Have you ever felt like something was wrong with your body, but no one seemed to listen?

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Her Unshakeable Confidence, Simone and Olivia Knego open up a vulnerable conversation about self-advocacy in healthcare and what happens when women are told “nothing is wrong” while their symptoms continue to be dismissed. Simone shares her long journey with a chronic uterine infection linked to an IUD, years of unanswered symptoms, and the life-changing moment she finally found answers.

Together, they explore the importance of trusting your instincts, asking questions, and seeking second opinions when something doesn’t feel right. Olivia adds insight into the realities of the healthcare system, chronic illness, and the emotional and physical toll of constantly having to advocate for yourself.

This episode is a reminder that confidence isn’t just emotional—it’s practical. It’s speaking up, pushing for answers, and refusing to ignore what your body is telling you.

Actionable Takeaways

• Trust your body when something feels off, even if tests say otherwise.
• Don’t stop at the first answer—seek second (or third) opinions if needed.
• Learn to advocate for yourself in medical settings, even when it feels uncomfortable.
• Ask questions and request follow-ups if symptoms persist.
• Normalize conversations about women’s health and “taboo” health topics.
• Recognize that being dismissed doesn’t mean you are wrong.
• Support others in learning to speak up for their health needs.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Why Self-Advocacy Matters
02:10 – Simone’s Story: Years of Dismissed Symptoms
05:45 – The Hidden Nature of Chronic Infection
09:30 – When Doctors Don’t Have All the Answers
12:05 – Olivia on Chronic Illness & Medical Anxiety
15:10 – The Emotional Toll of Being Dismissed
18:45 – Healthcare Systems & Why Advocacy Is Necessary
22:30 – The Cost of Waiting Too Long for Answers
26:15 – Learning to Trust Your Instincts Again
29:00 – Final Thoughts: Speak Up for Yourself

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REAL Confidence A Simple Guide to Go from Unsure to Unshakeable

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Connect with Simone Knego:

• Instagram: @simoneknego
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• Website: www.simoneknego.com
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• LinkedIn: oliviaknego

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The post When “You’re Fine” Isn’t the Right Answer appeared first on Simone Knego.

You’re good at your job. Actually, you’re really good at your job. You’ve put in the work, you’ve delivered results, and you’ve earned your seat at the table.

So why does feeling lost at work keep creeping in?

Maybe you find yourself saying yes to things that don’t light you up anymore. Maybe you’ve been running so hard for so long that you can’t quite remember what you actually want, what you stand for, or even what kind of leader you’re trying to be. You’re not burned out exactly, you’re just… foggy.

That’s not a flaw in your character. It’s what happens when high-achieving professionals spend years prioritizing performance over identity.

The good news? You can find your way back. And you don’t have to blow up your career to do it.

Here are five steps to help you find yourself professionally, right where you are.

Step 1: Get Honest About Why You’re Feeling Lost at Work

Before you can find yourself professionally, you have to be honest about where you’ve drifted.

Spend a few minutes answering these questions without overthinking them:

  •  What do I say yes to out of obligation instead of alignment?

  •  What version of myself shows up in meetings, and is that the real me?

  •  When did I last feel genuinely energized by my work?

The gap between your answers and how you’re actually operating every day? That’s your starting point.

This isn’t about blowing everything up. It’s about getting honest so you can make intentional choices instead of just running on autopilot. (If you want to go deeper on this, read: The Real Reason You Feel Stuck)

Step 2: Reconnect with Your Values (Not Your Job Title)

One of the fastest ways driven leaders lose themselves at work is by letting their identity fuse with their role. You stop being a person with values and start being a title with responsibilities.

Your job title can change overnight. Your values can’t.

Take a few quiet minutes and ask yourself: What do I actually value? Not what my company values. Not what looks good on a performance review. What do YOU value?

Things like integrity, creativity, connection, impact, freedom, growth, or family.

Now ask: Is my work life reflecting those values right now?

When there’s a big mismatch between your values and your daily reality, you feel it as disconnection, restlessness, or that low-grade sense that something is off. Naming your values is how you start closing that gap. (Related: How to Build Self-Trust When You Keep Second-Guessing Yourself)

Step 3: Reclaim Your Voice in the Room

Feeling invisible at work isn’t always about being overlooked by others. Sometimes it’s about how much of yourself you’ve started holding back.

Think about the last time you had an opinion in a meeting but didn’t share it. Or the last time you softened your feedback so much it didn’t land. Or the last time you added the word ‘just’ to an email to make yourself sound less intimidating.

(Side note: if you’re a regular ‘just’ user, it’s time to drop it. That one word alone communicates that you’re apologizing for taking up space.)

Finding yourself professionally means letting your actual voice back into the conversation. Not a louder version of everyone else. YOUR voice, with your perspective, your ideas, and your expertise behind it.

Start small. Share one opinion today that you might have swallowed before. Watch what happens. (Also worth reading: How You Respond to Stress Changes Everything)

Step 4: Redefine What Success Looks Like for YOU

Somewhere along the way, most of us absorbed someone else’s definition of success and started chasing it like it was our own.

More money. A bigger title. A packed calendar. A spotless reputation.

