Replay: Building Confidence vs. Proving Competence with Becky Mollenkamp

In this re-released episode, we explore the crucial difference between competence and confidence, and why understanding this distinction might be the key to getting unstuck. This episode was originally released November 19, 2024. We're resurfacing this conversation because the struggle between external validation and internal confidence is timeless, and these insights deserve another listen.

Kim, Louise, and business coach Becky Mollenkamp dive into the psychology of proving energy, the myth that confidence appears before you're ready, and why taking action scared is the only way forward. Becky shares her journey from a "perfect on paper" life to complete upheaval, and what she learned about building businesses and lives aligned with who you actually are.

If you've ever felt like you're doing all the right things but still don't feel ready, struggled with self-doubt despite having the skills, or wondered whether fear or wisdom is holding you back from your next big move, this conversation is for you.

What We Cover

• The critical difference between competence (external validation) and confidence (internal belief)
• Why "proving energy" keeps you stuck in a cycle of seeking approval
• How to act your way into believing faster than you can believe your way into acting
• The "Is this new?" framework for evaluating whether fear is protecting you or limiting you
• How to resource yourself when taking scary steps forward
• The mediocre white man test: identifying when systemic conditioning (not lack of ability) holds you back
• Why sometimes the bravest choice is saying "I could do this, and I choose not to"

About Becky Mollenkamp

Becky is a business coach for entrepreneurs ready to transition from small business owner to CEO without recreating toxic corporate culture. She's the founder of the Feminist Founders Movement, host of the Feminist Founders Podcast, co-host of the Messy Liberation Podcast, and founder of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. You can find her work at https://beckymollenkamp.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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