How to Build Back Confidence When You’ve Lost It

By Dr. Bruce

Confidence isn’t permanent.

It doesn’t matter how talented, seasoned, or passionate you are at some point, you’ll lose it. A deal falls through. A client chooses someone else. A launch doesn’t land the way you hoped. Suddenly, that inner voice whispers, “Maybe I’m not cut out for this.”

As solopreneurs, we ride this emotional rollercoaster more often than most. And if we’re not careful, those dips in confidence can quietly stall our momentum.

Here’s the good news: confidence isn’t something you either “have” or “don’t have.” It’s something you can rebuild – deliberately and consistently. I use three simple steps whenever I feel myself slipping.

Step 1: Return to the Basics

When I lose confidence, the first thing I do is strip away the noise. I ask myself: What are the controllables today?

High-value activities. Non-negotiables. The fundamentals of my business that, when done consistently, always produce results.

For me, that might mean:

• Making prospecting calls.


• Creating fresh marketing content.


• Following up with clients in the “red zone.”

It’s not glamorous. But it works. Like athletes going back to drills, solopreneurs rebuild confidence by recommitting to a simple plan on paper.

Step 2: Reconnect with Your Core Values

Confidence doesn’t just come from results – it comes from remembering why you started in the first place.

When I feel discouraged, I think about my own values. At my core, I want to help a younger, newer version of myself go further, faster. That’s why I show up.

Your “why” grounds you. It reminds you that your work isn’t about chasing every client or winning every deal. It’s about serving the right people, in the right way, for the right reasons.

When you’re anchored in your values, setbacks feel less like failures and more like part of the process.

Step 3: Lean on Your Pedigree

Sometimes we forget how far we’ve already come.

Whenever imposter syndrome creeps in, I reread my own bio. I think about the stages I’ve spoken on, the books I’ve written, the clients I’ve helped. Not as ego fuel – but as a reminder that I have earned the right to be here.

You have that same pedigree. Maybe it’s testimonials from clients. Maybe it’s the experience you’ve gained, the skills you’ve developed, or the persistence that’s kept you going when others quit. Don’t discount it. Your past wins are proof you can do it again.

From Shaken to Steady

Losing confidence is inevitable. Staying there isn’t.

When you strip it down to the basics, reconnect with your core values, and lean on your pedigree, you don’t just rebuild confidence—you come back stronger.

Action Plan

The next time you feel your confidence slipping, pause and walk through these three steps:

1. Write down your top 3 controllables for today. Do them, no matter what.


2. Revisit your “why.” Journal one paragraph on why you chose this path.


3. Read your own highlight reel. Review your bio, resume, or client wins.

Do this daily for a week, and watch how quickly your confidence shifts.

Remember confidence isn’t a gift. It’s a discipline. And every solopreneur has the ability to build it back.

– Dr. Bruce

The post Ep.51: How to build back confidence when you’ve lost it appeared first on The Solopreneur Movement.