Building true confidence is a gradual process. No one is going to turn into a positive, self-confident person overnight.

But if you're in need of some extra confidence, here are seven secrets for building unstoppable confidence that are no longer undercover.

1. Stop comparing yourself to others.

The worst thing you can do is compare yourself to others. Remember that you're seeing the surface of their lives, not the underlying reality. Focus instead on what's important--your own strengths and goals.

2. Remember that the loudest is not the most confident.

We tend to look to the blow-your-own-horn types as the confident ones--but some of the most successful people are gentle giants, humble and self-effacing people who turn out to be the strongest, people we admire more and more as we come to appreciate their depth.

3. Keep your limiting beliefs at bay.

Even the most successful people have limiting beliefs about themselves, but the biggest difference is that they choose to focus on their strengths and possibilities instead of their limits.

4. Live in a positive reality.

Don't say anything about yourself that you don't want to become a reality. Positive thoughts and words alone won't make you a more confident person, but confident people do think a lot of positive things about themselves. Remind yourself of what you're capable of and what you've already accomplished.

5. Don't mask it.

Self-confidence isn't the impression you give others but how you feel about yourself. It's all about who you are, where you are, and where you want to be in your own life and leadership.

6. Change what you can.

Confident people know they cannot change the past, but they can change the future. They make daily choices that lead them toward the future they want to live out.

7. Be fully committed.

Be fully committed to doing whatever you can to build your success every single day, and to accepting full responsibility for your life. If it's uncomfortable, you're probably on the right track. Don't procrastinate; do what it takes without agonizing or drama.