In this episode of Project Confidence, Kathie explores the powerful difference between being “bad” at something and simply being “new” at it. So often, we label ourselves too quickly when learning a new skill, and those labels shape whether we keep going or give up.

Using a story about her daughter learning to rollerblade, Kathie shares how children naturally approach growth differently from adults. After falling over and over again, her daughter proudly announced, “I only fell like five times—I’m really good at this!” Instead of seeing mistakes as proof of failure, she saw them as part of learning.

Kathie dives into how the language we use affects the brain, explaining why thoughts like “I’m bad at this” can trigger avoidance and shutdown, while “I’m new at this” keeps us open to curiosity, practice, and growth. She also shares how her daughter later broke her wrist rollerblading—but still got back out there with a cast and a new pair of wrist guards, adjusting instead of quitting.

This episode is a reminder that confidence isn’t built by instantly succeeding. It’s built through repetition, small wins, resilience, and recognizing progress along the way. If you’ve been discouraged while learning something new, this conversation will help you shift your mindset, celebrate growth, and keep going.