljs-attribute, .hljs-keyword, .hljs-selector-tag, .hljs-literal, .hljs-name {color: #aa0d91; }.hljs-variable, .hljs-template-variable {color: #3F6E74; }.hljs-code, .hljs-string, .hljs-meta .hljs-string {color: #c41a16; }.hljs-regexp, .hljs-link {color: #0E0EFF; }.hljs-title, .hljs-symbol, .hljs-bullet, .hljs-number {color: #1c00cf; }.hljs-section, .hljs-meta {color: #643820; }.hljs-title.class_, .hljs-class .hljs-title, .hljs-type, .hljs-built_in, .hljs-params {color: #5c2699; }.hljs-attr {color: #836C28; }.hljs-subst {color: #000; }.hljs-formula {background-color: #eee;font-style: italic; }.hljs-addition {background-color: #baeeba; }.hljs-deletion {background-color: #ffc8bd; }.hljs-selector-id, .hljs-selector-class {color: #9b703f; }.hljs-doctag, .hljs-strong {font-weight: bold; }.hljs-emphasis {font-style: italic; } </style><style type="text/css" data-fela-rehydration="508" data-fela-type="KEYFRAME">@-webkit-keyframes k1{0%{opacity:0.8}50%{opacity:0.5}100%{opacity:0.8}}@-moz-keyframes k1{0%{opacity:0.8}50%{opacity:0.5}100%{opacity:0.8}}@keyframes k1{0%{opacity:0.8}50%{opacity:0.5}100%{opacity:0.8}}</style><style type="text/css" data-fela-rehydration="508" data-fela-type="RULE">.a{font-family:medium-content-sans-serif-font, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif}.b{font-weight:400}.c{background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)}.l{display:block}.m{position:sticky}.n{top:0}.o{z-index:500}.p{padding:0 24px}.q{align-items:center}.r{border-bottom:solid 1px #F2F2F2}.y{height:41px}.z{line-height:20px}.ab{display:flex}.ac{height:57px}.ae{flex:1 0 auto}.af{color:inherit}.ag{fill:inherit}.ah{font-size:inherit}.ai{border:inherit}.aj{font-family:inherit}.ak{letter-spacing:inherit}.al{font-weight:inherit}.am{padding:0}.an{margin:0}.ao{cursor:pointer}.ap:disabled{cursor:not-allowed}.aq:disabled{color:#6B6B6B}.ar:disabled{fill:#6B6B6B}.au{width:auto}.av path{fill:#242424}.aw{height:25px}.ax{margin-left:16px}.ay{border:none}.az{border-radius:20px}.ba{width:240px}.bb{background:#F9F9F9}.bc path{fill:#6B6B6B}.be{outline:none}.bf{font-family:sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif}.bg{font-size:14px}.bh{width:100%}.bi{padding:10px 20px 10px 0}.bj{background-color:transparent}.bk{color:#242424}.bl::placeholder{color:#6B6B6B}.bm{display:inline-block}.bn{margin-left:12px}.bo{margin-right:12px}.bp{border-radius:4px}.bq{margin-left:24px}.br{height:24px}.bx{background-color:#F9F9F9}.by{border-radius:50%}.bz{height:32px}.ca{width:32px}.cb{justify-content:center}.ch{max-width:680px}.ci{min-width:0}.cj{animation:k1 1.2s ease-in-out infinite}.ck{height:100vh}.cl{margin-bottom:16px}.cm{margin-top:48px}.cn{align-items:flex-start}.co{flex-direction:column}.cp{justify-content:space-between}.cq{margin-bottom:24px}.cw{width:80%}.cx{background-color:#F2F2F2}.dd{height:44px}.de{width:44px}.df{margin:auto 0}.dg{margin-bottom:4px}.dh{height:16px}.di{width:120px}.dj{width:80px}.dp{margin-bottom:8px}.dq{width:96%}.dr{width:98%}.ds{width:81%}.dt{margin-left:8px}.du{color:#6B6B6B}.dv{font-size:13px}.dw{height:100%}.ep{color:#FFFFFF}.eq{fill:#FFFFFF}.er{background:rgba(26, 137, 23, 1)}.es{border-color:rgba(26, 137, 23, 1)}.ew:disabled{cursor:inherit !important}.ex:disabled{opacity:0.3}.ey:disabled:hover{background:rgba(26, 137, 23, 1)}.ez:disabled:hover{border-color:rgba(26, 137, 23, 1)}.fa{border-radius:99em}.fb{border-width:1px}.fc{border-style:solid}.fd{box-sizing:border-box}.fe{text-decoration:none}.ff{text-align:center}.fi{margin-right:32px}.fj{position:relative}.fk{fill:#6B6B6B}.fn{background:transparent}.fo svg{margin-left:4px}.fp svg{fill:#6B6B6B}.fr{box-shadow:inset 0 0 0 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05)}.fs{position:absolute}.fz{margin:0 24px}.gd{background:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)}.ge{border:1px solid #F2F2F2}.gf{box-shadow:0 1px 4px #F2F2F2}.gg{max-height:100vh}.gh{overflow-y:auto}.gi{left:0}.gj{top:calc(100vh + 100px)}.gk{bottom:calc(100vh + 100px)}.gl{width:10px}.gm{pointer-events:none}.gs{gap:12px}.gt{margin-right:4px}.gu{margin-top:2px}.gv{box-sizing:content-box}.gw{word-break:break-word}.gx{word-wrap:break-word}.gy:after{display:block}.gz:after{content:""}.ha:after{clear:both}.hb{line-height:1.23}.hc{letter-spacing:0}.hd{font-style:normal}.he{font-weight:700}.hu{margin-top:0px}.hv{margin-bottom:-0.27em}.hw{line-height:1.394}.ir{align-items:baseline}.is{width:48px}.it{height:48px}.iu{border:2px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)}.iv{z-index:0}.iw{box-shadow:none}.ix{border:1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05)}.iy{margin-left:-12px}.iz{width:28px}.ja{height:28px}.jb{z-index:1}.jc{width:24px}.jd{margin-bottom:2px}.je{flex-wrap:nowrap}.jf{font-size:16px}.jg{line-height:24px}.ji{margin:0 8px}.jj{display:inline}.jk{color:rgba(26, 137, 23, 1)}.jl{fill:rgba(26, 137, 23, 1)}.jo{flex:0 0 auto}.jr{flex-wrap:wrap}.ju{white-space:pre-wrap}.jv{overflow:hidden}.jw{max-height:20px}.jx{text-overflow:ellipsis}.jy{display:-webkit-box}.jz{-webkit-line-clamp:1}.ka{-webkit-box-orient:vertical}.kb{word-break:break-all}.kd{padding-left:8px}.ke{padding-right:8px}.lf> *{flex-shrink:0}.lg{overflow-x:scroll}.lh::-webkit-scrollbar{display:none}.li{scrollbar-width:none}.lj{-ms-overflow-style:none}.lk{width:74px}.ll{flex-direction:row}.lm{z-index:2}.lp{-webkit-user-select:none}.lq{border:0}.lr{fill:rgba(117, 117, 117, 1)}.lu{outline:0}.lv{user-select:none}.lw> svg{pointer-events:none}.mf{cursor:progress}.mg{opacity:1}.mh{padding:4px 0}.mk{width:16px}.mm{display:inline-flex}.ms{max-width:100%}.mt{padding:8px 2px}.mu svg{color:#6B6B6B}.nl{clear:both}.nr{margin-left:auto}.ns{margin-right:auto}.nt{max-width:1456px}.nz{padding-top:5px}.oa{padding-bottom:5px}.oc{cursor:zoom-in}.od{z-index:auto}.of{height:auto}.og{margin-top:10px}.oh{max-width:728px}.ok{line-height:1.58}.ol{letter-spacing:-0.004em}.om{font-family:source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif}.pf{margin-bottom:-0.46em}.pg{clear:left}.ph{float:left}.pi{font-size:66px}.pj{line-height:.83}.pp{border-top:none}.pv{height:52px}.pw{max-height:52px}.px{position:static}.pz{max-width:155px}.qf{margin-right:20px}.ql{margin-bottom:48px}.qz{border-radius:2px}.rb{height:64px}.rc{width:64px}.rd{align-self:flex-end}.re{flex:1 1 auto}.ri{padding-right:4px}.rj{font-weight:500}.rw{margin-top:8px}.rx{margin-top:16px}.ry{color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)}.rz{padding:8px 16px}.sa{fill:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)}.sb{background:rgba(25, 25, 25, 1)}.sc{border-color:rgba(25, 25, 25, 1)}.sf:disabled{opacity:0.1}.sg:disabled:hover{background:rgba(25, 25, 25, 1)}.sh:disabled:hover{border-color:rgba(25, 25, 25, 1)}.si{height:0px}.sj{border-bottom:solid 1px #E5E5E5}.sk{margin-top:56px}.sl{margin-top:72px}.sm{padding:24px 0}.sn{margin-bottom:0px}.so{margin-right:16px}.as:hover:not(:disabled){color:rgba(25, 25, 25, 1)}.at:hover:not(:disabled){fill:rgba(25, 25, 25, 1)}.et:hover{background:rgba(15, 115, 12, 1)}.eu:hover{border-color:rgba(15, 115, 12, 1)}.ev:hover{cursor:pointer}.fl:hover{color:#242424}.fm:hover{fill:#242424}.fq:hover svg{fill:#242424}.ft:hover{background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)}.jh:hover{text-decoration:underline}.jm:hover:not(:disabled){color:rgba(15, 115, 12, 1)}.jn:hover:not(:disabled){fill:rgba(15, 115, 12, 1)}.lt:hover{fill:rgba(8, 8, 8, 1)}.mi:hover{fill:#000000}.mj:hover p{color:#000000}.ml:hover{color:#000000}.mv:hover svg{color:#000000}.ra:hover{background-color:none}.sd:hover{background:#000000}.se:hover{border-color:#242424}.bd:focus-within path{fill:#242424}.ls:focus{fill:rgba(8, 8, 8, 1)}.mw:focus svg{color:#000000}.oe:focus{transform:scale(1.01)}.lx:active{border-style:none}</style><style type="text/css" data-fela-rehydration="508" data-fela-type="RULE" media="all and (min-width: 1080px)">.d{display:none}.bw{width:64px}.cg{margin:0 64px}.cv{height:48px}.dc{margin-bottom:52px}.do{margin-bottom:48px}.ef{font-size:14px}.eg{line-height:20px}.em{font-size:13px}.eo{padding:5px 12px}.fh{display:flex}.fy{margin-bottom:68px}.gc{max-width:680px}.gr{margin-top:40px}.hr{font-size:42px}.hs{line-height:52px}.ht{letter-spacing:-0.011em}.ij{font-size:22px}.ik{margin-top:0.92em}.il{line-height:28px}.iq{align-items:center}.kr{border-top:solid 1px #F2F2F2}.ks{border-bottom:solid 1px #F2F2F2}.kt{margin:32px 0 0}.ku{padding:3px 8px}.ld> *{margin-right:24px}.le> :last-child{margin-right:0}.me{margin-top:0px}.mr{margin:0}.nq{max-width:1192px}.ny{margin-top:56px}.pb{font-size:20px}.pc{margin-top:2.14em}.pd{line-height:32px}.pe{letter-spacing:-0.003em}.po{padding-top:7px}.pu{margin-bottom:88px}.qe{display:inline-block}.qk{padding-top:72px}.qm{flex-direction:row}.qp{margin-bottom:0}.qq{margin-right:20px}.rf{max-width:500px}.ru{line-height:24px}.rv{letter-spacing:0}</style><style type="text/css" data-fela-rehydration="508" data-fela-type="RULE" media="all and (max-width: 1079.98px)">.e{display:none}.md{margin-top:0px}.oi{margin-left:auto}.oj{text-align:center}.qd{display:inline-block}</style><style type="text/css" data-fela-rehydration="508" data-fela-type="RULE" media="all and (max-width: 903.98px)">.f{display:none}.mc{margin-top:0px}.qc{display:inline-block}</style><style type="text/css" data-fela-rehydration="508" data-fela-type="RULE" media="all and (max-width: 727.98px)">.g{display:none}.ma{margin-top:0px}.mb{margin-right:0px}.qb{display:inline-block}</style><style type="text/css" data-fela-rehydration="508" data-fela-type="RULE" media="all and (max-width: 551.98px)">.h{display:none}.s{display:flex}.t{justify-content:space-between}.bs{width:24px}.cc{margin:0 24px}.cr{height:40px}.cy{margin-bottom:44px}.dk{margin-bottom:32px}.dx{font-size:13px}.dy{line-height:20px}.eh{padding:0px 8px 1px}.fu{margin-bottom:4px}.gn{margin-top:32px}.hf{font-size:32px}.hg{line-height:38px}.hh{letter-spacing:-0.014em}.hx{font-size:18px}.hy{margin-top:0.79em}.hz{line-height:24px}.im{align-items:flex-start}.jp{flex-direction:column}.js{margin-bottom:2px}.kf{margin:24px -24px 0}.kg{padding:0}.kv> *{margin-right:8px}.kw> :last-child{margin-right:24px}.ln{margin-left:0px}.ly{margin-top:0px}.lz{margin-right:0px}.mn{margin:0}.mx{border:1px solid #F2F2F2}.my{border-radius:99em}.mz{padding:0px 16px 0px 12px}.na{height:38px}.nb{align-items:center}.nd svg{margin-right:8px}.nm{max-width:100%}.nu{margin-top:40px}.on{margin-top:1.56em}.oo{line-height:28px}.op{letter-spacing:-0.003em}.pk{padding-top:0}.pq{margin-bottom:80px}.qa{display:inline-block}.qg{padding-top:48px}.qx{margin-bottom:20px}.qy{margin-right:0}.rk{font-size:24px}.rl{line-height:30px}.rm{letter-spacing:-0.016em}.nc:hover{border-color:#E5E5E5}</style><style