But success is personal. And if you’re building toward someone else’s version of it, no amount of achievement is going to make you feel like you’ve arrived.

Ask yourself: If I took away the external validation, the approval, and the expectations, what would a successful career actually look like to me?

Maybe it’s flexibility. Maybe it’s deep impact in a focused area. Maybe it’s building something. Maybe it’s being home for dinner.

Whatever your answer is, write it down. That’s your compass. It doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

Step 5: Lead from the Inside Out

Real confidence, the kind that doesn’t crumble under pressure or disappear when someone questions you, comes from knowing who you are and choosing to show up as that person, even when it’s uncomfortable.

The leaders who stand out aren’t the ones who have it all figured out. They’re the ones who are clear about their values, willing to use their voice, and honest about what they’re building toward.

That’s what it means to lead from the inside out.

When you reconnect with yourself, something shifts. You stop performing and start leading. You stop shrinking and start taking up the space you’ve actually earned. You stop feeling lost at work and start feeling like yourself again.

That’s not a small thing. That’s everything. (And if you’re ready to take the first step, start here: The Importance of Taking Action: How Action Builds Real Confidence)

You were never meant to disappear into your career.

You were meant to bring yourself into it, fully and unapologetically.

The world doesn’t need another version of the leader down the hall. It needs you, exactly as you are, finally willing to own it.

About Simone Knego

Simone Knego is a confidence and high-performance coach, international keynote speaker, two-time TEDx speaker, and USA Today bestselling author of REAL Confidence: A Simple Guide to Go from Unsure to Unshakeable. She cohosts the podcast Her Unshakeable Confidence with her daughter Olivia. Learn more at simoneknego

The post Feeling Lost at Work? Here Are 5 Steps to Find Yourself Again and Lead with Confidence appeared first on Simone Knego.

How do we teach our kids the value of money, independence, and confidence while also preparing ourselves for life’s unexpected challenges?

In this episode of Her Unshakeable Confidence, Simone and Olivia sit down with Julia Myers, an expert in financial empowerment and personal growth. Julia shares her practical strategies for raising financially confident children — from budgeting, saving, and giving, to teaching experiences over possessions.

She also opens up about her personal journey from provider to patient after a sudden retinal detachment, revealing how confidence is truly built from within when external validation is stripped away. This conversation blends practical advice, heartfelt storytelling, and insights into cultivating unshakable confidence in both parenting and life.

Actionable Takeaways

Teach Money Early: Start conversations about costs, budgeting, and responsibility at home, even before kids have their own income.

Spend, Save, Give: Encourage kids to divide money into spending, saving, and giving — emphasizing intention, not just amounts.

Prioritize Experiences Over Stuff: Focus family resources on meaningful experiences, teaching children values instead of consumerism.

Safe Failures Build Confidence: Allow kids to make decisions with low-stakes consequences to learn responsibility and independent thinking.

Internal Validation Matters: Confidence isn’t from titles, money, or external success; it’s from trusting yourself and your decisions, especially in unexpected life challenges.

Align Family Values: Clarify what your family truly values and use that as a guide for spending, experiences, and priorities.

Focus with Perspective: Focus is not tunnel vision — it’s seeing the bigger picture, balancing light and dark, and choosing what truly matters.

Chapters

00:00 — Introduction
01:12 — Raising Financially Confident Kids
04:58 — Teaching Money Through Real-Life Experience
10:05 — Spending, Saving, and Giving: Building Intentionality
15:07 — Experiential Spending vs. Material Consumption
20:32 — Financial Independence & Family Values
25:07 — Aligning Purchases With Meaning and Purpose
30:29 — Safe Failures and Decision-Making Skills
36:47 — Julia’s Journey: From Provider to Patient
40:56 — Confidence Beyond External Validation
43:37 — The Best Advice Julia Ever Received
44:33 — Focusing on What Truly Matters

About Julia Myers

Julia Myers is a financial empowerment and personal growth expert, specializing in helping families and individuals cultivate financial confidence and personal resilience. With a background in professional leadership and healthcare, Julia shares her expertise through workshops, speaking engagements, and coaching, focusing on real-life strategies to raise independent, confident, and financially literate children.

After a sudden retinal detachment shifted her from provider to patient, Julia pivoted into entrepreneurship and personal development, combining her experience in professional leadership with a deep understanding of personal resilience, confidence, and values-based decision-making.

Connect with Julia Myers:

Website: www.juliammyers.com
LinkedIn: Julia Myers Instagram: julia_myers_rx Facebook: Julia Myers

Connect with Us

Don’t forget to subscribe to Her Unshakeable Confidence for more empowering stories and actionable insights. Leave us a review, share your favorite moments, and tag us on social media!

Take our new QUIZ and discover what’s really holding you back and how to break free.

Get Free AUDIOBOOK

Order Simone’s New Book 

REAL Confidence A Simple Guide to Go from Unsure to Unshakeable

Order Simone’s The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You Book

Connect with Simone Knego:

• Instagram: @simoneknego
• Facebook: @speakersimoneknego
• LinkedIn: simoneknego
• Website: www.simoneknego.com
• Book a free call with Simone

Connect with Olivia Knego:

• Instagram: @oliviaknego
• LinkedIn: oliviaknego

Looking for more?

