Confidence isn’t something you either have or don’t.

It’s something you build — deliberately, repeatedly, and imperfectly.

In this episode, Joe breaks down why practice matters more than insight, why habits shape your emotional reactions, and how small, daily rituals can rewire the way you respond to stress, fear, and self-doubt.

This isn’t about quick fixes or positive thinking.

It’s about building a foundation that holds when things get hard.

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Special thanks to the incomparable Lisa Baskett for her amazing late-night-DJ-smoother-than-silk voiceover ;-)

If this episode resonated, consider subscribing to Making UX Work.

Each episode explores the human side of UX and product careers — confidence, power, impostor syndrome, boundaries and the challenges that never show up in books or conference talks.

No hype. No platitudes. Just honest perspective, earned the hard way.

A lot of career discomfort comes from trying to lead, present, or speak in a way that isn’t actually you.

In this episode, Joe talks about why borrowed scripts, leadership clichés, and “how you’re supposed to do it” advice often only make things worse.

You’ll learn why authenticity reduces anxiety, how small moments of comfort are proof you’re capable and why judging your work by other people’s reactions is a losing game.

This one is about trusting your own style — and letting go of the need to perform.

If this episode resonated, consider subscribing to Making UX Work.

Each episode explores the human side of UX and product careers — confidence, power, impostor syndrome, boundaries and the challenges that never show up in books or conference talks.

No hype. No platitudes. Just honest perspective, earned the hard way.

If authority figures still trigger old emotional responses for you, you’re not alone.

In this episode, Joe explores why feedback from bosses can feel so personal — and how early conditioning often shapes the way we react to power, criticism, and expectations at work.

You’ll hear why being challenged doesn’t mean you’re failing, how to separate your worth from other people’s reactions and what it really means to set boundaries with confidence — without becoming defensive or combative.

This is about reclaiming your absolute right to exist, speak up and take up space.

If this episode resonated, consider subscribing to Making UX Work.

Each episode explores the human side of UX and product careers — confidence, power, impostor syndrome, boundaries and the challenges that never show up in books or conference talks.

No hype. No platitudes. Just honest perspective, earned the hard way.