type="text/css" data-fela-rehydration="508" data-fela-type="RULE" media="all and (min-width: 904px) and (max-width: 1079.98px)">.i{display:none}.bv{width:64px}.cf{margin:0 64px}.cu{height:48px}.db{margin-bottom:52px}.dn{margin-bottom:48px}.ed{font-size:14px}.ee{line-height:20px}.ek{font-size:13px}.el{padding:5px 12px}.fg{display:flex}.fx{margin-bottom:68px}.gb{max-width:680px}.gq{margin-top:40px}.ho{font-size:42px}.hp{line-height:52px}.hq{letter-spacing:-0.011em}.ig{font-size:22px}.ih{margin-top:0.92em}.ii{line-height:28px}.ip{align-items:center}.kn{border-top:solid 1px #F2F2F2}.ko{border-bottom:solid 1px #F2F2F2}.kp{margin:32px 0 0}.kq{padding:3px 8px}.lb> *{margin-right:24px}.lc> :last-child{margin-right:0}.mq{margin:0}.np{max-width:1192px}.nx{margin-top:56px}.ox{font-size:20px}.oy{margin-top:2.14em}.oz{line-height:32px}.pa{letter-spacing:-0.003em}.pn{padding-top:7px}.pt{margin-bottom:88px}.qj{padding-top:72px}.qn{flex-direction:row}.qr{margin-bottom:0}.qs{margin-right:20px}.rg{max-width:500px}.rs{line-height:24px}.rt{letter-spacing:0}</style><style type="text/css" data-fela-rehydration="508" data-fela-type="RULE" media="all and (min-width: 728px) and (max-width: 903.98px)">.j{display:none}.w{display:flex}.x{justify-content:space-between}.bu{width:64px}.ce{margin:0 48px}.ct{height:48px}.da{margin-bottom:52px}.dm{margin-bottom:48px}.eb{font-size:13px}.ec{line-height:20px}.ej{padding:0px 8px 1px}.fw{margin-bottom:68px}.ga{max-width:680px}.gp{margin-top:40px}.hl{font-size:42px}.hm{line-height:52px}.hn{letter-spacing:-0.011em}.id{font-size:22px}.ie{margin-top:0.92em}.if{line-height:28px}.io{align-items:center}.kj{border-top:solid 1px #F2F2F2}.kk{border-bottom:solid 1px #F2F2F2}.kl{margin:32px 0 0}.km{padding:3px 8px}.kz> *{margin-right:24px}.la> :last-child{margin-right:0}.mp{margin:0}.no{max-width:100%}.nw{margin-top:56px}.ot{font-size:20px}.ou{margin-top:2.14em}.ov{line-height:32px}.ow{letter-spacing:-0.003em}.pm{padding-top:7px}.ps{margin-bottom:88px}.qi{padding-top:72px}.qo{flex-direction:row}.qt{margin-bottom:0}.qu{margin-right:20px}.rh{max-width:500px}.rq{line-height:24px}.rr{letter-spacing:0}</style><style type="text/css" data-fela-rehydration="508" data-fela-type="RULE" media="all and (min-width: 552px) and (max-width: 727.98px)">.k{display:none}.u{display:flex}.v{justify-content:space-between}.bt{width:24px}.cd{margin:0 24px}.cs{height:40px}.cz{margin-bottom:44px}.dl{margin-bottom:32px}.dz{font-size:13px}.ea{line-height:20px}.ei{padding:0px 8px 1px}.fv{margin-bottom:4px}.go{margin-top:32px}.hi{font-size:32px}.hj{line-height:38px}.hk{letter-spacing:-0.014em}.ia{font-size:18px}.ib{margin-top:0.79em}.ic{line-height:24px}.in{align-items:flex-start}.jq{flex-direction:column}.jt{margin-bottom:2px}.kh{margin:24px 0 0}.ki{padding:0}.kx> *{margin-right:8px}.ky> :last-child{margin-right:8px}.lo{margin-left:0px}.mo{margin:0}.ne{border:1px solid #F2F2F2}.nf{border-radius:99em}.ng{padding:0px 16px 0px 12px}.nh{height:38px}.ni{align-items:center}.nk svg{margin-right:8px}.nn{max-width:100%}.nv{margin-top:40px}.oq{margin-top:1.56em}.or{line-height:28px}.os{letter-spacing:-0.003em}.pl{padding-top:0}.pr{margin-bottom:80px}.qh{padding-top:48px}.qv{margin-bottom:20px}.qw{margin-right:0}.rn{font-size:24px}.ro{line-height:30px}.rp{letter-spacing:-0.016em}.nj:hover{border-color:#E5E5E5}</style><style type="text/css" data-fela-rehydration="508" data-fela-type="RULE" media="print">.py{display:none}</style><style type="text/css" data-fela-rehydration="508" data-fela-type="RULE" media="(orientation: landscape) and (max-width: 903.98px)">.kc{max-height:none}</style><style type="text/css" data-fela-rehydration="508" data-fela-type="RULE" media="(prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference)">.ob{transition:transform 300ms cubic-bezier(0.2, 0, 0.2, 1)}</style></head><body><div id="root"><div class="a b c"><div class="d e f g h i j k"></div><script>document.domain = document.domain;</script><div class="l c"><div class="l m n o c"><div class="p q r s t u v w x i d y z"><a class="du ag dv bf ak b am an ao ap aq ar as at s u w i d q dw z" href="https://rsci.app.link/?%24canonical_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fp%2Fe9739bdcd368&%7Efeature=LoOpenInAppButton&%7Echannel=ShowPostUnderCollection&source=---top_nav_layout_nav----------------------------------" rel="noopener follow">Open in app<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="10" height="10" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 10 10" class="dt"><path fill="currentColor" d="M.985 8.485a.375.375 0 1 0 .53.53zM8.75 1.25h.375A.375.375 0 0 0 8.75.875zM8.375 6.5a.375.375 0 1 0 .75 0zM3.5.875a.375.375 0 1 0 0 .75zm-1.985 8.14 7.5-7.5-.53-.53-7.5 7.5zm6.86-7.765V6.5h.75V1.25zM3.5 1.625h5.25v-.75H3.5z"></path></svg></a><div class="ab q"><p class="bf b dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg du"><span><button class="bf b dx dy eh dz ea ei eb ec ej ek ee el em eg eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd bm fe ff" data-testid="headerSignUpButton">Sign up</button></span></p><div class="ax l"><p class="bf b dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg du"><span><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" data-testid="headerSignInButton" rel="noopener follow" href="/m/signin?operation=login&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fmikewcurtis%2Fconfidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368&source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------global_nav-----------">Sign in</a></span></p></div></div></div><div class="p q r ab ac"><div class="ab q ae"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at ab" aria-label="Homepage" data-testid="headerMediumLogo" rel="noopener follow" href="/?source=---top_nav_layout_nav----------------------------------"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="719" height="160" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 719 160" class="au av aw"><path fill="#242424" d="m174.104 9.734.215-.047V8.02H130.39L89.6 103.89 48.81 8.021H1.472v1.666l.212.047c8.018 1.81 12.09 4.509 12.09 14.242V137.93c0 9.734-4.087 12.433-12.106 14.243l-.212.047v1.671h32.118v-1.665l-.213-.048c-8.018-1.809-12.089-4.509-12.089-14.242V30.586l52.399 123.305h2.972l53.925-126.743V140.75c-.687 7.688-4.721 10.062-11.982 11.701l-.215.05v1.652h55.948v-1.652l-.215-.05c-7.269-1.639-11.4-4.013-12.087-11.701l-.037-116.774h.037c0-9.733 4.071-12.432 12.087-14.242m25.555 75.488c.915-20.474 8.268-35.252 20.606-35.507 3.806.063 6.998 1.312 9.479 3.714 5.272 5.118 7.751 15.812 7.368 31.793zm-.553 5.77h65.573v-.275c-.186-15.656-4.721-27.834-13.466-36.196-7.559-7.227-18.751-11.203-30.507-11.203h-.263c-6.101 0-13.584 1.48-18.909 4.16-6.061 2.807-11.407 7.003-15.855 12.511-7.161 8.874-11.499 20.866-12.554 34.343q-.05.606-.092 1.212a50 50 0 0 0-.065 1.151 85.807 85.807 0 0 0-.094 5.689c.71 30.524 17.198 54.917 46.483 54.917 25.705 0 40.675-18.791 44.407-44.013l-1.886-.664c-6.557 13.556-18.334 21.771-31.738 20.769-18.297-1.369-32.314-19.922-31.042-42.395m139.722 41.359c-2.151 5.101-6.639 7.908-12.653 7.908s-11.513-4.129-15.418-11.63c-4.197-8.053-6.405-19.436-6.405-32.92 0-28.067 8.729-46.22 22.24-46.22 5.657 0 10.111 2.807 12.236 7.704zm43.499 20.008c-8.019-1.897-12.089-4.722-12.089-14.951V1.309l-48.716 14.353v1.757l.299-.024c6.72-.543 11.278.386 13.925 2.83 2.072 1.915 3.082 4.853 3.082 8.987v18.66c-4.803-3.067-10.516-4.56-17.448-4.56-14.059 0-26.909 5.92-36.176 16.672-9.66 11.205-14.767 26.518-14.767 44.278-.003 31.72 15.612 53.039 38.851 53.039 13.595 0 24.533-7.449 29.54-20.013v16.865h43.711v-1.746zM424.1 19.819c0-9.904-7.468-17.374-17.375-17.374-9.859 0-17.573 7.632-17.573 17.374s7.721 17.374 17.573 17.374c9.907 0 17.375-7.47 17.375-17.374m11.499 132.546c-8.019-1.897-12.089-4.722-12.089-14.951h-.035V43.635l-43.714 12.551v1.705l.263.024c9.458.842 12.047 4.1 12.047 15.152v81.086h43.751v-1.746zm112.013 0c-8.018-1.897-12.089-4.722-12.089-14.951V43.635l-41.621 12.137v1.71l.246.026c7.733.813 9.967 4.257 9.967 15.36v59.279c-2.578 5.102-7.415 8.131-13.274 8.336-9.503 0-14.736-6.419-14.736-18.073V43.638l-43.714 12.55v1.703l.262.024c9.459.84 12.05 4.097 12.05 15.152v50.17a56.3 56.3 0 0 0 .91 10.444l.787 3.423c3.701 13.262 13.398 20.197 28.59 20.197 12.868 0 24.147-7.966 29.115-20.43v17.311h43.714v-1.747zm169.818 1.788v-1.749l-.213-.05c-8.7-2.006-12.089-5.789-12.089-13.49v-63.79c0-19.89-11.171-31.761-29.883-31.761-13.64 0-25.141 7.882-29.569 20.16-3.517-13.01-13.639-20.16-28.606-20.16-13.146 0-23.449 6.938-27.869 18.657V43.643L545.487 55.68v1.715l.263.024c9.345.829 12.047 4.181 12.047 14.95v81.784h40.787v-1.746l-.215-.053c-6.941-1.631-9.181-4.606-9.181-12.239V66.998c1.836-4.289 5.537-9.37 12.853-9.37 9.086 0 13.692 6.296 13.692 18.697v77.828h40.797v-1.746l-.215-.053c-6.94-1.631-9.18-4.606-9.18-12.239V75.066a42 42 0 0 0-.578-7.26c1.947-4.661 5.86-10.177 13.475-10.177 9.214 0 13.691 6.114 13.691 18.696v77.828z"></path></svg></a><div class="ax h"><div class="ab ay az ba bb q bc bd"><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false" aria-describedby="searchResults" aria-labelledby="searchResults"></div><div class="bn bo ab"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4.092 11.06a6.95 6.95 0 1 1 13.9 0 6.95 6.95 0 0 1-13.9 0m6.95-8.05a8.05 8.05 0 1 0 5.13 14.26l3.75 3.75a.56.56 0 1 0 .79-.79l-3.73-3.73A8.05 8.05 0 0 0 11.042 3z" clip-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></div><input role="combobox" aria-controls="searchResults" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="search" data-testid="headerSearchInput" tabindex="0" class="ay be bf bg z bh bi bj bk bl" placeholder="Search" value=""/></div></div></div><div class="h k w fg fh"><div class="fi ab"><span><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" data-testid="headerWriteButton" rel="noopener follow" href="/m/signin?operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fnew-story&source=---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------new_post_topnav-----------"><div class="bf b bg z du fj fk ab q fl fm"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-label="Write"><path fill="currentColor" d="M14 4a.5.5 0 0 0 0-1zm7 6a.5.5 0 0 0-1 0zm-7-7H4v1h10zM3 4v16h1V4zm1 17h16v-1H4zm17-1V10h-1v10zm-1 1a1 1 0 0 0 1-1h-1zM3 20a1 1 0 0 0 1 1v-1zM4 3a1 1 0 0 0-1 1h1z"></path><path stroke="currentColor" d="m17.5 4.5-8.458 8.458a.25.25 0 0 0-.06.098l-.824 2.47a.25.25 0 0 0 .316.316l2.47-.823a.25.25 0 0 0 .098-.06L19.5 6.5m-2-2 2.323-2.323a.25.25 0 0 1 .354 0l1.646 1.646a.25.25 0 0 1 0 .354L19.5 6.5m-2-2 2 2"></path></svg><div class="dt l">Write</div></div></a></span></div></div><div class="k j i d"><div class="fi ab"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" data-testid="headerSearchButton" rel="noopener