Visit Our Etsy Shop: theunshakeablestudio

Check out our inspirational mugs, shirts, and more at The Unshakeable Studio. These items are filled with gratitude and designed to inspire personal transformation in one’s life.

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The post Build Financially Confident Kids & True Independence with Dr. Julia Myers! appeared first on Simone Knego.

I’ve had hundreds of conversations with women who are struggling. Successful women. Smart women. Women who have built careers, raised families, led teams, and shown up for everyone around them. And in all of those conversations, I’ve noticed a pattern that I can’t stop thinking about.

They’ll use every word in the book to describe what’s going on, except the real one.

They say they’re “overwhelmed.” They say they’re “stuck” or “burnt out” or “just not feeling like themselves lately.” They talk about how they can’t seem to get started on that big project, or how they second-guess every decision at work. They describe scrolling job listings but never applying. Sitting in meetings with something important to say but staying quiet. Saying yes when they mean no, because saying no feels too risky.

They’ll describe all of it in vivid detail.

But they won’t say the word.

Confidence.

More specifically, the lack of it.

Why We’ll Say Anything But That

Here’s the thing about self-doubt: it’s incredibly good at disguise. It doesn’t always show up as someone cowering in a corner or refusing to leave the house. Most of the time, it shows up as busyness. As perfectionism. As overcommitting, overthinking, and over-explaining. It shows up as the woman who’s incredibly capable but somehow never feels like enough.

And because it wears so many faces, we end up treating the symptoms instead of the actual problem.

We optimize our schedules when what we really need is to work on our self-worth. We read productivity books when what we really need is to stop believing we have to earn our place at the table. We call it imposter syndrome, which, by the way, is just self-doubt in a blazer.

There’s also something about the word “confidence” itself that feels almost too vulnerable to say out loud. Saying “I’m not confident” can feel like admitting a fundamental flaw, like you’re broken in a way that everyone else somehow isn’t. So instead, we talk around it. We intellectualize it. We reframe it as a leadership challenge or a mindset issue or a personality quirk.

But here’s the truth: no matter what word you use to describe what you’re feeling, if you’re holding yourself back, shrinking in moments when you know you should be stepping up, or constantly questioning whether you’re good enough, that’s a confidence issue. And it deserves to be called what it is.

The Signs Are Everywhere (Once You Know What to Look For)

Low confidence and self-doubt don’t always look the way we think they do. They’re not always obvious. In fact, some of the highest-achieving women I know are quietly battling self-doubt behind the scenes. Here are some of the ways it tends to show up:

You over-explain and over-apologize. You add “just” to your emails. You say “sorry to bother you” before asking a totally reasonable question. You soften every statement with a disclaimer so nobody thinks you’re too much.

You hold back your ideas until someone else says the same thing. Then you wish you’d spoken first. But next time, you still wait.

You need external validation to feel okay about a decision. You know what you want to do, but you can’t move forward until three people tell you it’s a good idea.

You compare yourself constantly. Her Instagram. Her promotion. Her confidence. You’re convinced everyone else has figured out something you haven’t.

You call it being a perfectionist instead of calling it fear. Because perfectionism sounds productive. Fear doesn’t.

None of these things mean something is wrong with you. They mean you’re human. But they also mean you’re dealing with self-doubt, and the longer you go without naming it, the longer it gets to run the show. If you’re ready to start doing something about it, my 7 Confidence Building Tips for Women is a practical place to start.

Why We’ve Been Sold a Lie About Confidence

A big part of why so many women struggle to even say the word is because we’ve been given a completely distorted picture of what confidence actually is.

We’ve been told it’s a personality trait. Something the bold, outgoing, loud people were born with. If you’re naturally quieter, more introverted, or prone to reflection, the message has been that confidence just wasn’t in the cards for you.

That’s not just unhelpful. It’s wrong.

Confidence isn’t something you have or you don’t. It’s not a fixed trait you’re either born with or permanently without. It’s a skill. It’s something you build intentionally, one small decision at a time. Every time you keep a promise to yourself, speak up when it matters, take the action you’ve been putting off, or choose your own perspective over someone else’s criticism, you’re building confidence.

This is the foundation of the REAL Method, the framework I’ve used with coaching clients and share in my book, REAL Confidence. Real confidence isn’t about never feeling doubt. It’s about learning to move forward anyway. It’s about developing the kind of inner stability that doesn’t collapse the moment things get hard or uncertain.

And it starts with one thing: being willing to name what’s actually going on.

The Moment Everything Changes

The women I’ve watched transform their careers, their relationships, and their sense of self didn’t start from a place of total certainty. They didn’t wake up one day suddenly full of confidence. They started with honesty. With themselves, first.

Not “I’m burnt out and I need a vacation.” Not “I just need to get more organized.” Not “I’m struggling with my mindset lately.”

They said: I’m dealing with self-doubt. And I want to do something about it.

That shift, from vague frustration to clear naming, is where everything changes. Because when you can name something, you can address it. When you keep calling it burnout or overwhelm or “just stress,” you stay busy treating symptoms. When you call it what it is, you can start actually building something different. I go deeper on what that looks like in practice in It’s Time to Overcome Your Self-Doubt.

