Popping People's Tradeswoman Virginity - Building Confidence - Episode 169

What do you do when someone is shocked to discover that you're a tradeswoman… again?

In this episode of Building Confidence, I'm sharing one of the more unusual reframes I've created with a coaching client: popping people's tradeswoman virginity.

When women still make up such a small percentage of tradespeople, there's a good chance you'll be the first tradeswoman someone has worked with, hired, met on site, or had turn up at their house. Most of the time, the surprise might not bother you—but on a bad day, another "Wow, a girl!" can be the tiny thing that drains the last bit of energy you have.

So instead of letting those moments chip away at your confidence, what if we made them a little lighter?

In this episode, I talk about reframing—a simple coaching tool that can help us change the way we look at those low-level problems we can't necessarily control. This isn't about pretending something doesn't bother you or ignoring bigger workplace issues. It's about deciding where you want to spend your energy.

In this episode, we discuss:

What reframing is and how you can use it

The small, repetitive experiences that can drain tradeswomen over time

Why people may still be surprised to meet a tradeswoman

Separating low-level frustrations from problems that actually need action

Using humour to take some of the heaviness out of frustrating situations

Protecting your energy on the days when your confidence is already low