follow" href="/search?source=---top_nav_layout_nav----------------------------------"><div class="bf b bg z du fj fk ab q fl fm"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-label="Search"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4.092 11.06a6.95 6.95 0 1 1 13.9 0 6.95 6.95 0 0 1-13.9 0m6.95-8.05a8.05 8.05 0 1 0 5.13 14.26l3.75 3.75a.56.56 0 1 0 .79-.79l-3.73-3.73A8.05 8.05 0 0 0 11.042 3z" clip-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></div></a></div></div><div class="fi h k j"><div class="ab q"><p class="bf b dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg du"><span><button class="bf b dx dy eh dz ea ei eb ec ej ek ee el em eg eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd bm fe ff" data-testid="headerSignUpButton">Sign up</button></span></p><div class="ax l"><p class="bf b dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg du"><span><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" data-testid="headerSignInButton" rel="noopener follow" href="/m/signin?operation=login&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fmikewcurtis%2Fconfidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368&source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------global_nav-----------">Sign in</a></span></p></div></div></div><div class="l" aria-hidden="false"><button class="ay fn am ab q ao fo fp fq" aria-label="user options menu" data-testid="headerUserIcon"><div class="l fj"><img alt="" class="l fd by bz ca cx" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:64:64/1*dmbNkD5D-u45r44go_cf0g.png" width="32" height="32" loading="lazy" role="presentation"/><div class="fr by l bz ca fs n ay ft"></div></div></button></div></div></div><div class="l"><div class="fu fv fw fx fy l"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"></div></div><article class="meteredContent"><div class="l"><div class="l"><span class="l"></span><section><div><div class="fs gi gj gk gl gm"></div><div><div class="speechify-ignore l"><div class="gn go gp gq gr l"></div><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><div class="cl ab gs"><div class="gv ab"><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><button class="l ay ao am" aria-label="Member-only story"><div class="h k j i d"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16" height="16" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 64 64"><path fill="#FFC017" d="m39.637 40.831-5.771 15.871a1.99 1.99 0 0 1-3.732 0l-5.771-15.87a2.02 2.02 0 0 0-1.194-1.195L7.298 33.866a1.99 1.99 0 0 1 0-3.732l15.87-5.771a2.02 2.02 0 0 0 1.195-1.194l5.771-15.871a1.99 1.99 0 0 1 3.732 0l5.771 15.87a2.02 2.02 0 0 0 1.194 1.195l15.871 5.771a1.99 1.99 0 0 1 0 3.732l-15.87 5.771a2.02 2.02 0 0 0-1.195 1.194"></path></svg></div></div></div><div class="s u w fg fh q"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16" height="16" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 64 64" class="gt gu"><path fill="#FFC017" d="m39.637 40.831-5.771 15.871a1.99 1.99 0 0 1-3.732 0l-5.771-15.87a2.02 2.02 0 0 0-1.194-1.195L7.298 33.866a1.99 1.99 0 0 1 0-3.732l15.87-5.771a2.02 2.02 0 0 0 1.195-1.194l5.771-15.871a1.99 1.99 0 0 1 3.732 0l5.771 15.87a2.02 2.02 0 0 0 1.194 1.195l15.871 5.771a1.99 1.99 0 0 1 0 3.732l-15.87 5.771a2.02 2.02 0 0 0-1.195 1.194"></path></svg><p class="bf b bg z du">Member-only story</p></div></button></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="gw gx gy gz ha"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><div><h1 id="c8a5" class="pw-post-title hb hc hd bf he hf hg hh hi hj hk hl hm hn ho hp hq hr hs ht hu hv bk" data-testid="storyTitle">Confidence doesn’t just “poof” out of nowhere. 💨</h1></div><div><h2 id="ed25" class="pw-subtitle-paragraph hw hc hd bf b hx hy hz ia ib ic id ie if ig ih ii ij ik il cq du">Without a foundation of preparation, confidence crumbles.</h2><div><div class="speechify-ignore ab cp"><div class="speechify-ignore bh l"><div class="im in io ip iq ab"><div><div class="ab ir"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><a rel="noopener follow" href="/@mikewcurtis?source=post_page---byline--e9739bdcd368--------------------------------"><div class="l is it by iu iv"><div class="l fj"><img alt="Mike Curtis" class="l fd by dd de cx" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:88:88/1*GOLauy7RSNYvWOMtbCEwAA.jpeg" width="44" height="44" loading="lazy" data-testid="authorPhoto"/><div class="iw by l dd de fs n ix ft"></div></div></div></a></div></div><div class="iy ab fj"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><a href="https://medium.com/mikewcurtis?source=post_page---byline--e9739bdcd368--------------------------------" rel="noopener follow"><div class="l iz ja by iu jb"><div class="l fj"><img alt="The You Design System" class="l fd by br jc cx" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:48:48/1*28p_LOPOS8Ul5TBUpsowdQ.png" width="24" height="24" loading="lazy" data-testid="publicationPhoto"/><div class="iw by l br jc fs n ix ft"></div></div></div></a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="bn bh l"><div class="ab"><div style="flex:1"><span class="bf b bg z bk"><div class="jd ab q"><div class="ab q je"><div class="ab q"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><p class="bf b jf jg bk"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar jh" data-testid="authorName" rel="noopener follow" href="/@mikewcurtis?source=post_page---byline--e9739bdcd368--------------------------------">Mike Curtis</a></p></div></div></div><span class="ji jj" aria-hidden="true"><span class="bf b bg z du">·</span></span><p class="bf b jf jg du"><span><a class="jk jl ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar ex jm jn" rel="noopener follow" href="/m/signin?actionUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F_%2Fsubscribe%2Fuser%2F9254e089ee39&operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fmikewcurtis%2Fconfidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368&user=Mike+Curtis&userId=9254e089ee39&source=post_page-9254e089ee39--byline--e9739bdcd368---------------------post_header-----------">Follow</a></span></p></div></div></span></div></div><div class="l jo"><span class="bf b bg z du"><div class="ab cn jp jq jr"><div class="js jt ab"><div class="bf b bg z du ab ju"><span class="gt l jo">Published in</span><div><div class="l" aria-hidden="false"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar jh ab q" data-testid="publicationName" href="https://medium.com/mikewcurtis?source=post_page---byline--e9739bdcd368--------------------------------" rel="noopener follow"><p class="bf b bg z jv jw jx jy jz ka kb kc bk">The You Design System</p></a></div></div></div><div class="h k"><span class="ji jj" aria-hidden="true"><span class="bf b bg z du">·</span></span></div></div><span class="bf b bg z du"><div class="ab ae"><span data-testid="storyReadTime">2 min read</span><div class="kd ke l" aria-hidden="true"><span class="l" aria-hidden="true"><span class="bf b bg z du">·</span></span></div><span data-testid="storyPublishDate">Oct 17, 2024</span></div></span></div></span></div></div></div><div class="ab cp kf kg kh ki kj kk kl km kn ko kp kq kr ks kt ku"><div class="h k w fg fh q"><div class="lk l"><div class="ab q ll lm"><div class="pw-multi-vote-icon fj gt ln lo lp"><span><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" data-testid="headerClapButton" rel="noopener follow" href="/m/signin?actionUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F_%2Fvote%2Fmikewcurtis%2Fe9739bdcd368&operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fmikewcurtis%2Fconfidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368&user=Mike+Curtis&userId=9254e089ee39&source=---header_actions--e9739bdcd368---------------------clap_footer-----------"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><div class="lq ao lr ls lt lu am lv lw lx lp"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-label="clap"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M11.37.828 12 3.282l.63-2.454zM13.916 3.953l1.523-2.112-1.184-.39zM8.589 1.84l1.522 2.112-.337-2.501zM18.523 18.92c-.86.86-1.75 1.246-2.62 1.33a6 6 0 0 0 .407-.372c2.388-2.389 2.86-4.951 1.399-7.623l-.912-1.603-.79-1.672c-.26-.56-.194-.98.203-1.288a.7.7 0 0 1 .546-.132c.283.046.546.231.728.5l2.363 4.157c.976 1.624 1.141 4.237-1.324 6.702m-10.999-.438L3.37 14.328a.828.828 0 0 1 .585-1.408.83.83 0 0 1 .585.242l2.158 2.157a.365.365 0 0 0 .516-.516l-2.157-2.158-1.449-1.449a.826.826 0 0 1 1.167-1.17l3.438 3.44a.363.363 0 0 0 .516 0 .364.364 0 0 0 0-.516L5.293 9.513l-.97-.97a.826.826 0 0 1 0-1.166.84.84 0 0 1 1.167 0l.97.968 3.437 3.436a.36.36 0 0 0 .517 0 .366.366 0 0 0 0-.516L6.977 7.83a.82.82 0 0 1-.241-.584.82.82 0 0 1 .824-.826c.219 0 .43.087.584.242l5.787 5.787a.366.366 0 0 0 .587-.415l-1.117-2.363c-.26-.56-.194-.98.204-1.289a.7.7 0 0 1 .546-.132c.283.046.545.232.727.501l2.193 3.86c1.302 2.38.883 4.59-1.277 6.75-1.156 1.156-2.602 1.627-4.19 1.367-1.418-.236-2.866-1.033-4.079-2.246M10.75 5.971l2.12 2.12c-.41.502-.465 1.17-.128 1.89l.22.465-3.523-3.523a.8.8 0 0 1-.097-.368c0-.22.086-.428.241-.584a.847.847 0 0 1 1.167 0m7.355 1.705c-.31-.461-.746-.758-1.23-.837a1.44 1.44 0 0 0-1.11.275c-.312.24-.505.543-.59.881a1.74 1.74 0 0 0-.906-.465 1.47 1.47 0 0 0-.82.106l-2.182-2.182a1.56 1.56 0 0 0-2.2 0 1.54 1.54 0 0 0-.396.701 1.56 1.56 0 0 0-2.21-.01 1.55 1.55 0 0 0-.416.753c-.624-.624-1.649-.624-2.237-.037a1.557 1.557 0 0 0 0 2.2c-.239.1-.501.238-.715.453a1.56 1.56 0 0 0 0 2.2l.516.515a1.556 1.556 0 0 0-.753 2.615L7.01 19c1.32 1.319 2.909 2.189 4.475 2.449q.482.08.971.08c.85 0 1.653-.198 2.393-.579.231.033.46.054.686.054 1.266 0 2.457-.52 3.505-1.567 2.763-2.763 2.552-5.734 1.439-7.586z" clip-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></div></div></div></a></span></div><div class="pw-multi-vote-count l ly lz ma mb mc md me"><p class="bf b dv z du"><span class="mf">--</span></p></div></div></div><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><button class="ao lq mg mh ab q fk mi mj" aria-label="responses"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" class="hu"><path d="M18.006 16.803c1.533-1.456 2.234-3.325 2.234-5.321C20.24 7.357 16.709 4 12.191 4S4 7.357 4 11.482c0 4.126 3.674 7.482 8.191 7.482.817 0 1.622-.111 2.393-.327.231.2.48.391.744.559 1.06.693 2.203 1.044 3.399 1.044.224-.008.4-.112.486-.287a.49.49 0 0 0-.042-.518c-.495-.67-.845-1.364-1.04-2.057a4 4 0 0 1-.125-.598zm-3.122 1.055-.067-.223-.315.096a8 8 0 0 1-2.311.338c-4.023 0-7.292-2.955-7.292-6.587 0-3.633 3.269-6.588 7.292-6.588 4.014 0 7.112 2.958 7.112 6.593 0 1.794-.608 3.469-2.027 4.72l-.195.168v.255c0 .056 0 .151.016.295.025.231.081.478.154.733.154.558.398 1.117.722 