Welcome to this week's episode of the Modern Mentor Podcast. I'm your host, Rachel Cook. Today's

episode is all about how to show up confident without accidentally stepping into arrogance,

because the line can be a fine one.

So let's talk about how to keep you on the right side of confident.

In 2007, I had my first baby. I was extraordinarily fortunate to spend a year at home with her.

That year was a gift, full stop. But as I learned in 2008, when I returned to the workforce,

new job, new company, taking a year off had also drained my confidence tank.

Pre-baby, I knew what made me shine at work. Post-baby, I felt like I'd lost my mojo.

According to psychology today, confidence is a belief in oneself, the conviction

that one has the ability to meet life's challenges and to succeed, and the willingness to act accordingly.

I knew how essential not only feeling, but being able to display confidence was in my professional

life. But after taking that year away, I wasn't sure how

to rediscover mine. Previously, I'd been a relationship builder, a strategy advisor, and an

analyzer of human capital data. Upon reentry in 2008, I feared I'd lost my edge, and I was

determined to show that fear who was boss. So I set my mind to

making my mark and showing the world how smart and capable I was. I did this by having something,

actually a lot of somethings, to say in every meeting. I was quick to offer solutions to problems,

and when something needed to be done, I had it covered, no help needed.

And that strategy went really well for me.

I'm kidding. It was a total miscalculation on my part, and I got some serious feedback to prove it.

I had been so focused on seeming confident that I'd shown up as arrogant.

I will be forever grateful to the boss who gave me that feedback early and counseled me to

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