You don’t have to feel confident to start working on your confidence. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t have to be at rock bottom or going through some major crisis. You just have to be willing to tell yourself the truth.

You’re Not Broken. You’re Ready.

If any of this landed for you, I want you to hear something: the fact that you’re reading this and nodding along isn’t a sign that something is wrong with you. It’s a sign that you’re paying attention. It’s a sign that some part of you is ready to stop dancing around the real issue and start doing something about it.

The elephant in the room has a name. And once you’re willing to say it out loud, it loses a lot of its power.

Self-doubt is real. The struggle is real. But so is your ability to move through it and come out on the other side with a confidence that’s genuinely unshakeable. If you’re ready to take that next step, grab a copy of REAL Confidence and let’s get to work.

That’s not a personality type. That’s a choice. And it’s one you can make.

The post The Real Reason You Feel Stuck (And the Word Nobody Wants to Say) appeared first on Simone Knego.

Ever wonder how to stop living by other people’s expectations and start owning your life? In this episode of Her Unshakeable Confidence, Simone and Olivia sit down with LaVonna Roth — keynote speaker, leadership coach, and founder of Ignite Your Shine. LaVonna shares candid stories about navigating career pivots, parenting, college pressure, marriage, and divorce, and how she’s learned to balance compassion with accountability.

They discuss setting boundaries without being confrontational, embracing confidence without arrogance, and modeling self-belief for the people around you. LaVonna also shares the advice that shaped her path: believing in yourself before you feel ready. This conversation is full of practical wisdom, real-life examples, and heartfelt encouragement for anyone learning to trust their own journey.

Actionable Takeaways

• Set Boundaries with Confidence: Standing up for yourself doesn’t make you confrontational — it models self-respect and teaches others how to treat you.
• Separate Actions from the Person: When someone treats you poorly, it’s often about their own struggles — not a reflection of your worth.
• Own Your Journey: Life doesn’t have a single “correct” path. College, marriage, career — make decisions based on what aligns with you.
• Confidence vs. Arrogance: Confidence is knowing your strengths and accepting your limits; it’s not about being perfect or all-knowing.
• Be Your Own Hype Girl: Speak to yourself like you would your best friend — encourage, celebrate, and uplift yourself daily.
• Believe Before You Feel Ready: Waiting for perfect readiness can hold you back; trust yourself and take the step.
• Model Resilience for Others: The way you navigate challenges teaches those around you, especially children, how to respond with grace.

Chapters

00:00 — Introduction
01:12 — College Decisions and Career Pivots
06:45 — Marriage, Divorce, and Releasing Shame
12:30 — Modeling Life Lessons for Children
17:25 — Boundaries vs. Confrontation
22:10 — Compassion for Others’ Struggles
26:50 — Social Media Comparison and Self-Worth
30:15 — Confidence vs. Arrogance
34:00 — Being Your Own Hype Girl
38:20 — The Best Advice LaVonna Ever Received
42:15 — Closing Thoughts & Gratitude

About LaVonna Roth

LaVonna Roth is a keynote speaker, leadership coach, and founder of Ignite Your Shine. She empowers individuals and organizations to embrace their strengths, set boundaries, and confidently pursue their passions. LaVonna draws on her own experiences navigating career pivots, parenthood, and personal growth to help others find clarity, resilience, and confidence.

Connect with LaVonna Roth:

• Website: igniteyourshine.com
• Instagram: @LavonnaRoth
• LinkedIn: LaVonna Roth
• Facebook: LaVonna Roth

Connect with Us

Don’t forget to subscribe to Her Unshakeable Confidence for more empowering stories and actionable insights. Leave us a review, share your favorite moments, and tag us on social media!

Take our new QUIZ and discover what’s really holding you back and how to break free.

Subscribe to our exclusive email list and receive our downloadable, FREE GUIDE. This guide, Positive Affirmations to Live Life Authentically, can contribute to a life transformation.

Click HERE to get your copy!

Pre-Order Simone’s New Book 

REAL Confidence A Simple Guide to Go from Unsure to Unshakeable

Order Simone’s The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You Book

Connect with Simone Knego:

• Instagram: @simoneknego
• Facebook: @speakersimoneknego
• LinkedIn: simoneknego
• Website: www.simoneknego.com
• Book a free call with Simone

Connect with Olivia Knego:

• Instagram: @oliviaknego
• LinkedIn: oliviaknego

Looking for more?

Visit Our Etsy Shop: theunshakeablestudio

Check out our inspirational mugs, shirts, and more at The Unshakeable Studio. These items are filled with gratitude and designed to inspire personal transformation in one’s life.

Listen to Episode on:

The post Explode Your Confidence: LaVonna Roth’s SHINE Framework! appeared first on Simone Knego.

What really builds confidence in daughters—and are we modeling it the right way?

In this honest and relatable episode of Her Unshakeable Confidence, Simone and Olivia Knego dive into the realities of raising confident daughters—from childhood to teenage years and into adulthood. They explore how confidence goes far beyond appearance, why modeling behavior matters more than what we say, and how open, judgment-free communication creates lasting trust.