1.659a5.3 5.3 0 0 1-2.165-.845c-.276-.176-.714-.383-.941-.59z"></path></svg></button></div></div></div><div class="ab q kv kw kx ky kz la lb lc ld le lf lg lh li lj"><div class="mk k j i d"></div><div class="h k"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><span><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" data-testid="headerBookmarkButton" rel="noopener follow" href="/m/signin?actionUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F_%2Fbookmark%2Fp%2Fe9739bdcd368&operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fmikewcurtis%2Fconfidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368&source=---header_actions--e9739bdcd368---------------------bookmark_footer-----------"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="25" height="25" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 25 25" class="du ml" aria-label="Add to list bookmark button"><path fill="currentColor" d="M18 2.5a.5.5 0 0 1 1 0V5h2.5a.5.5 0 0 1 0 1H19v2.5a.5.5 0 1 1-1 0V6h-2.5a.5.5 0 0 1 0-1H18zM7 7a1 1 0 0 1 1-1h3.5a.5.5 0 0 0 0-1H8a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v14a.5.5 0 0 0 .805.396L12.5 17l5.695 4.396A.5.5 0 0 0 19 21v-8.5a.5.5 0 0 0-1 0v7.485l-5.195-4.012a.5.5 0 0 0-.61 0L7 19.985z"></path></svg></a></span></div></div></div><div class="fd mm cn"><div class="l ae"><div class="ab cb"><div class="mn mo mp mq mr ms ci bh"><div class="ab"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false" aria-describedby="postFooterSocialMenu" aria-labelledby="postFooterSocialMenu"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><button aria-controls="postFooterSocialMenu" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Share Post" data-testid="headerSocialShareButton" class="af fk ah ai aj ak al mt an ao ap ex mu mv mj mw mx my mz na s nb nc nd ne nf ng nh u ni nj nk"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M15.218 4.931a.4.4 0 0 1-.118.132l.012.006a.45.45 0 0 1-.292.074.5.5 0 0 1-.3-.13l-2.02-2.02v7.07c0 .28-.23.5-.5.5s-.5-.22-.5-.5v-7.04l-2 2a.45.45 0 0 1-.57.04h-.02a.4.4 0 0 1-.16-.3.4.4 0 0 1 .1-.32l2.8-2.8a.5.5 0 0 1 .7 0l2.8 2.79a.42.42 0 0 1 .068.498m-.106.138.008.004v-.01zM16 7.063h1.5a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v10a2 2 0 0 1-2 2h-11c-1.1 0-2-.9-2-2v-10a2 2 0 0 1 2-2H8a.5.5 0 0 1 .35.15.5.5 0 0 1 .15.35.5.5 0 0 1-.15.35.5.5 0 0 1-.35.15H6.4c-.5 0-.9.4-.9.9v10.2a.9.9 0 0 0 .9.9h11.2c.5 0 .9-.4.9-.9v-10.2c0-.5-.4-.9-.9-.9H16a.5.5 0 0 1 0-1" clip-rule="evenodd"></path></svg><div class="j i d"><p class="bf b bg z du">Share</p></div></button></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="nl"><div class="ab cb"><div class="mn nm mo nn mp no cf np cg nq ci bh"><figure class="nu nv nw nx ny nl nz oa paragraph-image"><div role="button" tabindex="0" class="ob oc fj od bh oe"><div class="nr ns nt"><picture><source srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/format:webp/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/format:webp/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/format:webp/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/format:webp/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/format:webp/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:2000/format:webp/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png 2000w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 1000px" type="image/webp"/><source data-testid="og" srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:2000/1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png 2000w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 1000px"/><img alt="the word confidence in a cloud" class="bh ms of c" width="1000" height="561" loading="eager"/></picture></div></div><figcaption class="og ff oh nr ns oi oj bf b bg z du">Confidence and preparation go hand-in-hand.</figcaption></figure></div></div></div><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><p id="dcdb" class="pw-post-body-paragraph ok ol hd om b hx on oo op ia oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd pe pf gw bk pg"><span class="l ph pi pj bo pk pl pm pn po fj">As</span> much as we might think confidence can magically appear, it’s not something we’re born with or something that suddenly shows up when we need it most. It is built — layer by layer — through preparation.</p><p id="16a3" class="pw-post-body-paragraph ok ol hd om b hx on oo op ia oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd pe pf gw bk">Confidence and preparation go hand-in-hand.</p><p id="da13" class="pw-post-body-paragraph ok ol hd om b hx on oo op ia oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd pe pf gw bk">Preparation is more than gathering information or getting organized. It means equipping yourself with the tools to handle whatever comes your way. The more prepared we are, the more naturally confident we feel. Preparation is you, building a foundation before stepping into something new. You can’t stand tall on a shaky base.</p><p id="ad86" class="pw-post-body-paragraph ok ol hd om b hx on oo op ia oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd pe pf gw bk">Confidence through preparation means doing the work beforehand — whether rehearsing for an important presentation, prepping for an interview, or honing a skill before using it. When you’ve taken the time to prepare, you eliminate the uncertainty that often holds us back. That preparation becomes your safety net, allowing you to step into any situation with the confident knowledge that you’re ready.</p><p id="15df" class="pw-post-body-paragraph ok ol hd om b hx on oo op ia oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd pe pf gw bk">There’s a psychological component here too.</p><p id="4164" class="pw-post-body-paragraph ok ol hd om b hx on oo op ia oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd pe pf gw bk">Preparation engages your mind in a way that builds self-assurance. When you rehearse or practice, your brain becomes familiar with the…</p></div></div></div></div></section></div></div></article></div><div class="l"></div><footer class="pp pq pr ps pt pu pv pw gv ab q px jb c"><div class="l ae"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><div class="ab cp py"><div class="ab q ll"><div class="pz l"><span class="l qa qb qc e d"><div class="ab q ll lm"><div class="pw-multi-vote-icon fj gt ln lo lp"><span><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" data-testid="footerClapButton" rel="noopener follow" href="/m/signin?actionUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F_%2Fvote%2Fmikewcurtis%2Fe9739bdcd368&operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fmikewcurtis%2Fconfidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368&user=Mike+Curtis&userId=9254e089ee39&source=---footer_actions--e9739bdcd368---------------------clap_footer-----------"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><div class="lq ao lr ls lt lu am lv lw lx lp"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-label="clap"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M11.37.828 12 3.282l.63-2.454zM13.916 3.953l1.523-2.112-1.184-.39zM8.589 1.84l1.522 2.112-.337-2.501zM18.523 18.92c-.86.86-1.75 1.246-2.62 1.33a6 6 0 0 0 .407-.372c2.388-2.389 2.86-4.951 1.399-7.623l-.912-1.603-.79-1.672c-.26-.56-.194-.98.203-1.288a.7.7 0 0 1 .546-.132c.283.046.546.231.728.5l2.363 4.157c.976 1.624 1.141 4.237-1.324 6.702m-10.999-.438L3.37 14.328a.828.828 0 0 1 .585-1.408.83.83 0 0 1 .585.242l2.158 2.157a.365.365 0 0 0 .516-.516l-2.157-2.158-1.449-1.449a.826.826 0 0 1 1.167-1.17l3.438 3.44a.363.363 0 0 0 .516 0 .364.364 0 0 0 0-.516L5.293 9.513l-.97-.97a.826.826 0 0 1 0-1.166.84.84 0 0 1 1.167 0l.97.968 3.437 3.436a.36.36 0 0 0 .517 0 .366.366 0 0 0 0-.516L6.977 7.83a.82.82 0 0 1-.241-.584.82.82 0 0 1 .824-.826c.219 0 .43.087.584.242l5.787 5.787a.366.366 0 0 0 .587-.415l-1.117-2.363c-.26-.56-.194-.98.204-1.289a.7.7 0 0 1 .546-.132c.283.046.545.232.727.501l2.193 3.86c1.302 2.38.883 4.59-1.277 6.75-1.156 1.156-2.602 1.627-4.19 1.367-1.418-.236-2.866-1.033-4.079-2.246M10.75 5.971l2.12 2.12c-.41.502-.465 1.17-.128 1.89l.22.465-3.523-3.523a.8.8 0 0 1-.097-.368c0-.22.086-.428.241-.584a.847.847 0 0 1 1.167 0m7.355 1.705c-.31-.461-.746-.758-1.23-.837a1.44 1.44 0 0 0-1.11.275c-.312.24-.505.543-.59.881a1.74 1.74 0 0 0-.906-.465 1.47 1.47 0 0 0-.82.106l-2.182-2.182a1.56 1.56 0 0 0-2.2 0 1.54 1.54 0 0 0-.396.701 1.56 1.56 0 0 0-2.21-.01 1.55 1.55 0 0 0-.416.753c-.624-.624-1.649-.624-2.237-.037a1.557 1.557 0 0 0 0 2.2c-.239.1-.501.238-.715.453a1.56 1.56 0 0 0 0 2.2l.516.515a1.556 1.556 0 0 0-.753 2.615L7.01 19c1.32 1.319 2.909 2.189 4.475 2.449q.482.08.971.08c.85 0 1.653-.198 2.393-.579.231.033.46.054.686.054 1.266 0 2.457-.52 3.505-1.567 2.763-2.763 2.552-5.734 1.439-7.586z" clip-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></div></div></div></a></span></div><div class="pw-multi-vote-count l ly lz ma mb mc md me"><p class="bf b dv z du"><span class="mf">--</span></p></div></div></span><span class="l h g f qd qe"><div class="ab q ll lm"><div class="pw-multi-vote-icon fj gt ln lo lp"><span><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" data-testid="footerClapButton" rel="noopener follow" href="/m/signin?actionUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F_%2Fvote%2Fmikewcurtis%2Fe9739bdcd368&operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fmikewcurtis%2Fconfidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368&user=Mike+Curtis&userId=9254e089ee39&source=---footer_actions--e9739bdcd368---------------------clap_footer-----------"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><div class="lq ao lr ls lt lu am lv lw lx lp"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-label="clap"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M11.37.828 12 3.282l.63-2.454zM13.916 3.953l1.523-2.112-1.184-.39zM8.589 1.84l1.522 2.112-.337-2.501zM18.523 18.92c-.86.86-1.75 1.246-2.62 1.33a6 6 0 0 0 .407-.372c2.388-2.389 2.86-4.951 1.399-7.623l-.912-1.603-.79-1.672c-.26-.56-.194-.98.203-1.288a.7.7 0 0 1 .546-.132c.283.046.546.231.728.5l2.363 4.157c.976 1.624 1.141 4.237-1.324 6.702m-10.999-.438L3.37 14.328a.828.828 0 0 1 .585-1.408.83.83 0 0 1 .585.242l2.158 2.157a.365.365 0 0 0 .516-.516l-2.157-2.158-1.449-1.449a.826.826 0 0 1 1.167-1.17l3.438 3.44a.363.363 0 0 0 .516 0 .364.364 0 0 0 0-.516L5.293 9.513l-.97-.97a.826.826 0 0 1 0-1.166.84.84 0 0 1 1.167 0l.97.968 3.437 3.436a.36.36 0 0 0 .517 0 .366.366 0 0 0 0-.516L6.977 7.83a.82.82 0 0 1-.241-.584.82.82 0 0 1 .824-.826c.219 0 .43.087.584.242l5.787 5.787a.366.366 0 0 0 .587-.415l-1.117-2.363c-.26-.56-.194-.98.204-1.289a.7.7 0 0 1 .546-.132c.283.046.545.232.727.501l2.193 3.86c1.302 2.38.883 4.59-1.277 6.75-1.156 