The Real Cost of Low Confidence (And How to Fix It)

Did you know that women typically apply for jobs only when they meet 100% of the qualifications, while men apply when they hit just 60%? Even more concerning, nearly 80% of women struggle with low self-esteem and shy away from self-advocacy at work.

This isn’t a competence gap. It’s a confidence gap.

I sat down with Confidence Coach Simone Knego to discuss how women can start chipping away at these statistics by building unshakeable self-belief.

Simone is a best-selling author, two-time TEDx speaker, and the co-host of the podcast Her Unshakeable Confidence. But her journey wasn't a straight line. For years, she battled her inner critic of self-doubt rooted in past trauma and the pressures of comparison.

From raising six children to summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, Simone discovered that confidence isn't something you are born with; it’s something you build in the messy, chaotic moments of everyday life. In this episode, she shares the raw truth about the cost of under-confidence and the practical tools she used to go from unsure to unshakeable.

Simone teaches us:

The REAL Method: A four-step framework (Respect yourself, Embrace your failures, Ask for what you want, Live without limits) to build lasting self-esteem.

The "Control-Alt-Delete" Hack: A mental strategy to identify false narratives.

How to rewire your brain: Why positive affirmations work scientifically and the specific "5 I's" Simone uses every morning.

How to reframe imposter syndrome: How to stop justifying your existence by dropping the word "just" and why feeling underqualified is often a sign of growth.

00:00 Introduction to Confidence with Simone Knego
00:18 Meet Simone Knego
02:13 Statistics on Confidence and Self-Esteem
03:34 Simone's Personal Struggles and Turning Points
05:02 The Power of Vulnerability and Sharing
13:15 Building Confidence Through New Experiences
15:32 Overcoming Self-Doubt
19:05 The Impact of Negative Comments
25:03 Rewriting Your Inner Narrative
25:26 The Power of Positive Affirmations
25:58 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
29:09 Practical Steps to Build Self-Belief
40:37 The Real Method for Confidence
45:24 Final Thoughts and Parting Advice

Connect with Host Kristen Rocco
On Substack: https://kristenrocco.substack.com/
On LinkedIn:   / kristenrocco  
Take the listener feedback survey: https://forms.gle/hBBKkKFVfbfzCFREA

Connect with Guest Simone Knego
Website: simoneknego.com
Book: Real Confidence: A Simple Guide to Go from Unsure to Unshakeable at realconfidencebook.com