EP 122: Real Confidence- Confidence Starts Where the Crisis Begins

You know that moment when life drops something heavy in your lap and your brain does that “oh hell no” spiral?

The call you didn’t expect, the crisis you never planned for, the “oh my god, what do I even do next” moment?

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and total powerhouse Debra Woog, and we get brutally honest about what confidence looks like when everything is falling apart — not the Instagram version, the real-life, messy, human version.

Debra talks about the crisis that knocked her flat, the one that forced her to rebuild confidence from the ground up. And hearing her walk through it — calmly, clearly, and with that signature Debra groundedness — felt like someone turning on a light in a room I didn’t realize had gone dim. She doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and that’s what makes it so damn comforting.

We also get into that weird, almost guilty feeling of being “the strong one” even when you don’t feel strong. Debra lays out how she learned to ask for help (like, actually ask) and how that became the turning point for getting her confidence back. I swear, I felt this in my bones.

This conversation is the reminder every single one of us needs: confidence isn’t about being unshakeable. It's about remembering who you are while you're being shaken. Debra shows us exactly how to do that and with so much grace it’ll make you exhale in relief.

Highlights from our conversation:

• Why confidence during a crisis never looks the way we expect ( and why that’s actually a good thing)
• How to keep showing up for your life even when your energy, identity or sense of control feels wobbly
• Why asking for help is actually one of the strongest confidence moves you can make (and how Debra learned to do it)
• How to remind yourself who you are and what you can handle when life hits hard
• The simple daily practice Debra used to stop spiraling and start stabilizing

Connect2 Corporation founder and Principal Crisis Navigation Partner® Debra A. Woog (pronounced “Vogue”) has 30+ years of experience as a leadership researcher, executive, and advisor. Debra empowers highly competent women facing challenging circumstances with the expertise, empathy, and structure to connect with the right resources, communicate effectively, and lead with a clear mind and a solid strategy. Learn more about Debra at connectwo.com.