1.156-2.602 1.627-4.19 1.367-1.418-.236-2.866-1.033-4.079-2.246M10.75 5.971l2.12 2.12c-.41.502-.465 1.17-.128 1.89l.22.465-3.523-3.523a.8.8 0 0 1-.097-.368c0-.22.086-.428.241-.584a.847.847 0 0 1 1.167 0m7.355 1.705c-.31-.461-.746-.758-1.23-.837a1.44 1.44 0 0 0-1.11.275c-.312.24-.505.543-.59.881a1.74 1.74 0 0 0-.906-.465 1.47 1.47 0 0 0-.82.106l-2.182-2.182a1.56 1.56 0 0 0-2.2 0 1.54 1.54 0 0 0-.396.701 1.56 1.56 0 0 0-2.21-.01 1.55 1.55 0 0 0-.416.753c-.624-.624-1.649-.624-2.237-.037a1.557 1.557 0 0 0 0 2.2c-.239.1-.501.238-.715.453a1.56 1.56 0 0 0 0 2.2l.516.515a1.556 1.556 0 0 0-.753 2.615L7.01 19c1.32 1.319 2.909 2.189 4.475 2.449q.482.08.971.08c.85 0 1.653-.198 2.393-.579.231.033.46.054.686.054 1.266 0 2.457-.52 3.505-1.567 2.763-2.763 2.552-5.734 1.439-7.586z" clip-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></div></div></div></a></span></div><div class="pw-multi-vote-count l ly lz ma mb mc md me"><p class="bf b dv z du"><span class="mf">--</span></p></div></div></span></div><div class="bq ab"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><button class="ao lq mg mh ab q fk mi mj" aria-label="responses"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" class="hu"><path d="M18.006 16.803c1.533-1.456 2.234-3.325 2.234-5.321C20.24 7.357 16.709 4 12.191 4S4 7.357 4 11.482c0 4.126 3.674 7.482 8.191 7.482.817 0 1.622-.111 2.393-.327.231.2.48.391.744.559 1.06.693 2.203 1.044 3.399 1.044.224-.008.4-.112.486-.287a.49.49 0 0 0-.042-.518c-.495-.67-.845-1.364-1.04-2.057a4 4 0 0 1-.125-.598zm-3.122 1.055-.067-.223-.315.096a8 8 0 0 1-2.311.338c-4.023 0-7.292-2.955-7.292-6.587 0-3.633 3.269-6.588 7.292-6.588 4.014 0 7.112 2.958 7.112 6.593 0 1.794-.608 3.469-2.027 4.72l-.195.168v.255c0 .056 0 .151.016.295.025.231.081.478.154.733.154.558.398 1.117.722 1.659a5.3 5.3 0 0 1-2.165-.845c-.276-.176-.714-.383-.941-.59z"></path></svg></button></div></div></div></div><div class="ab q"><div class="qf l jo"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><span><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" data-testid="footerBookmarkButton" rel="noopener follow" href="/m/signin?actionUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F_%2Fbookmark%2Fp%2Fe9739bdcd368&operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fmikewcurtis%2Fconfidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368&source=---footer_actions--e9739bdcd368---------------------bookmark_footer-----------"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="25" height="25" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 25 25" class="du ml" aria-label="Add to list bookmark button"><path fill="currentColor" d="M18 2.5a.5.5 0 0 1 1 0V5h2.5a.5.5 0 0 1 0 1H19v2.5a.5.5 0 1 1-1 0V6h-2.5a.5.5 0 0 1 0-1H18zM7 7a1 1 0 0 1 1-1h3.5a.5.5 0 0 0 0-1H8a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v14a.5.5 0 0 0 .805.396L12.5 17l5.695 4.396A.5.5 0 0 0 19 21v-8.5a.5.5 0 0 0-1 0v7.485l-5.195-4.012a.5.5 0 0 0-.61 0L7 19.985z"></path></svg></a></span></div></div></div><div class="qf l jo"><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false" aria-describedby="postFooterSocialMenu" aria-labelledby="postFooterSocialMenu"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><button aria-controls="postFooterSocialMenu" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Share Post" data-testid="footerSocialShareButton" class="af fk ah ai aj ak al mt an ao ap ex mu mv mj mw"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M15.218 4.931a.4.4 0 0 1-.118.132l.012.006a.45.45 0 0 1-.292.074.5.5 0 0 1-.3-.13l-2.02-2.02v7.07c0 .28-.23.5-.5.5s-.5-.22-.5-.5v-7.04l-2 2a.45.45 0 0 1-.57.04h-.02a.4.4 0 0 1-.16-.3.4.4 0 0 1 .1-.32l2.8-2.8a.5.5 0 0 1 .7 0l2.8 2.79a.42.42 0 0 1 .068.498m-.106.138.008.004v-.01zM16 7.063h1.5a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v10a2 2 0 0 1-2 2h-11c-1.1 0-2-.9-2-2v-10a2 2 0 0 1 2-2H8a.5.5 0 0 1 .35.15.5.5 0 0 1 .15.35.5.5 0 0 1-.15.35.5.5 0 0 1-.35.15H6.4c-.5 0-.9.4-.9.9v10.2a.9.9 0 0 0 .9.9h11.2c.5 0 .9-.4.9-.9v-10.2c0-.5-.4-.9-.9-.9H16a.5.5 0 0 1 0-1" clip-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></button></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></footer><div class="qg qh qi qj qk l bx"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><div class="ql l"><div class="ab qm qn qo jq jp"><div class="qp qq qr qs qt qu qv qw qx qy ab cp"><div class="h k"><a href="https://medium.com/mikewcurtis?source=post_page---post_publication_info--e9739bdcd368--------------------------------" rel="noopener follow"><div class="fj ab"><img alt="The You Design System" class="qz is it cx" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:96:96/1*28p_LOPOS8Ul5TBUpsowdQ.png" width="48" height="48" loading="lazy"/><div class="qz l it is fs n fr ra"></div></div></a></div><div class="j i d"><a href="https://medium.com/mikewcurtis?source=post_page---post_publication_info--e9739bdcd368--------------------------------" rel="noopener follow"><div class="fj ab"><img alt="The You Design System" class="qz rc rb cx" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:128:128/1*28p_LOPOS8Ul5TBUpsowdQ.png" width="64" height="64" loading="lazy"/><div class="qz l rb rc fs n fr ra"></div></div></a></div><div class="j i d rd jo"><div class="ab"></div></div></div><div class="ab co re"><div class="rf rg rh nn nm l"><a class="af ag ah aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at ab q" href="https://medium.com/mikewcurtis?source=post_page---post_publication_info--e9739bdcd368--------------------------------" rel="noopener follow"><h2 class="pw-author-name bf rj rk rl rm rn ro rp ot rq rr ox rs rt pb ru rv bk"><span class="gw ri">Published in <!-- -->The You Design System</span></h2></a><div class="rw ab ir"><div class="l jo"><span class="pw-follower-count bf b bg z du"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar jh" rel="noopener follow" href="/mikewcurtis/followers?source=post_page---post_publication_info--e9739bdcd368--------------------------------">710 Followers</a></span></div><div class="bf b bg z du ab ju"><span class="ji l" aria-hidden="true"><span class="bf b bg z du">·</span></span><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar jh" rel="noopener follow" href="/mikewcurtis/nobody-cares-about-you-your-career-or-your-job-search-aff46f724d5b?source=post_page---post_publication_info--e9739bdcd368--------------------------------">Last published <!-- -->1 day ago</a></div></div><div class="rx l"><p class="bf b bg z bk"><span class="gw">Helping businesses & individuals apply their UX skills to how they’re experienced by other people. Mike Curtis, Sr. UX Designer and author of The You Design System, has 21 years of experience in design, UX, marketing, e-commerce & sales.</span></p></div></div></div><div class="h k"><div class="ab"></div></div></div></div><div class="ab qm qn qo jq jp"><div class="qp qq qr qs qt qu qv qw qx qy ab cp"><div class="h k"><a tabindex="0" rel="noopener follow" href="/@mikewcurtis?source=post_page---post_author_info--e9739bdcd368--------------------------------"><div class="l fj"><img alt="Mike Curtis" class="l fd by it is cx" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:96:96/1*GOLauy7RSNYvWOMtbCEwAA.jpeg" width="48" height="48" loading="lazy"/><div class="fr by l it is fs n ay ra"></div></div></a></div><div class="j i d"><a tabindex="0" rel="noopener follow" href="/@mikewcurtis?source=post_page---post_author_info--e9739bdcd368--------------------------------"><div class="l fj"><img alt="Mike Curtis" class="l fd by rb rc cx" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:128:128/1*GOLauy7RSNYvWOMtbCEwAA.jpeg" width="64" height="64" loading="lazy"/><div class="fr by l rb rc fs n ay ra"></div></div></a></div><div class="j i d rd jo"><div class="ab"><span><button class="bf b bg z ry rz sa sb sc sd se ev ew sf sg sh fa fb fc fd bm fe ff">Follow</button></span></div></div></div><div class="ab co re"><div class="rf rg rh nn nm l"><a class="af ag ah aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at ab q" rel="noopener follow" href="/@mikewcurtis?source=post_page---post_author_info--e9739bdcd368--------------------------------"><h2 class="pw-author-name bf rj rk rl rm rn ro rp ot rq rr ox rs rt pb ru rv bk"><span class="gw ri">Written by <!-- -->Mike Curtis</span></h2></a><div class="rw ab ir"><div class="l jo"><span class="pw-follower-count bf b bg z du"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar jh" rel="noopener follow" href="/@mikewcurtis/followers?source=post_page---post_author_info--e9739bdcd368--------------------------------">4.91K Followers</a></span></div><div class="bf b bg z du ab ju"><span class="ji l" aria-hidden="true"><span class="bf b bg z du">·</span></span><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar jh" rel="noopener follow" href="/@mikewcurtis/following?source=post_page---post_author_info--e9739bdcd368--------------------------------">396 Following</a></div></div><div class="rx l"><p class="bf b bg z bk"><span class="gw">Senior UX Designer / New articles weekly on design & self-improvement / Helping you design the "UX of You" / 22+ years in design, marketing, & sales.</span></p></div></div></div><div class="h k"><div class="ab"><span><button class="bf b bg z ry rz sa sb sc sd se ev ew sf sg sh fa fb fc fd bm fe ff">Follow</button></span></div></div></div><div class="si bh sj sk"></div></div></div><div class="h k j"><div class="si bh sj sl"></div><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><div class="sm ab ll jr"><div class="sn so l"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" href="https://help.medium.com/hc/en-us?source=post_page-----e9739bdcd368--------------------------------" rel="noopener follow"><p class="bf b dv z du">Help</p></a></div><div class="sn so l"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" href="https://medium.statuspage.io/?source=post_page-----e9739bdcd368--------------------------------" rel="noopener follow"><p class="bf b dv z du">Status</p></a></div><div class="sn so l"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" rel="noopener follow" href="/about?autoplay=1&source=post_page-----e9739bdcd368--------------------------------"><p class="bf b dv z du">About</p></a></div><div class="sn so l"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" rel="noopener follow" href="/jobs-at-medium/work-at-medium-959d1a85284e?source=post_page-----e9739bdcd368--------------------------------"><p class="bf b dv z du">Careers</p></a></div><div class="sn so l"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" href="pressinquiries@medium.com?source=post_page-----e9739bdcd368--------------------------------" rel="noopener follow"><p class="bf b dv z du">Press</p></a></div><div class="sn so l"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" href="https://blog.medium.com/?source=post_page-----e9739bdcd368--------------------------------" rel="noopener follow"><p class="bf b dv z du">Blog</p></a></div><div class="sn so l"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" href="https://policy.medium.com/medium-privacy-policy-f03bf92035c9?source=post_page-----e9739bdcd368--------------------------------" rel="noopener follow"><p class="bf b dv z du">Privacy</p></a></div><div class="sn so l"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" href="https://policy.medium.com/medium-terms-of-service-9db0094a1e0f?source=post_page-----e9739bdcd368--------------------------------" rel="noopener follow"><p class="bf b dv z du">Terms</p></a></div><div class="sn so l"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" href="https://speechify.com/medium?source=post_page-----e9739bdcd368--------------------------------" rel="noopener follow"><p class="bf b dv z du">Text to speech</p></a></div><div class="sn l"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" rel="noopener follow" href="/business?source=post_page-----e9739bdcd368--------------------------------"><p class="bf b dv z du">Teams</p></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><script>window.