10. Build Your Confidence - from the Inside Out

In this episode of the Breakout Booth, host Alexis Booth explores the multifaceted concept of confidence with guest Anthony James Mosley III, artistic director of Collaboraction. Alexis shares her personal journey with confidence, revealing how deeply ingrained beliefs and societal perceptions can shape one's self-worth. The discussion centers on a model of confidence comprising five elements: self-love, growth mindset, action, presentation, and purpose. Anthony emphasizes the importance of embracing vulnerabilities, lifelong learning, and purposeful action, while also highlighting the role of intuition and community in building confidence. Through candid dialogue, they offer insights into overcoming self-doubt and fostering personal growth.

• Alexis Booth explores the concept of confidence, acknowledging it as a challenging and often elusive quality.
• Confidence is perceived as a combination of self-worth, belief in one's ability to grow, intentional presentation, and a sense of purpose.
• Alexis shares personal struggles with confidence, highlighting the internal battle between self-doubt and the desire to project confidence.

"Developing it has involved an unplanned journey that I did not enjoy going on. See, the tricky thing about confidence, at least for me, is the only time I pause to think about confidence is when I'm already struggling."

• Alexis describes the difficulty of addressing confidence, especially when feeling vulnerable or uncertain.

"My definition of confidence is a sense of calm certainty that you can do or become anything that you want."

• Alexis provides a personal definition of confidence, emphasizing a calm assurance in one's potential and abilities.

• Alexis introduces a model of confidence consisting of five core elements: self-worth, belief in growth, taking action, intentional presentation, and a sense of purpose.
• The model suggests that these elements combined are more significant than each part individually.

"The first two are internally focused, self-worth or self-love and the belief that you can grow and learn. The second two relate to how you interact with the outside world, taking action and being intentional about how you present yourself and your work."

• Alexis outlines the components of confidence, dividing them into internal and external factors.

• Anthony Mosley shares his personal and professional journey, transitioning from finance to theater and storytelling.
• He discusses the influence of his background, family, and pivotal experiences that shaped his career and personal philosophy.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself to be successful and make money. And once I made my first 10 million, then I would turn the boat around and decide to pursue a life that maybe had some joy and fun in it."

• Anthony reflects on the initial pressure to succeed financially before pursuing a more fulfilling career in the arts.

"I developed my own little theory that any piece of art is only as good as the artist's willingness and ability to share themselves."

• Anthony emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and personal expression in creating meaningful art.

• Anthony discusses his role as the artistic director of Collaboraction, focusing on creating theater that addresses social issues and trauma.
• He highlights the importance of storytelling and collaboration in fostering empathy and social dialogue.

"I really created a vision to make theater exciting and accessible and energized while also unpacking some of our deepest, most critical social issues."

• Anthony describes his vision for Collaboraction, aiming to create impactful and socially relevant theater.

• Collaboraction has received recognition for its work, including three Emmys for "Trial in the Delta," a project that recreated the missing trial transcript of the Emmett Till case.
• The project highlights the importance of preserving historical narratives and addressing past injustices through art.

"We adapted the missing trial transcript of the state of Mississippi versus the men who killed Emmett Till, and the court reporter never filed the transcript."

• Anthony explains the significance of the "Trial in the Delta" project, which sought to bring to light an overlooked historical event.

• Anthony shares mental strategies for maintaining confidence and overcoming fear and doubt.
• He emphasizes the importance of mental resilience and self-assurance in personal and professional endeavors.

"I've created some mental tricks for myself to stay confident and to really not get lost in fear and doubt."

• Anthony discusses the mental techniques he employs to sustain confidence and avoid negative thought patterns.

• Discussion centers around the impact of theater in historical and social contexts, specifically its role in the civil rights movement.
• The immersive play staged at the DuSable Museum highlights the importance of preserving and presenting historical narratives through performance art.

"And then we went on to stage it as an immersive play at end, the DuSable Museum. And so it's just an honor to be able to serve the excavation of that important material that was a big part of the civil rights movement."

• The quote emphasizes the transformative power of theater in preserving and communicating crucial historical events, especially those related to civil rights.

• The conversation addresses ongoing issues of pay equity in the arts, including unpaid internships and unsustainable work environments.
• A commitment to fair compensation is highlighted, with a minimum wage policy for all workers.

"Yeah, we pay everybody a minimum of $18 an hour across the board and including also."

• This quote underscores the organization's commitment to ensuring fair wages, reflecting a broader movement towards pay equity in the arts.

