- Image Lab by Alex Costa
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- A difference maker for most men
A difference maker for most men
One thing that opens doors when talent isn't enough
Alex Costa
August 25, 2025
In partnership with
Time to deliver
Blink and it’s back to structure, work, and routines.
September doesn’t wait.
And you’ve only got a few months to close out the year.
So, how are you going to make it happen?
September is the month where confidence matters the most.
This week is all about building confidence to get you through the rest of the year.
This week:
🏆 Why confidence is the edge you can’t fake
🧠 The evidence: what confidence really does for men
🔑 Triggering confidence - mindset, physical, and style
📅 It matters the most in September
🛒 My shopping cart (all on SALE)
🚨 Your sign to let your hair grow out
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THE EDGE
YOU CAN’T FAKE
When it comes to self-confidence, we all start somewhere.
Think about someone like Steve Jobs.
His list of failures included being fired by his own company.
But he was still driven by an unwavering self-belief of making the world better through technology - and we know the rest of the story.
Or Michael Jordan.
Who was originally cut from his high school varsity basketball team in his sophomore year.
He used this failure to grow the chip on his shoulder that we now know turned him into the legend he is today.
Wherever you get your confidence from, remember it, bottle it up, and hold on to it - this is what will drive you.
What confidence does (research-backed)
Boosts leadership perception: A study from the University of Vienna showed confident people are seen as more capable and trustworthy than their peers who have the same skills but show less confidence.
Reduces stress: Self-confidence lowers cortisol levels aka how stressed you feel, helping you stay calm under pressure.
Improves communication: Confidence tends to increase clarity in your speech and body language.
Drives opportunity: Studies show confident individuals are more likely to get hired and promoted - I can tell you right now, I wouldn’t have seen all the success I have if it wasn’t for the confidence I have in myself.
Trigger your own confidence
Mindset first
Confidence is trained like a muscle and how you speak to yourself is generally how you’ll feel about your life.
Start your mornings with affirmations, speak with intention, and cut out any self-doubt language.
Build on your momentum through physical wellness
When you think right, you move right. Exercise, posture, and daily routines all help with keeping your body aligned with your mindset.
Building and maintaining energy in your body from physical activity amplifies belief in your mind.
Style as the finisher
Style is beyond surface-level, it’s armor.
When you dress sharp, you feel sharp. And when you feel sharp, confidence becomes effortless.
The right fit, the right grooming, the right presence - it all stacks together.
September is critical
September might be the most impactful month of the year for a lot of people.
It’s one of the busiest months of the year for companies hiring new employees.
It’s the beginning of the home stretch to close out the year for a lot of businesses.
And it’s the month where you’re coming back from summer - either back into school or back to work.
If there was ever a time to radiate confidence in interviews, meetings, and or just general first impressions, it’s RIGHT now.
Fit of the week
Top: Orlebar Brown - Dominic Polo (ON SALE)
Pants: Orlebar Brown - Sonoran Trousers (ON SALE)
Vibe: It’s still summer