__BUILD_ID__="main-20241126-181518-0cb59a020f"</script><script>window.__GRAPHQL_URI__ = "https://medium.com/_/graphql"</script><script>window.__PRELOADED_STATE__ = {"algolia":{"queries":{}},"cache":{"experimentGroupSet":true,"reason":"","group":"enabled","tags":["group-edgeCachePosts","post-e9739bdcd368","user-9254e089ee39","collection-b69dbe9fb96f"],"serverVariantState":"44136fa355b3678a1146ad16f7e8649e94fb4fc21fe77e8310c060f61caaff8a","middlewareEnabled":true,"cacheStatus":"DYNAMIC","shouldUseCache":true,"vary":[],"lohpSummerUpsellEnabled":false,"publicationHierarchyEnabledWeb":false,"postBottomResponsesEnabled":false},"client":{"hydrated":false,"isUs":false,"isNativeMedium":false,"isSafariMobile":false,"isSafari":false,"isFirefox":false,"routingEntity":{"type":"DEFAULT","explicit":false},"viewerIsBot":false},"debug":{"requestId":"966891f9-c226-455e-ba20-7a7da8bd684f","hybridDevServices":[],"originalSpanCarrier":{"traceparent":"00-ec219c8c2480c09229c2af314f3c563b-1a781763ec8fefaa-01"}},"multiVote":{"clapsPerPost":{}},"navigation":{"branch":{"show":null,"hasRendered":null,"blockedByCTA":false},"hideGoogleOneTap":false,"hasRenderedAlternateUserBanner":null,"currentLocation":"https:\u002F\u002Fmedium.com\u002Fmikewcurtis\u002Fconfidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368","host":"medium.com","hostname":"medium.com","referrer":"","hasSetReferrer":false,"susiModal":{"step":null,"operation":"register"},"postRead":false,"partnerProgram":{"selectedCountryCode":null},"queryString":"","currentHash":""},"config":{"nodeEnv":"production","version":"main-20241126-181518-0cb59a020f","target":"production","productName":"Medium","publicUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn-client.medium.com\u002Flite","authDomain":"medium.com","authGoogleClientId":"216296035834-k1k6qe060s2tp2a2jam4ljdcms00sttg.apps.googleusercontent.com","favicon":"production","glyphUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fglyph.medium.com","branchKey":"key_live_ofxXr2qTrrU9NqURK8ZwEhknBxiI6KBm","algolia":{"appId":"MQ57UUUQZ2","apiKeySearch":"394474ced050e3911ae2249ecc774921","indexPrefix":"medium_","host":"-dsn.algolia.net"},"recaptchaKey":"6Lfc37IUAAAAAKGGtC6rLS13R1Hrw_BqADfS1LRk","recaptcha3Key":"6Lf8R9wUAAAAABMI_85Wb8melS7Zj6ziuf99Yot5","recaptchaEnterpriseKeyId":"6Le-uGgpAAAAAPprRaokM8AKthQ9KNGdoxaGUvVp","datadog":{"applicationId":"6702d87d-a7e0-42fe-bbcb-95b469547ea0","clientToken":"pub853ea8d17ad6821d9f8f11861d23dfed","rumToken":"pubf9cc52896502b9413b68ba36fc0c7162","context":{"deployment":{"target":"production","tag":"main-20241126-181518-0cb59a020f","commit":"0cb59a020f4453d0900f671f1a6576feecc55e74"}},"datacenter":"us"},"googleAnalyticsCode":"G-7JY7T788PK","googlePay":{"apiVersion":"2","apiVersionMinor":"0","merchantId":"BCR2DN6TV7EMTGBM","merchantName":"Medium","instanceMerchantId":"13685562959212738550"},"applePay":{"version":3},"signInWallCustomDomainCollectionIds":["3a8144eabfe3","336d898217ee","61061eb0c96b","138adf9c44c","819cc2aaeee0"],"mediumMastodonDomainName":"me.dm","mediumOwnedAndOperatedCollectionIds":["8a9336e5bb4","b7e45b22fec3","193b68bd4fba","8d6b8a439e32","54c98c43354d","3f6ecf56618","d944778ce714","92d2092dc598","ae2a65f35510","1285ba81cada","544c7006046e","fc8964313712","40187e704f1c","88d9857e584e","7b6769f2748b","bcc38c8f6edf","cef6983b292","cb8577c9149e","444d13b52878","713d7dbc99b0","ef8e90590e66","191186aaafa0","55760f21cdc5","9dc80918cc93","bdc4052bbdba","8ccfed20cbb2"],"tierOneDomains":["medium.com","thebolditalic.com","arcdigital.media","towardsdatascience.com","uxdesign.cc","codeburst.io","psiloveyou.xyz","writingcooperative.com","entrepreneurshandbook.co","prototypr.io","betterhumans.coach.me","theascent.pub"],"topicsToFollow":["d61cf867d93f","8a146bc21b28","1eca0103fff3","4d562ee63426","aef1078a3ef5","e15e46793f8d","6158eb913466","55f1c20aba7a","3d18b94f6858","4861fee224fd","63c6f1f93ee","1d98b3a9a871","decb52b64abf","ae5d4995e225","830cded25262"],"topicToTagMappings":{"accessibility":"accessibility","addiction":"addiction","android-development":"android-development","art":"art","artificial-intelligence":"artificial-intelligence","astrology":"astrology","basic-income":"basic-income","beauty":"beauty","biotech":"biotech","blockchain":"blockchain","books":"books","business":"business","cannabis":"cannabis","cities":"cities","climate-change":"climate-change","comics":"comics","coronavirus":"coronavirus","creativity":"creativity","cryptocurrency":"cryptocurrency","culture":"culture","cybersecurity":"cybersecurity","data-science":"data-science","design":"design","digital-life":"digital-life","disability":"disability","economy":"economy","education":"education","equality":"equality","family":"family","feminism":"feminism","fiction":"fiction","film":"film","fitness":"fitness","food":"food","freelancing":"freelancing","future":"future","gadgets":"gadgets","gaming":"gaming","gun-control":"gun-control","health":"health","history":"history","humor":"humor","immigration":"immigration","ios-development":"ios-development","javascript":"javascript","justice":"justice","language":"language","leadership":"leadership","lgbtqia":"lgbtqia","lifestyle":"lifestyle","machine-learning":"machine-learning","makers":"makers","marketing":"marketing","math":"math","media":"media","mental-health":"mental-health","mindfulness":"mindfulness","money":"money","music":"music","neuroscience":"neuroscience","nonfiction":"nonfiction","outdoors":"outdoors","parenting":"parenting","pets":"pets","philosophy":"philosophy","photography":"photography","podcasts":"podcast","poetry":"poetry","politics":"politics","privacy":"privacy","product-management":"product-management","productivity":"productivity","programming":"programming","psychedelics":"psychedelics","psychology":"psychology","race":"race","relationships":"relationships","religion":"religion","remote-work":"remote-work","san-francisco":"san-francisco","science":"science","self":"self","self-driving-cars":"self-driving-cars","sexuality":"sexuality","social-media":"social-media","society":"society","software-engineering":"software-engineering","space":"space","spirituality":"spirituality","sports":"sports","startups":"startup","style":"style","technology":"technology","transportation":"transportation","travel":"travel","true-crime":"true-crime","tv":"tv","ux":"ux","venture-capital":"venture-capital","visual-design":"visual-design","work":"work","world":"world","writing":"writing"},"defaultImages":{"avatar":{"imageId":"1*dmbNkD5D-u45r44go_cf0g.png","height":150,"width":150},"orgLogo":{"imageId":"7*V1_7XP4snlmqrc_0Njontw.png","height":110,"width":500},"postLogo":{"imageId":"bd978bb536350a710e8efb012513429cabdc4c28700604261aeda246d0f980b7","height":810,"width":1440},"postPreviewImage":{"imageId":"1*hn4v1tCaJy7cWMyb0bpNpQ.png","height":386,"width":579}},"collectionStructuredData":{"8d6b8a439e32":{"name":"Elemental","data":{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","ethicsPolicy":"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.medium.com\u002Fhc\u002Fen-us\u002Farticles\u002F360043290473","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn-images-1.medium.com\u002Fmax\u002F980\u002F1*9ygdqoKprhwuTVKUM0DLPA@2x.png","width":980,"height":159}}},"3f6ecf56618":{"name":"Forge","data":{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","ethicsPolicy":"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.medium.com\u002Fhc\u002Fen-us\u002Farticles\u002F360043290473","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn-images-1.medium.com\u002Fmax\u002F596\u002F1*uULpIlImcO5TDuBZ6lm7Lg@2x.png","width":596,"height":183}}},"ae2a65f35510":{"name":"GEN","data":{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","ethicsPolicy":"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.medium.com\u002Fhc\u002Fen-us\u002Farticles\u002F360043290473","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fmiro.medium.com\u002Fmax\u002F264\u002F1*RdVZMdvfV3YiZTw6mX7yWA.png","width":264,"height":140}}},"88d9857e584e":{"name":"LEVEL","data":{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","ethicsPolicy":"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.medium.com\u002Fhc\u002Fen-us\u002Farticles\u002F360043290473","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fmiro.medium.com\u002Fmax\u002F540\u002F1*JqYMhNX6KNNb2UlqGqO2WQ.png","width":540,"height":108}}},"7b6769f2748b":{"name":"Marker","data":{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","ethicsPolicy":"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.medium.com\u002Fhc\u002Fen-us\u002Farticles\u002F360043290473","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn-images-1.medium.com\u002Fmax\u002F383\u002F1*haCUs0wF6TgOOvfoY-jEoQ@2x.png","width":383,"height":92}}},"444d13b52878":{"name":"OneZero","data":{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","ethicsPolicy":"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.medium.com\u002Fhc\u002Fen-us\u002Farticles\u002F360043290473","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fmiro.medium.com\u002Fmax\u002F540\u002F1*cw32fIqCbRWzwJaoQw6BUg.png","width":540,"height":123}}},"8ccfed20cbb2":{"name":"Zora","data":{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","ethicsPolicy":"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.medium.com\u002Fhc\u002Fen-us\u002Farticles\u002F360043290473","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fmiro.medium.com\u002Fmax\u002F540\u002F1*tZUQqRcCCZDXjjiZ4bDvgQ.png","width":540,"height":106}}}},"embeddedPostIds":{"coronavirus":"cd3010f9d81f"},"sharedCdcMessaging":{"COVID_APPLICABLE_TAG_SLUGS":[],"COVID_APPLICABLE_TOPIC_NAMES":[],"COVID_APPLICABLE_TOPIC_NAMES_FOR_TOPIC_PAGE":[],"COVID_MESSAGES":{"tierA":{"text":"For