Irish Business Builders

Neuroscientist and psychologist Ian Robertson joins Business Builders to unpack what confidence really is, how it shapes success, and why it can quietly turn against the very people it helps elevate. Ian is Emeritus Professor at Trinity College, Dublin and author of two best-selling books: How Confidence Works: the new science of self-belief. Penguin The Winner Effect: the science of success and how to use it. Bloomsbury Rather than treating confidence as optimism or self-belief, Ian explains it as a brain-based mechanism; one that drives action, motivation, mood, influence, and decision-making. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, sport, leadership, and real-world examples, he shows how confidence compounds through small wins, why it’s essential for navigating uncertainty, and how it can distort judgment as success accumulates. The conversation also explores the dark side of confidence: how overconfidence becomes addictive, why it mirrors the effects of power on the brain, and how leaders, founders, and public figures can lose self-awareness as dopamine, status, and success reinforce one another. Ian draws a sharp distinction between intrinsic goals, wanting to be good at what you do, and extrinsic goals like money, status, and beating competitors, explaining why one builds resilience while the other undermines judgment and mental health. This episode is a deep, practical look at confidence as a tool, one that can build extraordinary momentum if used well, and cause serious damage if misunderstood. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: – What confidence actually is (and what it isn’t) – Why confidence drives action despite uncertainty – How the “winner effect” compounds success – Why manifesting big goals can backfire – How intrinsic vs extrinsic goals shape motivation – Why overconfidence distorts judgment and risk perception – How power and success affect the brain – Why failure is a better teacher than success – How confidence shapes leadership, parenting, and aging ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – What confidence really is  01:30 – Confidence vs self-esteem and optimism  03:50 – Confidence as a self-fulfilling prophecy  05:10 – The winner effect and compounding success  06:40 – Why confidence creates widening gaps over time  07:05 – Why big fantasy goals often fail  08:45 – Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation  10:00 – Confidence as the bridge across uncertainty  11:20 – Confidence vs anxiety  12:30 – Confidence as a natural antidepressant  13:55 – Why confidence increases influence and persuasion  15:00 – When confidence becomes dangerous  16:40 – Overconfidence, luck, and distorted self-belief  18:00 – Power, narcissism, and loss of self-awareness  19:30 – Why extrinsic success becomes addictive  20:00 – The limits of “manifesting”  21:00 – Olympic failure and rebuilding confidence through process  23:20 – Why Ian became fascinated by confidence  24:30 – Why confidence matters so much in childhood  26:00 – Anxiety, avoidance, and learning  27:40 – Parenting, risk, and emotional robustness  29:40 – Why failure builds better founders  31:00 – Experience, learning, and explaining complex ideas  32:45 – Self-awa