Through real-life stories and candid conversations about peer pressure, friendships, relationships, and mistakes, they highlight the importance of giving kids space while still being their safe place. This episode is a powerful reminder that confidence is built through connection, honesty, and allowing kids to learn while knowing they are always supported.

Actionable Takeaways

Model the behavior you want your kids to mirror—confidence starts with you.
Focus on building confidence beyond appearance and external validation.
Create open and honest conversations, even when they feel uncomfortable.
Give your kids space to grow while remaining a safe place they can return to.
Teach self-respect early so they can make better decisions under pressure.
Avoid judging your kids—they are already judging themselves.
Normalize mistakes as part of growth and learning at every age.

Chapters

00:00 – Raising Confident Daughters Starts With You
03:45 – Confidence Beyond Looks and Social Pressure
07:10 – Modeling Behavior and Breaking Bad Habits
10:30 – Honest Conversations and Teaching Values
14:05 – Navigating the Teenage Years and Giving Space
18:20 – Peer Pressure, Drinking, and Real-Life Decisions
22:45 – Friendships, Relationships, and Red Flags
26:30 – Letting Go, Growing Up, and Finding Your People
29:15 – Final Thoughts: Don’t Judge Your Kids

Connect with Us

Don’t forget to subscribe to Her Unshakeable Confidence for more empowering stories and actionable insights. Leave us a review, share your favorite moments, and tag us on social media!

Take our new QUIZ and discover what’s really holding you back and how to break free.

Subscribe to our exclusive email list and receive our downloadable, FREE GUIDE. This guide, Positive Affirmations to Live Life Authentically, can contribute to a life transformation.

Click HERE to get your copy!

Pre-Order Simone’s New Book 

REAL Confidence A Simple Guide to Go from Unsure to Unshakeable

Order Simone’s The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You Book

Connect with Simone Knego:

• Instagram: @simoneknego
• Facebook: @speakersimoneknego
• LinkedIn: simoneknego
• Website: www.simoneknego.com
• Book a free call with Simone

Connect with Olivia Knego:

• Instagram: @oliviaknego
• LinkedIn: oliviaknego

Looking for more?

Visit Our Etsy Shop: theunshakeablestudio

Check out our inspirational mugs, shirts, and more at The Unshakeable Studio. These items are filled with gratitude and designed to inspire personal transformation in one’s life.

Listen to Episode on:

The post Raising Confident Daughters: Honest Parenting Advice Every Mom Needs appeared first on Simone Knego.

This weekend, I got to celebrate something that still feels a little surreal. My oldest son is about to become a dad.

He’s 29 now, and he and his wife are expecting a baby boy in June. Even writing that feels strange, in the best way. Because in my mind, I can still see him as this little boy running around the house, asking a million questions, needing me for everything. I can still picture the toys on the floor, the bedtime routines, the constant pull of being needed.

And now, he’s about to have someone who will need him in that same way.

There’s something about watching your child become a parent that stops you in your tracks. It’s one of those parenting milestones that nobody really warns you about, the ones that happen to you as the mom, not just to your kids.

Celebrating Life’s Milestones Together

We had his baby shower this weekend. Family came in. Friends showed up. There was laughter, stories, and that feeling of everyone coming together to celebrate the parents to be.

It felt slower in a good way. People stayed in conversations. There was time to actually see each other, not pass by and move on. It felt intentional without anyone trying too hard to make it that way.

And I found myself stepping back and watching.

Watching my son move through the room. Watching his wife, calm and steady. Watching friends and family who have known him since he was little now showing up to celebrate the man he’s become.

It felt layered. And it reminded me of something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: the moments that matter most are usually the ones where we put everything else down and just show up. (If you’ve ever tried putting your phone away for a whole dinner and felt how different it makes everything, you already know what I mean.)

A Full Circle Moment You Don’t See Coming

But there was one moment that really stayed with me.

Jacob’s second grade teacher came to the shower. She brought a Valentine’s card that Jacob had given her when he was seven years old. She had kept it all this time. And now here he was, about to become a father, holding something he had written as a little boy.

That moment felt like everything came full circle.

Because you don’t think about those small things when you’re in them. You don’t realize that a simple card, something done in a classroom on an ordinary day, could come back decades later and mean something entirely different.

You’re living your life. Packing lunches. Getting kids out the door. Answering questions. Moving through the day.

And yet, those small moments stay. They come back. They remind you. The everyday parenting moments you barely register at the time? Those are the ones that turn into full circle stories years later.

What It’s Like to Become a Parent Young

I got married at 21. I had Jacob at 24.

I was young, and I knew it. I always say I was a kid having a kid, and I mean that in the most honest way. I didn’t have everything figured out. There was excitement, but there was also uncertainty. I was learning as I went.

There was no perfect plan. No sense that I had it all together. Just a willingness to step into it and figure it out along the way.

Looking at him now, it feels different. He’s steady. Grounded. There’s a calm confidence in the way he shows up that I don’t remember having at that stage. And watching that has been incredible. Not because he’s doing it perfectly, but because he’s doing it in a way that fits him.

Building Something Strong Together

And then there’s his wife.

She’s amazing. Calm, organized, and composed in a way that you can feel. She brings a steadiness that balances everything out. She’s thoughtful and intentional, and it shows in how she moves through this season.

