Small Wins Build ConfidenceThey say the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.But what if even that single step feels like walking on burning coal?That’s how speaking in public feels for most of us. The stage looks like a battlefield, the microphone feels like a weapon pointing at us, and the audience—well, they look like hungry lions ready to eat us alive.At least, that’s how it felt to Warren Buffett.Yes, the Warren Buffett—one of the richest men on earth, a man who could buy half the world if he wanted to. But when he was young, he confessed that his biggest fear was not losing money… it was speaking in public.He once said: “I was so terrified that I would physically get ill if I had to speak. I would run away from classes where I had to stand up and say something.”Imagine that—the man whose advice is now quoted in universities worldwide couldn’t even say a few words without shaking.But he decided to fight back. Not by jumping straight onto a huge stage, but by taking small wins. He joined a small public speaking course, practiced with a tiny group, then slowly expanded. Over time, the man who once trembled at the thought of speaking became a global speaker admired for his calmness and clarity.---Poem BreakThe mountain looks tall, the valley looks deep,The climb seems scary, it won’t let you sleep.But take one step, then another, and see,The mountain will bow, and so will the sea.---I remember my own “first step.” It wasn’t a stage, it wasn’t a crowd—it was just my bedroom mirror.I stood there, staring at myself, heart pounding. I whispered my name:“Hello, my name is…” and I froze.It felt silly, almost laughable. Who forgets their own name? (Answer: me!)But the funny part? The mirror didn’t laugh.Neither did the walls.Neither did my bookshelf.That was my first win—realizing that the fear of being laughed at existed only in my head.So here’s the truth: confidence doesn’t grow in giant leaps. It grows in tiny, almost invisible steps.First, you talk to yourself.Then you record your voice and laugh at how weird you sound.Then you talk to one friend, then two, then ten.And slowly, the lions in the audience start looking more like kittens.
Confidence is like lifting weights. You don’t walk into the gym and pick up 100 kilos on day one. You start with 5. Then 10. Then 15. Each time you grow stronger.
And one day, without realizing, you look back and see how far you’ve come.
So ask yourself:
What’s my “5 kilo” today?
Maybe it’s saying hello to a stranger. Maybe it’s sharing one opinion in class. Maybe it’s standing in front of a mirror without looking away.
Whatever it is—start small, win small. Because those small wins? They are the bricks that build unshakable confidence.
1. When was the last time you felt nervous about speaking in front of others? What happened?
2. Which fear hits you the hardest?
Fear of being judged?
Fear of making mistakes?
Fear of rejection?
Fear of the unknown?
Write it down honestly.
3. What is the worst thing you imagine happening if you speak in public?
(Be specific—forgetting words? People laughing? Silence?)
4. And now, what is the realistic chance of that worst thing actually happening?
5. Can you think of a moment where you spoke (even a little) and people actually listened or appreciated you? How did that feel?
6. If fear is your body’s way of saying “this moment matters,” can you remember one moment when fear pushed you to do something meaningful?
7. Imagine yourself five years from now. If you never learn to speak confidently, what opportunities might you lose? And if you do learn, what doors could open for you?
