Summer Owens S.O. What! YOUniversity

What Has Your Lack of Confidence Cost You?

“Your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude.”     

-Michelle Obama

Have you been sitting on the sidelines watching others get what you know YOU deserve?

Girl, I Get It!

My poor self-confidence began when I was in kindergarten and followed me into my teenage years and led me into the scariest situation of my life that challenged my confidence even more.

At five years old, I had a nervous condition that made me suck my thumb and pull out my hair…from the root! My sisters had long ponytails, and my mom cut all my hair off to try to even out the bald spots I had created. Sucking my thumb made my big teeth stick out from my mouth. I was called boy, beaver, rabbit and, eventually stick, because I was so skinny. 

That’s when I started smiling to hide my pain and insecurities. I also hid my real personality and my greatness.

By the time I stopped sucking my thumb and pulling out my hair, puberty set in and my problems became acne and stretch marks. I was no longer that stick, and my body developed faster than my skin could keep up. Stretch marks on my sides and on the back of my legs, not to mention, my fat legs made me ashamed to wear swimsuits, shorts, and skirts unless they came to my knee.

People still saw my smile though…

Never feeling confident in how I looked, I ended up getting pregnant at 15 years old by someone I didn't even know. 

I can still hear him saying I was pretty. 

15, pregnant (trying to hide it), scared, and alone… and even more insecure.

Still hiding my real personality and my greatness.

Then a series of bad relationships, desperate attempts to have a father-figure for my son, and a failed marriage that left me broken and insecure. 

Not to mention, that single mom journey especially with a hurting a child wanting a father is not for the faint of heart.

My confidence was constantly shaken. I questioned how I looked and how I was as a person. I doubted my ability to make good decisions and even my worth.

BUT TODAY!

My confidence has allowed me to:

Earn multiple degrees as a teen/single mom

Be named Ms. University of Memphis, Distinguished Young Alumna honoree, and President of the National Alumni Association Board of Directors

Buy my first house at 22 years old (and another one after divorce)

Start my career with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and get promoted three times

Leave amazing jobs for new opportunities

Become a full time entrepreneur with two businesses

Write life-changing curriculums, books, and workbooks

Go to events alone 

Travel the world, even alone

Speak on stages before thousands of people

Even wear swimsuits and shorts

I am a multiple award-winning speaker, author, coach, and have even been a college professor teaching a course I was asked to create based on my memoir and life of learning lessons and building resilience and confidence.

Now think about the job or promotion you didn’t get because you weren’t confident enough to go for it.

The business you didn’t start because you are too scared to try. 

The big message, gifts, or talents you have that the world needs to hear, but you don't even believe you can share it.

The places you won't go because you don’t think you can.

This was my mind-shifting trip to Accra, Ghana. 

IMAGINE...

how you will feel and what your life will be like when you experience the benefits of being more confident in how you feel about yourself and interact with others. 

You deserve to experience the life-changing impact of CONFIDENCE.

You should experience the joy of living your dreams.

You CAN that degree.

You CAN buy that house.

You CAN go after that promotion.

You CAN start that business. 

You CAN write that book. 

You CAN travel.

You CAN start that new relationship or end that unhealthy one.