Watching the two of them together, you can see it. They complement each other. They support each other. They’re building something strong. And that matters.

Why Being Present Is the Real Parenting Milestone

As much as this weekend was about celebrating them, it became something else for me too. A reminder.

Because life gets busy. There’s always something to do, something to answer, somewhere to be. It’s easy to move from one thing to the next without really stopping. It’s easy to be physically present but mentally somewhere else.

This weekend, I made a different choice.

I turned everything off. The emails could wait. The to do list could wait. Everything could wait.

And I let myself be there. Fully present for the conversations; Fully present for the laughter; Fully present for the quiet moments in between when you look around and realize this is what matters.

This is it.

The truth is, being present isn’t just a feel good concept. It’s something we actively have to choose, especially when we’re in a season of life that keeps pulling our attention in every direction. And for those of us who are deep in the years of building careers, raising families, and trying to figure out what we actually want for ourselves, that choice gets even harder and more important.

How Fast Life Really Moves

I’ve been married for almost 33 years. And somehow, it still feels like it went by in a blink.

Because it did.

Even with everything that filled those years. Even with all the moments that felt long at the time. It still went fast. Faster than you think it will when you’re in the middle of it.

You think you have more time.

We tell ourselves we’ll slow down when things calm down. When there’s less to do. When life isn’t so full. But life is always full.

So the pause has to be a choice. It has to be something you decide to do, even when it feels inconvenient. Even when your instinct is to keep going.

Because the moments you think you’ll remember are often the ones you miss when you’re not fully there. And the moments you slow down for, the ones you actually feel, those are the ones that stay with you.

Choose Presence Before the Moment Passes

There are parenting milestones we see coming from a mile away, first steps, graduation, the wedding day. And then there are the ones that sneak up on you. Watching your child become a parent is one of those.

Being present isn’t about having more time. It’s about choosing to be where you are. Fully.

So if life feels busy right now, if you’re moving fast and telling yourself you’ll slow down later, consider this your reminder.

Pause when you can. Enjoy the moments. Because you won’t get them back.

The small moments you barely notice today? They’re the ones your kids will carry with them for decades. And someday, they just might bring one back to you.

Simone Knego is a confidence coach, international keynote speaker, and USA Today bestselling author of REAL Confidence: A Simple Guide to Go from Unsure to Unshakeable. She’s also the cohost of the globally ranked podcast Her Unshakeable Confidence with her daughter Olivia.

The post Watching Your Child Become a Parent: A Parenting Milestone That Changes Everything appeared first on Simone Knego.

What if confidence isn’t something you’re born with — but something you earn through the hardest seasons of your life?

In this powerful episode of Her Unshakeable Confidence, Simone and Olivia sit down with Emily Kendel — aesthetic business coach, founder of Spa Project, and former celebrity makeup artist. They unpack her extraordinary journey from growing up in poverty to building and selling a successful med spa.

Emily opens up about breaking generational cycles, navigating two divorces, raising five children, and facing her youngest daughter’s devastating prenatal diagnosis of spina bifida. Additionally, she shares how faith, curiosity, resilience, and taking action — even when she didn’t feel ready — shaped the confident woman and business leader she is today.

They also dive into the realities of running a med spa, the chaos of wearing every hat as a business owner, and why most entrepreneurs struggle. Often, it is not because they lack talent — but because they lack systems.

If you’ve ever questioned your identity, struggled to balance ambition and motherhood, or felt like you had to be confident before taking the leap — this episode will remind you that confidence is the reward for courage.

Actionable Takeaways

Confidence Is a Result, Not a Requirement:
You don’t need confidence to start — you gain confidence by taking action through difficult moments.

Focus Before You Expand:
In business, more services don’t equal more success. Master your fundamentals before scaling.

Know Your Numbers:
Revenue means nothing without profit. Understanding cash flow, pricing, and expenses is critical to sustainability.

Systems Create Freedom:
If you want to scale or build a team, every step of your client experience must be documented and repeatable.

Align with Your Values:
When your decisions reflect your core values — in motherhood, marriage, and business — peace and clarity follow.

Your Kids Are Only Little Once:
Ambition matters, but presence matters too. Build a life you won’t regret looking back on.

Chapters

00:00 — Introduction
02:10 — Growing Up Poor & Finding Identity Through Looks
07:45 — From Aesthetician to Celebrity Makeup Artist
15:02 — Breaking Cycles & Becoming a Young Single Mom
20:10 — A Prenatal Diagnosis & Open Fetal Surgery
27:35 — Losing Identity in Motherhood
32:40 — The Chaos of Running a Med Spa
42:50 — Why Systems Matter in Service Businesses
43:07 — What Confidence Really Means
44:38 — The Best Advice Emily Ever Received

About Emily Kendel

Emily Kendel is a highly experienced aesthetic business coach, consultant, speaker, and founder of Spa Project — an aesthetics training program and community for med spa owners.

With over two decades in the beauty industry, Emily began as a licensed aesthetician before becoming a celebrity makeup artist for television and film. She worked with high-profile talent including Morgan Freeman.