• The Light is a program designed to train and mentor individuals in creating theater, music, spoken word, and dance.
• It focuses on inspiring knowledge, empathy, dialogue, and action around social issues that participants are passionate about.

"We have a program, we call it the Light. And we train and mentor them to create their own pieces of theater and music, spoken word dance to inspire new knowledge, empathy, dialogue, and action."

• The quote highlights the program's aim to empower individuals to use artistic expression as a tool for social change and personal growth.

• The discussion explores the relationship between self-worth, self-acceptance, and confidence.
• Emphasis is placed on embracing perceived weaknesses as unique aspects of oneself.

"To me, you know, not just loving yourself, but really accepting and celebrating who you are is foundational to all relationships, all public interactions."

• This quote stresses the importance of self-acceptance as a cornerstone for building confidence and fostering healthy relationships.

• The conversation delves into how external validation shapes identity, especially during formative years.
• A shift from seeking external approval to developing self-derived beliefs and values is crucial for personal growth.

"There's like this point at which you shift and you actually have to work on coming up with your own belief and values about yourself that are not based on what other people are saying and telling you."

• The quote highlights the need for individuals to transition from external validation to internal self-assessment to achieve true confidence.

• The importance of adopting a growth mindset is emphasized, encouraging continuous learning and skill development.
• Failure is seen as an integral part of growth, with persistence being key to success.

"Just because you can't do it right now doesn't mean that you can't do it in the future. And if you don't try or work towards it, you will never do it."

• This quote advocates for perseverance and the willingness to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

• The conversation touches on the increased responsibilities and perceived risks that come with adulthood.
• Balancing personal growth with obligations is a common struggle as one ages.

"But then when you're, like, in your 40s and you've got all this stuff going on, and you're like, I can't take a risk."

• The quote reflects the tension between the desire for personal development and the fear of jeopardizing established responsibilities and security.

• Discussion on societal attitudes towards aging, particularly the misconception that older individuals are less capable of change.
• The importance of lifelong learning and self-prioritization is emphasized as a means to combat ageism.

"Society media tells us that, you know, as we get older we become not just less able to change, but really deprioritized."

• This quote addresses the societal pressures that discourage change and growth in older individuals, advocating for continued learning and self-improvement.

• The conversation acknowledges the rapid advancements in technology, particularly AI, and its implications for future careers and education.
• Preparing for an uncertain future requires adaptability and a willingness to learn new skills.

"For all the talk we've done and the thoughts we've had about where to go to school, what to study, what to major in... AI is supposed to be bigger than both of them."

• The quote underscores the necessity of adapting to technological advancements and the importance of preparing for future changes in the job market.

• Emphasizes the importance of developing the skill of learning as a foundational tool for future careers, especially in a rapidly changing world.
• Highlights the unpredictability of future job markets and the necessity for adaptability.

"But as a 17, 18 year old, I think what's most important is that you learn how to learn."

• The ability to learn effectively is crucial for young individuals as they prepare for a future with unknown career paths.

• AI is described as both beautiful and terrifying, indicating its dual nature of potential and risk.
• The conversation suggests the vast impact AI could have on future developments.

"We could easily go on a very, very long dialogue about AI. AI is beautiful and terrifying in the same breath."

• AI's complexity and dual impact make it a significant topic of discussion regarding future innovation and challenges.

• Discusses the practice of setting lifetime, five-year, and one-year goals, shared within the family and displayed prominently to encourage commitment.
• Emphasizes the importance of verbalizing goals to manifest them into reality.

"Our family makes goals. We do lifetime goals, top five lifetime goals, top five, five year goals, top five one year goals."

• Setting and sharing goals within a supportive environment increases accountability and motivation.

• The act of telling others about your goals serves as a commitment device that propels action and realization.

"If I really want to do something, I'll tell somebody. I'll put it into the universe."

• Verbalizing intentions can help solidify commitment and prompt action toward achieving goals.

• Highlights the significance of intuition as an underutilized psychological tool that guides decision-making.
• Encourages tuning into and acting on intuitive feelings to achieve personal manifestations.

"It's so important. It's a completely untapped part of our psyche."

• Trusting and acting on gut feelings can lead to personal growth and achievement.

• Discusses the necessity of taking small, consistent steps toward larger goals, often referred to as "eating the elephant one bite at a time."
• Emphasizes the role of confidence in action-taking and how it is often noticed in its absence.

"How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

• Breaking down large tasks into manageable actions is essential for progress and success.

