Gravitas: A Conversation About Confidence With Entrepreneur Lisa Sun

Founder and author Lisa Sun challenges societal definitions of confidence with her clothing line and new book.

Lisa Sun's journey of self-confidence has led her through the business and literary worlds. Courtesy of Lisa Sun

Lisa Sun is the founder and CEO of the fashion brand Gravitas and author of “Gravitas: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence.” Her work aims to encourage women to find their inner confidence and overcome self-doubt and limiting beliefs to thrive. We asked her about her book and for advice for those wishing to become more confident.

The Epoch Times: What inspired you to write your book, “Gravitas: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence”?

Lisa Sun: I wrote the book I most needed myself. This is the book that I would have wanted to give to my 12-year-old self when I first learned what the word “chubby” meant; my 22-year-old self after my first professional review when I was told that I “lacked gravitas”; my 32-year-old self when I was fired for the first time; and my 41-year-old self, who was on the verge of giving up during the COVID-19 pandemic. I wrote this book to challenge the narrow, traditional definitions of confidence and help people—especially women—discover and embrace their own unique superpowers in an exclusive and empowering way.

After spending years working with clients through my fashion label Gravitas, I realized that many people didn’t feel “confident enough” because they didn’t fit a single mold. I want to give readers a new framework to understand that confidence isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Through research, client stories, and the eight confidence strengths we’ve identified, I want to help people unlock a more inclusive, authentic version of confidence from the inside out.

Sun's clothing line, Gravitas, and her new book offer avenues for embracing your own unique style. Courtesy of Lisa Sun

The Epoch Times: Have you always been a confident person?

Ms. Sun: I always say, “We’re all born fully self-confident.” Nine-year-old Lisa wanted to be president or chief justice of the Supreme Court (who knows—there’s still time!), but as we grow up, six forces start to show up that drive our inner critic. This inner critic can hold us back and allow fear, doubt, and insecurity to be at the forefront of how we live our lives. But when we give it dimension and when we name exactly what’s driving it, we’re able to take away its power.

I woke up with all six forces this morning, so it’s still a work in progress and always will be, but now that I know the antidote, I have the tools to pull out my reserves of power and superpowers that make me confident in my own unique way. Every one of us has moments of doubt throughout the day. That’s why gravitas is an approach to tapping into your own power. I always say, “Confidence is a choice and a mindset before it becomes a behavior.”

The Epoch Times: In the research for your book, you identified eight types of confidence. Can you walk us through those?

Ms. Sun: For my book, we conducted a quantitative study that revealed eight superpowers that are the foundation of confidence. Most of us have two to three of them. (You can take a quiz at MyConfidenceLanguage.com to get a self-affirming inventory of your own superpowers). Those eight are:

• Leading: You like being in charge. You’re a natural-born leader.
• Performing: You love being the center of attention. Extroverted.
• Achieving: You love setting goals and working to achieve and/or exceed them. You like a challenge.
• Giving: You enjoy helping others, are a great listener, and people come to you for support.
• Knowing: You live by the motto “knowledge is power.” Best example of this is the three black women in the movie “Hidden Figures.”
• Creating: You can create something out of nothing.
• Believing: You are a calming force in groups and an optimist.
• Self-Sustaining: You don’t feel like you have to prove yourself or impress anyone.

Once you figure out your own unique combination of superpowers, it’s your own “confidence language”—the basis of why you should believe in yourself, why you’ve been successful. It’s your own formula for self-assuredness and success.

The Epoch Times: Your clothing company aims to help women “catalyze confidence from the inside out.” What role can attire play in building confidence?

Ms. Sun: To me, gravitas means showing up fully as myself with trust and the belief in my own abilities. It’s a mindset I choose every single day, and it starts from the inside out.

Sometimes, that daily choice to lead with confidence and gravitas begins with something as simple and powerful as putting on an outfit that reminds me of who I am. My closet is filled with Gravitas MVPs that remind me to stand taller and own my power. Since most of us are dressing for style and comfort these days, I always suggest one piece that makes you feel good and is a conversation starter (like our Marvel Suffragist Newsprint Blouse). I believe we dress for ourselves and our own power, not for how others see us.

The Epoch Times: Many people wish they felt more confident. Why do you think confidence can seem so elusive to so many?

Ms. Sun: We have been conditioned to believe that confidence is a singular concept, so we are on a mission to reveal the truth that confidence is plural. Confidence is not only bravado, swagger, or being the loudest voice in the room; sometimes the quietest person in the room can be the most confident. If you look up the word “confidence” in the dictionary, it has nothing to do with bravado; it’s an understanding and appreciation of your own abilities. It’s a mindset first.

Gravitas is a total approach to living life with self-assurance. That starts with understanding that these characteristics that you have are not weaknesses, but superpowers and are your unique confidence language.

According to Sun, confidence is not one-size-fits all. Courtesy of Lisa Sun

The Epoch Times: What steps would you recommend someone take to build their confidence?

Ms. Sun: The first step is acknowledging you have an inner critic and understanding what drives your insecurity. You can’t solve a problem until you’ve diagnosed it. This is why we often ask people to examine the six forces of the inner critic and figure out which ones affect them. Then, take our quiz at MyConfidenceLanguage.com to discover why you’re special and powerful. Knowing what your talents are allows you to have a megaphone to drown out the inner critic. Lastly, advocate for your own strengths, even when they’re different from the norm.

The Epoch Times: What do you wish more people understood about confidence?

Ms. Sun: It’s not about becoming someone else; it’s about becoming more of yourself by moving forward in a way that is rooted in who you are and what you bring to the table. I wish more people knew that their stories and strengths aren’t things to fix—they’re what make them powerful. It’s your gravitas.