After building and scaling her own med spa from the ground up, Emily discovered her true passion. She now helps service-provider-owned medical spas make strategic decisions, understand their numbers, implement systems, and build profitable, sustainable businesses.

Her work now focuses on guiding overwhelmed med spa owners through three core phases — mastering operations and finances, strengthening sales and communication, and scaling through strategic marketing.

Beyond business, Emily is a mother of five who believes curiosity, faith, and courageous action are the true foundations of unshakeable confidence.

Connect with Emily Kendel:

Facebook Group: Emily Kendel LinkedIn: Emily Kendel Instagram: @emilykendel Website: spaproject.com

Connect with Us

Don’t forget to subscribe to Her Unshakeable Confidence for more empowering stories and actionable insights. Leave us a review, share your favorite moments, and tag us on social media!

Take our new QUIZ and discover what’s really holding you back and how to break free.

Subscribe to our exclusive email list and receive our downloadable, FREE GUIDE. This guide, Positive Affirmations to Live Life Authentically, can contribute to a life transformation.

Click HERE to get your copy!

Pre-Order Simone’s New Book 

REAL Confidence A Simple Guide to Go from Unsure to Unshakeable

Order Simone’s The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You Book

Connect with Simone Knego:

• Instagram: @simoneknego
• Facebook: @speakersimoneknego
• LinkedIn: simoneknego
• Website: www.simoneknego.com
• Book a free call with Simone

Connect with Olivia Knego:

• Instagram: @oliviaknego
• LinkedIn: oliviaknego

Looking for more?

Visit Our Etsy Shop: theunshakeablestudio

Check out our inspirational mugs, shirts, and more at The Unshakeable Studio. These items are filled with gratitude and designed to inspire personal transformation in one’s life.

Listen to Episode on:

The post Aesthetic Industry: From Tech to Top CEO! appeared first on Simone Knego.

Stress gets a bad reputation. We talk about it like it’s something we should avoid or fix, like if we could just get everything under control, we’d finally feel calm, confident, and steady. But that’s not how it works. If you’re doing anything meaningful, anything that stretches you or matters to you, stress is going to show up. That doesn’t mean something is wrong. It usually means something matters.

What we don’t talk about enough is what happens next. Because stress itself isn’t the issue. The real difference comes from how you respond to stress, especially in the moments when it counts.

What Stress Really Is

Most people think stress comes from what’s happening around them, the deadline, the pressure, the conversation they’ve been avoiding. And while those things are real, stress is also about what’s happening inside of you at the same time. Two people can walk into the exact same situation and experience it completely differently. One shuts down while the other leans in. It’s not because one is more capable. It’s because of the story running in their head.

That story didn’t start in that moment. It’s been building over time through past experiences, expectations, and the way we’ve learned to talk to ourselves. If your default is self doubt, stress will amplify it. If your default is self trust, stress will still feel uncomfortable, but it won’t stop you. That’s why learning how to respond to stress is one of the most important skills you can build.

It’s also a big part of building confidence in real time, which I talk about more in how to build real confidence from the inside out (https://simoneknego.com/how-to-build-real-confidence-from-the-inside-out/). Confidence isn’t built in perfect conditions. It’s built in moments like these.

The Moment Most People Miss

There’s a moment in every stressful situation that most people miss. I’ve felt it standing right outside a room before a talk, holding my notes, rereading the same line again and again. Not because I didn’t know what I wanted to say, but because that voice had gotten loud.

I call it the what if whisperer. It shows up right when things start to matter. What if you lose your place? What if they don’t connect? What if you’re not as good as they think you are? Nothing had actually gone wrong, but my mind was already trying to take over.

That’s the moment I’m talking about, the one right before you react. Most of us move through it so fast we don’t even realize it’s there, and we fall into old patterns like overthinking, doubting, or holding back just enough to feel safe. That’s when stress turns into overwhelm. But if you catch that moment, even briefly, something shifts. You create space between what you’re feeling and what you do next, and in that space, you get to decide how you want to show up.

Not perfectly. Just more intentionally.

The Voice That Shows Up Under Pressure

That voice doesn’t only show up in big moments. It shows up in everyday situations too, before you send an email, before you speak up in a meeting, before you try something new. The what if whisperer is consistent, and if you’re not paying attention, it becomes convincing.

It sounds like it’s trying to protect you, but most of the time it’s just trying to keep you comfortable. It tells you to wait, to hold back, to play it safe. And over time, those small decisions shape how you show up everywhere. Not all at once, but gradually.

That’s why the relationship you have with yourself matters so much. It directly impacts how you respond to stress and pressure in your daily life. I wrote more about this in why love and self love are intertwined (https://simoneknego.com/why-love-and-self-love-are-intertwined/), because how you treat yourself shows up in every one of these moments.

Stress Reveals Patterns, It Doesn’t Define You

Stress has a way of revealing patterns. It shows you how you think when things feel uncertain, what you believe about yourself when it counts, and where your mind tends to go when things feel uncomfortable.

That can feel frustrating, especially when you notice yourself repeating the same reactions. But it’s also useful. Because once you see the pattern, you can start to change it.

You can catch yourself earlier. You can notice the thoughts that aren’t helping you. You can pause before the reaction takes over. That awareness doesn’t eliminate stress, but it gives you more control over how you respond to stress.

