ARE YOU REALLY BACKING YOURSELF?

It’s often hard to show up as your full, authentic self in a music industry that rewards ego, bad behaviour, and endless competition.

Some of my clients find themselves constantly comparing themselves.

“I should be more polished, more executive, more confident.”

And when your boss isn’t supportive, when you’re fighting to be heard, it’s easy to start questioning yourself.

You speak up in a meeting, get ignored.

Ten minutes later, a male colleague says the same thing, and suddenly it’s genius.

So women say yes to everything to prove our worth.

We bend ourselves to fit the shape of the job, the room, the expectation.

Backing yourself can feel risky.

What if I stand out?

What if I’m different?

What if I’m not as funny, loud, smart as my colleague?

Then you hear your boss call someone stupid behind their back, and your confidence takes another hit.

But what does backing yourself really mean?

·      Maybe it’s listening to yourself more.

·      Saying no when your gut says nope.

·      Naming what you want, out loud.

·      Raising your hourly rate.

·      Asking for the pay rise.

·      Saying yes to the panel, even if you’re bricking it.

Backing yourself doesn’t mean you’re not scared.

It means you don’t let fear run the show and you tap into your courage.

It’s trusting yourself enough to take up space and stop making yourself small.

It’s knowing your worth, and acting like it without apology.

Here’s a quick check-in I use with clients:

Clarity – Do I know what I stand for, or am I just fitting in?

Courage – Am I using my voice, or still waiting to be picked?

Consistency – Am I showing up for myself when no one’s watching?

I backed myself when after a decade, I left major labels at 34.

I saw the glass ceiling and I wasn’t willing to sit waiting under it any longer.

So, I moved into music merch, stepped into leadership, and learned more than I ever imagined.

Since becoming a coach, I’ve helped women leave roles that no longer fit.

I’ve supported freelancers to charge their worth.

I’ve seen brilliant women finally say yes to themselves, not just everyone else.

If you’re not backing yourself right now, that’s not weakness.

But if you’re open to it, this could be the moment everything shifts.

Because backing yourself changes everything.