more information on the novel coronavirus and Covid-19, visit cdc.gov.","markups":[{"start":66,"end":73,"href":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cdc.gov\u002Fcoronavirus\u002F2019-nCoV"}]},"tierB":{"text":"Anyone can publish on Medium per our Policies, but we don’t fact-check every story. For more info about the coronavirus, see cdc.gov.","markups":[{"start":37,"end":45,"href":"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.medium.com\u002Fhc\u002Fen-us\u002Fcategories\u002F201931128-Policies-Safety"},{"start":125,"end":132,"href":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cdc.gov\u002Fcoronavirus\u002F2019-nCoV"}]},"paywall":{"text":"This article has been made free for everyone, thanks to Medium Members. For more information on the novel coronavirus and Covid-19, visit cdc.gov.","markups":[{"start":56,"end":70,"href":"https:\u002F\u002Fmedium.com\u002Fmembership"},{"start":138,"end":145,"href":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cdc.gov\u002Fcoronavirus\u002F2019-nCoV"}]},"unbound":{"text":"This article is free for everyone, thanks to Medium Members. For more information on the novel coronavirus and Covid-19, visit cdc.gov.","markups":[{"start":45,"end":59,"href":"https:\u002F\u002Fmedium.com\u002Fmembership"},{"start":127,"end":134,"href":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cdc.gov\u002Fcoronavirus\u002F2019-nCoV"}]}},"COVID_BANNER_POST_ID_OVERRIDE_WHITELIST":["3b31a67bff4a"]},"sharedVoteMessaging":{"TAGS":["politics","election-2020","government","us-politics","election","2020-presidential-race","trump","donald-trump","democrats","republicans","congress","republican-party","democratic-party","biden","joe-biden","maga"],"TOPICS":["politics","election"],"MESSAGE":{"text":"Find out more about the U.S. election results here.","markups":[{"start":46,"end":50,"href":"https:\u002F\u002Fcookpolitical.com\u002F2020-national-popular-vote-tracker"}]},"EXCLUDE_POSTS":["397ef29e3ca5"]},"embedPostRules":[],"recircOptions":{"v1":{"limit":3},"v2":{"limit":8}},"braintreeClientKey":"production_zjkj96jm_m56f8fqpf7ngnrd4","braintree":{"enabled":true,"merchantId":"m56f8fqpf7ngnrd4","merchantAccountId":{"usd":"AMediumCorporation_instant","eur":"amediumcorporation_EUR","cad":"amediumcorporation_CAD"},"publicKey":"ds2nn34bg2z7j5gd","braintreeEnvironment":"production","dashboardUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.braintreegateway.com\u002Fmerchants","gracePeriodDurationInDays":14,"mediumMembershipPlanId":{"monthly":"ce105f8c57a3","monthlyV2":"e8a5e126-792b-4ee6-8fba-d574c1b02fc5","monthlyWithTrial":"d5ee3dbe3db8","monthlyPremium":"fa741a9b47a2","yearly":"a40ad4a43185","yearlyV2":"3815d7d6-b8ca-4224-9b8c-182f9047866e","yearlyStaff":"d74fb811198a","yearlyWithTrial":"b3bc7350e5c7","yearlyPremium":"e21bd2c12166","monthlyOneYearFree":"e6c0637a-2bad-4171-ab4f-3c268633d83c","monthly25PercentOffFirstYear":"235ecc62-0cdb-49ae-9378-726cd21c504b","monthly20PercentOffFirstYear":"ba518864-9c13-4a99-91ca-411bf0cac756","monthly15PercentOffFirstYear":"594c029b-9f89-43d5-88f8-8173af4e070e","monthly10PercentOffFirstYear":"c6c7bc9a-40f2-4b51-8126-e28511d5bdb0","monthlyForStudents":"629ebe51-da7d-41fd-8293-34cd2f2030a8","yearlyOneYearFree":"78ba7be9-0d9f-4ece-aa3e-b54b826f2bf1","yearly25PercentOffFirstYear":"2dbb010d-bb8f-4eeb-ad5c-a08509f42d34","yearly20PercentOffFirstYear":"47565488-435b-47f8-bf93-40d5fbe0ebc8","yearly15PercentOffFirstYear":"8259809b-0881-47d9-acf7-6c001c7f720f","yearly10PercentOffFirstYear":"9dd694fb-96e1-472c-8d9e-3c868d5c1506","yearlyForStudents":"e29345ef-ab1c-4234-95c5-70e50fe6bc23","monthlyCad":"p52orjkaceei","yearlyCad":"h4q9g2up9ktt"},"braintreeDiscountId":{"oneMonthFree":"MONTHS_FREE_01","threeMonthsFree":"MONTHS_FREE_03","sixMonthsFree":"MONTHS_FREE_06","fiftyPercentOffOneYear":"FIFTY_PERCENT_OFF_ONE_YEAR"},"3DSecureVersion":"2","defaultCurrency":"usd","providerPlanIdCurrency":{"4ycw":"usd","rz3b":"usd","3kqm":"usd","jzw6":"usd","c2q2":"usd","nnsw":"usd","q8qw":"usd","d9y6":"usd","fx7w":"cad","nwf2":"cad"}},"paypalClientId":"AXj1G4fotC2GE8KzWX9mSxCH1wmPE3nJglf4Z2ig_amnhvlMVX87otaq58niAg9iuLktVNF_1WCMnN7v","paypal":{"host":"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.paypal.com:443","clientMode":"production","serverMode":"live","webhookId":"4G466076A0294510S","monthlyPlan":{"planId":"P-9WR0658853113943TMU5FDQA","name":"Medium Membership (Monthly) with setup fee","description":"Unlimited access to the best and brightest stories on Medium. Membership billed monthly."},"yearlyPlan":{"planId":"P-7N8963881P8875835MU5JOPQ","name":"Medium Membership (Annual) with setup fee","description":"Unlimited access to the best and brightest stories on Medium. Membership billed annually."},"oneYearGift":{"name":"Medium Membership (1 Year, Digital Gift Code)","description":"Unlimited access to the best and brightest stories on Medium. Gift codes can be redeemed at medium.com\u002Fredeem.","price":"50.00","currency":"USD","sku":"membership-gift-1-yr"},"oldMonthlyPlan":{"planId":"P-96U02458LM656772MJZUVH2Y","name":"Medium Membership (Monthly)","description":"Unlimited access to the best and brightest stories on Medium. Membership billed monthly."},"oldYearlyPlan":{"planId":"P-59P80963JF186412JJZU3SMI","name":"Medium Membership (Annual)","description":"Unlimited access to the best and brightest stories on Medium. Membership billed annually."},"monthlyPlanWithTrial":{"planId":"P-66C21969LR178604GJPVKUKY","name":"Medium Membership (Monthly) with setup fee","description":"Unlimited access to the best and brightest stories on Medium. Membership billed monthly."},"yearlyPlanWithTrial":{"planId":"P-6XW32684EX226940VKCT2MFA","name":"Medium Membership (Annual) with setup fee","description":"Unlimited access to the best and brightest stories on Medium. Membership billed annually."},"oldMonthlyPlanNoSetupFee":{"planId":"P-4N046520HR188054PCJC7LJI","name":"Medium Membership (Monthly)","description":"Unlimited access to the best and brightest stories on Medium. Membership billed monthly."},"oldYearlyPlanNoSetupFee":{"planId":"P-7A4913502Y5181304CJEJMXQ","name":"Medium Membership (Annual)","description":"Unlimited access to the best and brightest stories on Medium. Membership billed annually."},"sdkUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.paypal.com\u002Fsdk\u002Fjs"},"stripePublishableKey":"pk_live_7FReX44VnNIInZwrIIx6ghjl","log":{"json":true,"level":"info"},"imageUploadMaxSizeMb":25,"staffPicks":{"title":"Staff Picks","catalogId":"c7bc6e1ee00f"}},"session":{"xsrf":""}}</script><script>window.__APOLLO_STATE__ = {"ROOT_QUERY":{"__typename":"Query","viewer":null,"collectionByDomainOrSlug({\"domainOrSlug\":\"mikewcurtis\"})":{"__ref":"Collection:b69dbe9fb96f"},"postResult({\"id\":\"e9739bdcd368\"})":{"__ref":"Post:e9739bdcd368"}},"Collection:b69dbe9fb96f":{"__typename":"Collection","id":"b69dbe9fb96f","customStyleSheet":null,"colorPalette":{"__typename":"ColorPalette","highlightSpectrum":{"__typename":"ColorSpectrum","backgroundColor":"#FFFFFFFF","colorPoints":[{"__typename":"ColorPoint","color":"#FFFFFFFF","point":0},{"__typename":"ColorPoint","color":"#FFE8F3E8","point":0.1},{"__typename":"ColorPoint","color":"#FFE8F3E8","point":0.2},{"__typename":"ColorPoint","color":"#FFD1E7D1","point":0.6},{"__typename":"ColorPoint","color":"#FFA3D0A2","point":1}]},"defaultBackgroundSpectrum":{"__typename":"ColorSpectrum","backgroundColor":"#FFFFFFFF","colorPoints":[{"__typename":"ColorPoint","color":"#FF1A8917","point":0},{"__typename":"ColorPoint","color":"#FF11800E","point":0.1},{"__typename":"ColorPoint","color":"#FF0F730C","point":0.2},{"__typename":"ColorPoint","color":"#FF095407","point":1}]},"tintBackgroundSpectrum":null},"favicon":{"__ref":"ImageMetadata:"},"domain":null,"slug":"mikewcurtis","googleAnalyticsId":null,"editors":[{"__typename":"CollectionMastheadUserItem","user":{"__ref":"User:9254e089ee39"}}],"name":"The You Design System","avatar":{"__ref":"ImageMetadata:1*28p_LOPOS8Ul5TBUpsowdQ.png"},"description":"Helping businesses & individuals apply their UX skills to how they’re experienced by other people. Mike Curtis, Sr. UX Designer and author of The You Design System, has 21 years of experience in design, UX, marketing, e-commerce & sales.","subscriberCount":710,"latestPostsConnection({\"paging\":{\"limit\":1}})":{"__typename":"PostConnection","posts":[{"__ref":"Post:aff46f724d5b"}]},"viewerEdge":{"__ref":"CollectionViewerEdge:collectionId:b69dbe9fb96f-viewerId:lo_2f6769df7963"},"twitterUsername":"mikewcurtisut","facebookPageId":null,"logo":{"__ref":"ImageMetadata:1*2eZaT425FrRVUufVJn_lkQ.png"}},"ImageMetadata:":{"__typename":"ImageMetadata","id":""},"User:9254e089ee39":{"__typename":"User","id":"9254e089ee39","customDomainState":{"__typename":"CustomDomainState","live":{"__typename":"CustomDomain","domain":"mikewcurtis.medium.com"}},"hasSubdomain":true,"username":"mikewcurtis","name":"Mike Curtis","newsletterV3":{"__ref":"NewsletterV3:6697fe2eec62"},"linkedAccounts":{"__ref":"LinkedAccounts:9254e089ee39"},"isSuspended":false,"imageId":"1*GOLauy7RSNYvWOMtbCEwAA.jpeg","mediumMemberAt":1601738531000,"verifications":{"__typename":"VerifiedInfo","isBookAuthor":false},"socialStats":{"__typename":"SocialStats","followerCount":4910,"followingCount":338,"collectionFollowingCount":58},"bio":"Senior UX Designer \u002F New articles weekly on design & self-improvement \u002F Helping you design the \"UX of You\" \u002F 22+ years in design, marketing, & sales.","isPartnerProgramEnrolled":true,"viewerEdge":{"__ref":"UserViewerEdge:userId:9254e089ee39-viewerId:lo_2f6769df7963"},"viewerIsUser":false,"postSubscribeMembershipUpsellShownAt":0,"membership":{"__ref":"Membership:f9e639a5972"},"allowNotes":true,"twitterScreenName":"mikewcurtisut"},"ImageMetadata:1*28p_LOPOS8Ul5TBUpsowdQ.png":{"__typename":"ImageMetadata","id":"1*28p_LOPOS8Ul5TBUpsowdQ.png"},"Post:aff46f724d5b":{"__typename":"Post","id":"aff46f724d5b","firstPublishedAt":1732543331655,"creator":{"__ref":"User:9254e089ee39"},"collection":{"__ref":"Collection:b69dbe9fb96f"},"isSeries":false,"mediumUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fmedium.com\u002Fmikewcurtis\u002Fnobody-cares-about-you-your-career-or-your-job-search-aff46f724d5b","sequence":null,"uniqueSlug":"nobody-cares-about-you-your-career-or-your-job-search-aff46f724d5b"},"LinkedAccounts:9254e089ee39":{"__typename":"LinkedAccounts","mastodon":null,"id":"9254e089ee39"},"UserViewerEdge:userId:9254e089ee39-viewerId:lo_2f6769df7963":{"__typename":"UserViewerEdge","id":"userId:9254e089ee39-viewerId:lo_2f6769df7963","isFollowing":false,"isUser":false,"isMuting":false},"NewsletterV3:6697fe2eec62":{"__typename":"NewsletterV3","id":"6697fe2eec62","type":"NEWSLETTER_TYPE_AUTHOR","slug":"9254e089ee39","name":"9254e089ee39","collection":null,"user":{"__ref":"User:9254e089ee39"}},"Membership:f9e639a5972":{"__typename":"Membership","tier":"MEMBER","id":"f9e639a5972"},"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_0":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"2c4b47e7edac_0","name":"c8a5","type":"H3","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"Confidence doesn’t just “poof” out of nowhere. 