How to Respond to Stress in Real Time

You don’t need to completely change your life to handle stress better. You just need to start noticing what’s happening in the moment. Instead of immediately believing the thought, pause and question it. Instead of assuming you’re not ready, ask what you actually need.

Instead of shutting down, take one small step forward. Start there. That’s enough.

One of the biggest shifts comes from how you talk to yourself. Most of us wouldn’t speak to someone we care about the way we speak to ourselves under pressure. But internally, that’s often the default. Changing that doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine. It means choosing to support yourself while you figure it out.

Why Taking Action Reduces Stress

When stress builds, it’s easy to wait until you feel more ready, more confident, or more certain. But that feeling rarely comes first. Action does.

Even a small step forward interrupts the cycle of overthinking and creates momentum. That momentum builds confidence, not because the stress disappears, but because you’re proving to yourself that you can move through it.

I see this all the time, not just in big moments, but in the everyday ones. The email you keep rewriting but never send. The conversation you keep putting off. The idea you keep thinking about but haven’t acted on yet. It’s not that you don’t know what to do. It’s that the what if whisperer has convinced you to wait just a little longer.

But waiting rarely makes it easier. It usually just makes it heavier.

This is also what I mean when I talk about living without limits (https://simoneknego.com/live-without-limits/). It’s not about doing something extreme. It’s about choosing to move forward, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Stress and Growth Go Together

If you look back at the moments that have shaped you the most, they probably weren’t the easy ones. They were the ones that stretched you, challenged you, and pushed you to grow.

Stress was part of those moments. Not because something was wrong, but because something mattered. That’s an important shift.

Stress often shows up right before something meaningful, whether it’s a new opportunity, a difficult conversation, or a decision that requires courage. Your response in that moment matters more than the stress itself.

A Better Question to Ask Yourself

Instead of asking how to get rid of stress, ask a different question. What is this moment asking of me.

Sometimes it’s asking you to step up. Sometimes it’s asking you to trust yourself. Sometimes it’s asking you to take action before you feel fully ready.

The what if whisperer doesn’t go away. You just get better at not listening to it.

The Takeaway

Stress isn’t going anywhere, but your response can change. You can pause, notice what’s happening, shift how you talk to yourself, and take action even when it feels uncomfortable.

Over time, those small choices build something powerful. Trust in yourself, resilience, and real confidence that doesn’t depend on everything going perfectly.

Ready to Build Real Confidence?

If this resonates with you and you want a practical way to apply it in your life, you can learn more here:

https://realconfidencebook.com

The post How You Respond to Stress Changes Everything appeared first on Simone Knego.

Ever feel like life’s obligations are taking over your joy?

In this episode of Her Unshakeable Confidence, Simone and Olivia Knego explore how to step back, ask yourself what you truly want, and prioritize the moments that light you up. From juggling busy schedules and family chaos to finding joy in simple pleasures like sunny days and meaningful outings, they discuss how reclaiming your time and celebrating the small wins can boost your confidence and sense of fulfillment.

Actionable Takeaways

• Ask yourself what you truly want before saying yes to obligations.
• Prioritize rest and sleep—it fuels confidence and clarity.
• Celebrate small joys and wins in your daily life.
• Enjoy moments with friends and loved ones without overthinking societal pressures.
• Embrace spontaneity and seek experiences that energize you.
• Recognize how sunlight, seasonal changes, and environment impact your mood and productivity.

Chapters

00:00 – Finding Time for What You Really Want
11:04 – Saying No to Obligations and Overcommitment
13:35 – Planning Fun Experiences and Celebrating Life
16:35 – The Power of Rest and Doing Nothing
17:26 – Seasonal Joy: Sunlight, Mood, and Energy
20:04 – The History and Impact of Daylight Savings
21:30 – Light, Motivation, and Productivity
27:39 – Weather, Tornadoes, and Life’s Chaos
29:42 – Celebrating Life Amidst Challenges

Connect with Us

Don’t forget to subscribe to Her Unshakeable Confidence for more empowering stories and actionable insights. Leave us a review, share your favorite moments, and tag us on social media!

Take our new QUIZ and discover what’s really holding you back and how to break free.

Subscribe to our exclusive email list and receive our downloadable, FREE GUIDE. This guide, Positive Affirmations to Live Life Authentically, can contribute to a life transformation.

Click HERE to get your copy!

Pre-Order Simone’s New Book 

REAL Confidence A Simple Guide to Go from Unsure to Unshakeable

Order Simone’s The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You Book

Connect with Simone Knego:

• Instagram: @simoneknego
• Facebook: @speakersimoneknego
• LinkedIn: simoneknego
• Website: www.simoneknego.com
• Book a free call with Simone

Connect with Olivia Knego:

• Instagram: @oliviaknego
• LinkedIn: oliviaknego

Looking for more?

Visit Our Etsy Shop: theunshakeablestudio

Check out our inspirational mugs, shirts, and more at The Unshakeable Studio. These items are filled with gratitude and designed to inspire personal transformation in one’s life.

Listen to Episode on:

The post The Secret to Saying No and Enjoying Life More appeared first on Simone Knego.