• Confidence is often recognized when lacking and is crucial for taking meaningful actions.

"It's because they are actually taking those actions."

• Visible actions and achievements are a result of consistent effort and confidence.

• Discusses the balance between tailoring communication for the audience and maintaining authenticity in creative expression.
• Highlights the importance of vulnerability and personal truth in artistic endeavors.

"You have to definitely think about the perspective of your audience or the person receiving your communication."

• Understanding the audience's perspective is crucial for effective communication and engagement.

• Authenticity and personal expression are vital for creating impactful and genuine art.

"If you're hiding stuff, I mean, you know, at some point, sheer talent can get you really far."

• True artistic expression requires vulnerability and honesty to resonate deeply with the audience.

• Explores the role of confidence in personal and professional settings, emphasizing the impact of self-presentation.
• Suggests that confidence can be cultivated through practice, such as public speaking or presentation skills classes.

"One of the best possible things that I think people can do if they are looking to develop confidence is to take a public speaking class or a presentation skills class."

• Formal training in communication skills can significantly enhance confidence and self-presentation.

• Confidence influences how others perceive you and can be a powerful tool in achieving personal and professional goals.

"The way I present myself is how the world sees me, and I think I show up as a hell of a lot more confident ever since I took that class 15 years ago."

• Self-awareness and deliberate practice in communication can transform how one is perceived, boosting confidence and effectiveness.

• Rehearsal is crucial for preparing to perform in public; it is where the actual creation happens.
• A proper rehearsal involves a director, coach, or teacher who can provide expert feedback.

"Rehearsal is the space where actually the thing gets made. And if product equals process, then rehearsal is it."

• Rehearsal is the process where the final product is developed, emphasizing its critical role in preparation.

• Purpose acts as a foundational element that influences confidence and the ability to achieve goals.
• Without purpose, individuals lack direction and motivation to overcome challenges.

"The sixth stage of grief is purpose. Without purpose, you have no traction."

• Purpose is essential for progress and overcoming life's challenges, acting as a motivational force.

• Personal experiences and early life events often shape one's purpose, influencing their drive and actions.

"Often the purpose, it does tie back to our early years. It ties back to our trauma."

• Purpose is deeply connected to personal history and can be a driving force for future actions.

• Sharing personal stories can create connections and provide alternative pathways for others.
• The act of sharing is both a personal exploration and a means to help others.

"The places where I felt like I've made the most difference is when I'm sharing my stories with people."

• Sharing stories is a powerful way to connect with others and inspire change.

• Intuition guides creative expression and helps identify themes and ideas worth exploring.
• Creative work should focus on topics that evoke strong personal feelings and societal impact.

"An artist should make the work about the things they have the most to say or feel."

• Creativity is driven by personal passion and the desire to address societal issues.

• Purpose in creativity involves identifying key themes, feelings, and translating them into content and form.

"Purpose shows up in the identification of the thing, the feelings, and then it pushes forward the process."

• Purpose is integral to the creative process, guiding the development of content and form.

• Purpose and caring are essential for perseverance through difficult times.
• Challenges are inevitable, and purpose provides the strength to endure and overcome them.

"If you don't have those, you're never gonna be able to persist through the toughest moments."

• Purpose is the driving force that sustains individuals during challenging periods.

• Confidence can be built by recognizing one's gifts and expressing gratitude.
• Sharing personal strengths with others can enhance self-love and confidence.

"Write down the gifts that you have been given. You make a list of things you're grateful for."

• Acknowledging personal strengths and gratitude is foundational for building confidence.

• Engaging with nature and disconnecting from devices can foster self-awareness and appreciation.

"Get away from your devices in your house and connect with nature."

• Nature provides a space for reflection and connection, enhancing self-awareness.

• Asking for help or collaboration can lead to unexpected support and contributions.
• Even when requests are declined, they often lead to increased support in other forms.

"Most people want to be asked, and they want to then help."

• People are generally willing to help when asked, highlighting the importance of communication.

• Collaboration and reaching out can lead to growth and opportunities, even if initial requests are declined.

"95% of those people increase what they give to the company after they say no."

• Engaging with others and asking for help can result in increased support and collaboration.

• Engaging in discussions and collaborations leads to deeper understanding and relationships.
• The process of sharing and exploring ideas together fosters connection and mutual growth.

"It is cool how when you turn do something like this with somebody, you get to know them better."

• Collaborative efforts enhance understanding and build stronger relationships.