💨","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_1":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"2c4b47e7edac_1","name":"ed25","type":"H4","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"Without a foundation of preparation, confidence crumbles.","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"ImageMetadata:1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png":{"__typename":"ImageMetadata","id":"1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png","originalHeight":816,"originalWidth":1456,"focusPercentX":null,"focusPercentY":null,"alt":"the word confidence in a cloud"},"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_2":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"2c4b47e7edac_2","name":"c0be","type":"IMG","href":null,"layout":"OUTSET_CENTER","metadata":{"__ref":"ImageMetadata:1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png"},"text":"Confidence and preparation go hand-in-hand.","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_3":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"2c4b47e7edac_3","name":"dcdb","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"As much as we might think confidence can magically appear, it’s not something we’re born with or something that suddenly shows up when we need it most. It is built — layer by layer — through preparation.","hasDropCap":true,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_4":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"2c4b47e7edac_4","name":"16a3","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"Confidence and preparation go hand-in-hand.","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_5":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"2c4b47e7edac_5","name":"da13","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"Preparation is more than gathering information or getting organized. It means equipping yourself with the tools to handle whatever comes your way. The more prepared we are, the more naturally confident we feel. Preparation is you, building a foundation before stepping into something new. You can’t stand tall on a shaky base.","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_6":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"2c4b47e7edac_6","name":"ad86","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"Confidence through preparation means doing the work beforehand — whether rehearsing for an important presentation, prepping for an interview, or honing a skill before using it. When you’ve taken the time to prepare, you eliminate the uncertainty that often holds us back. That preparation becomes your safety net, allowing you to step into any situation with the confident knowledge that you’re ready.","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_7":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"2c4b47e7edac_7","name":"15df","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"There’s a psychological component here too.","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_8":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"2c4b47e7edac_8","name":"4164","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"Preparation engages your mind in a way that builds self-assurance. When you rehearse or practice, your brain becomes familiar with the…","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"CollectionViewerEdge:collectionId:b69dbe9fb96f-viewerId:lo_2f6769df7963":{"__typename":"CollectionViewerEdge","id":"collectionId:b69dbe9fb96f-viewerId:lo_2f6769df7963","isEditor":false,"isMuting":false},"ImageMetadata:1*2eZaT425FrRVUufVJn_lkQ.png":{"__typename":"ImageMetadata","id":"1*2eZaT425FrRVUufVJn_lkQ.png","originalWidth":600,"originalHeight":72},"PostViewerEdge:postId:e9739bdcd368-viewerId:lo_2f6769df7963":{"__typename":"PostViewerEdge","shouldIndexPostForExternalSearch":true,"id":"postId:e9739bdcd368-viewerId:lo_2f6769df7963"},"Tag:motivation":{"__typename":"Tag","id":"motivation","displayTitle":"Motivation","normalizedTagSlug":"motivation"},"Tag:life-lessons":{"__typename":"Tag","id":"life-lessons","displayTitle":"Life Lessons","normalizedTagSlug":"life-lessons"},"Tag:design":{"__typename":"Tag","id":"design","displayTitle":"Design","normalizedTagSlug":"design"},"Tag:leadership":{"__typename":"Tag","id":"leadership","displayTitle":"Leadership","normalizedTagSlug":"leadership"},"Tag:self-awareness":{"__typename":"Tag","id":"self-awareness","displayTitle":"Self-awareness","normalizedTagSlug":"self-awareness"},"Post:e9739bdcd368":{"__typename":"Post","id":"e9739bdcd368","collection":{"__ref":"Collection:b69dbe9fb96f"},"content({\"postMeteringOptions\":{}})":{"__typename":"PostContent","isLockedPreviewOnly":true,"bodyModel":{"__typename":"RichText","sections":[{"__typename":"Section","name":null,"startIndex":0,"textLayout":null,"imageLayout":null,"backgroundImage":null,"videoLayout":null,"backgroundVideo":null}],"paragraphs":[{"__ref":"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_0"},{"__ref":"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_1"},{"__ref":"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_2"},{"__ref":"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_3"},{"__ref":"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_4"},{"__ref":"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_5"},{"__ref":"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_6"},{"__ref":"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_7"},{"__ref":"Paragraph:2c4b47e7edac_8"}]},"validatedShareKey":"","shareKeyCreator":null},"creator":{"__ref":"User:9254e089ee39"},"inResponseToEntityType":null,"isLocked":true,"isMarkedPaywallOnly":false,"lockedSource":"LOCKED_POST_SOURCE_UGC","mediumUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fmedium.com\u002Fmikewcurtis\u002Fconfidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368","primaryTopic":null,"topics":[{"__typename":"Topic","slug":"design"},{"__typename":"Topic","slug":"work"}],"isPublished":true,"latestPublishedVersion":"2c4b47e7edac","visibility":"LOCKED","postResponses":{"__typename":"PostResponses","count":0},"clapCount":0,"allowResponses":true,"isLimitedState":false,"title":"Confidence doesn’t just “poof” out of nowhere. 💨","isSeries":false,"sequence":null,"uniqueSlug":"confidence-doesnt-just-poof-out-of-nowhere-e9739bdcd368","socialTitle":"","socialDek":"","canonicalUrl":"","metaDescription":"","latestPublishedAt":1729170132131,"readingTime":1.818867924528302,"previewContent":{"__typename":"PreviewContent","subtitle":"Without a foundation of preparation, confidence crumbles."},"previewImage":{"__ref":"ImageMetadata:1*rT_-pkx487MPGAGAHJg0vg.png"},"isShortform":false,"seoTitle":"","firstPublishedAt":1729170132131,"updatedAt":1731628871666,"shortformType":"SHORTFORM_TYPE_LINK","seoDescription":"","viewerEdge":{"__ref":"PostViewerEdge:postId:e9739bdcd368-viewerId:lo_2f6769df7963"},"isSuspended":false,"license":"ALL_RIGHTS_RESERVED","tags":[{"__ref":"Tag:motivation"},{"__ref":"Tag:life-lessons"},{"__ref":"Tag:design"},{"__ref":"Tag:leadership"},{"__ref":"Tag:self-awareness"}],"isNewsletter":false,"statusForCollection":"APPROVED","pendingCollection":null,"detectedLanguage":"en","wordCount":429,"layerCake":0,"responsesLocked":false}}</script><script>window.__MIDDLEWARE_STATE__={"session":{"xsrf":""},"cache":{"cacheStatus":"MISS"}}</script><script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/manifest.aa9242f7.js"></script><script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/9865.1496d74a.js"></script><script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/main.e556b4ac.js"></script><script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/instrumentation.d9108df7.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/reporting.ff22a7a5.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/9120.5df29668.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/5049.d1ead72d.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/4810.6318add7.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/6618.db187378.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/2707.b0942613.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/9977.5b3eb23a.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/8599.1ab63137.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/5250.9f9e01d2.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/5787.e66a3a4d.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/2648.26563adf.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/8393.826a25fb.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/3104.c3413b66.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/3735.afb7e926.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/5642.8ad8a900.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/6546.cd03f950.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/6834.08de95de.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/7346.72622eb9.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/2420.2a5e2d95.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/839.ca7937c2.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/7975.d195c6f1.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/2106.21ff89d3.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/7394.094844de.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/2961.00a48598.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/8204.c4082863.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/4391.59acaed3.chunk.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn-client.medium.com/lite/static/js/PostPage.MainContent.1387c5dc.chunk.js"></script><script>window.main();</script><script>(function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'8e924e70d9e6ab65',t:'MTczMjcxMjQ4Mi4wMDAwMDA='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.nonce='';a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();</script></body></html>