When Confidence Gets Mistaken for Arrogance

 

Somewhere along the way, confidence became suspicious.

If you stand tall, speak clearly, enjoy your life, and don’t apologize for existing, there’s a good chance someone will label you arrogant. Not because you are—but because your assurance makes them uncomfortable.

We live in a time where self-doubt is rewarded and strength is quietly shamed. Where humility is often confused with shrinking yourself, and confidence is treated like a character flaw. Meanwhile, weak men—men without direction, discipline, or purpose—are everywhere, and they’re loud about wanting everyone else to lower the bar to meet them.

Let me add some context.

I’m a short Puerto Rican from the Bronx.

Where I grew up, confidence wasn’t a personality trait—it was survival. And being short made it even harder. You didn’t get automatic respect. You earned it through presence, awareness, and knowing exactly who you were. You learned how to carry yourself, how to speak with clarity, how to stand your ground without looking for permission.

If you didn’t develop strength—mental, emotional, and internal—you didn’t last long.

Only the weak failed.
Not because they were bad people—but because hesitation, self-pity, and fear got you swallowed up.

So when I show confidence today, it isn’t an act. It’s not arrogance. It’s residue from a life where you had to know who you were, or someone else would decide it for you.

That kind of confidence doesn’t disappear just because the environment changes.

Confidence is not arrogance.

Arrogance is rooted in insecurity. Confidence is rooted in self-knowledge.

A confident person doesn’t need to dominate a room. They don’t need to prove themselves. They don’t tear others down. They simply are—comfortable in their skin, aligned with their values, and unafraid to enjoy the life they’ve worked for.

Arrogance says, “I’m better than you.”
Confidence says, “I know who I am.”

And that difference matters.

When you’ve done the work—when you’ve failed, gotten back up, stayed disciplined, provided for your family, created something meaningful, or simply refused to quit—you earn a certain calm assurance. That assurance isn’t loud, but it’s noticeable. And for some people, especially those avoiding responsibility, it’s threatening.

So they label it.
They mock it.
They try to humble you.

But what they’re really asking is for you to dim your light so they don’t have to confront their own shadows.

Don’t do it.

Do not apologize for enjoying your life.
Do not apologize for speaking with certainty.
Do not apologize for believing in yourself.

Confidence is not something you perform for others—it’s something you live.

Three Ways to Increase Your Confidence (Without Becoming Arrogant)

1. Keep the promises you make to yourself
   Confidence grows when your actions align with your words. Start small. Get up when you say you will. Finish what you start. Discipline builds trust with yourself, and self-trust becomes confidence.

2. Build real competence
   Learn a skill. Get better at your craft. Put in the reps. Confidence that’s earned through effort can’t be shaken by opinions. When you know you’ve done the work, outside noise loses its power.

3. Stop outsourcing your self-worth
   Likes, approval, and validation are fragile foundations. Decide who you are and live accordingly. When your standards come from within, confidence becomes steady instead of performative.

Confidence doesn’t need permission.
It doesn’t need applause.
And it certainly doesn’t need to apologize.

Stand tall—even if you’re not tall.
Especially if you come from a place that taught you strength wasn’t optional.

You’ve got living to do.

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If you want, this would hit hard as:

• a 60–90 second spoken video,

• an opening monologue for your show,

• or a carousel post broken into punchy quotes.

Just tell me the format and I’ll tailor it.

Choosing Positivity In A Negative Environment

There is something incredibly powerful about choosing to live a positive life. Positivity isn’t about ignoring reality or pretending problems don’t exist—it’s about believing that solutions do. When you lead with that mindset, opportunities begin to reveal themselves in ways you might never expect. Doors open, conversations shift, and possibilities appear where once there were only obstacles.

A positive outlook sharpens your vision. Instead of being paralyzed by what’s wrong, you become energized by what could be right. Challenges turn into lessons. Setbacks become stepping stones. When you believe that progress is possible, you naturally take actions that move you forward. People are drawn to that energy. Collaboration grows. Momentum builds. Positivity creates motion, and motion creates opportunity.

On the other hand, constant negativity has a quiet but destructive power. Being around people who only see problems—and never solutions—can slowly drain your spirit. Their conversations are rooted in fear, blame, and limitation. Over time, that mindset can seep into your thinking if you’re not careful. You may start doubting yourself, hesitating to take risks, or believing that success is always out of reach. Negativity doesn’t usually attack all at once; it erodes confidence one thought at a time.

This doesn’t mean abandoning people or pretending struggles don’t matter. It means protecting your mindset. You can acknowledge problems without living in them. You can listen without absorbing defeat. The key is choosing where you place your focus and whose voice you allow to shape your outlook.

When you choose positivity, you choose growth. You choose resilience. You choose to believe that life has more to offer and that you have something valuable to contribute. Opportunities flourish in that space—because optimism fuels action, and action changes everything.

In the end, positivity is a decision you make every day. Choose it wisely, nurture it intentionally, and surround yourself with people who look for solutions, not just problems. Your future depends on it. JHS

Films, Music, Digital Marketing, and Helping Artists Thrive!

Hey everyone, John Henry Soto here! I wanted to take a moment to share what I’ve been up to lately because there’s a lot happening across my world of film, music, digital marketing, and artist management.

Filmmaking & Storytelling
Film has always been at the center of my creative journey. From my last film, And On That Day, which screened at festivals like the Manhattan Film Festival, Tennessee Film Festival, and The Golden Door Festival, I’ve been diving deeper into projects that tell meaningful stories. My newest film is almost at the casting stage, and I can’t wait to share more about it soon. I’m passionate about making films that resonate with people while also exploring new, exciting stories across genres—including sketches, original series ideas, and even concepts for game shows.

Digital Marketing, Social Media & JHS Talent Management
Over the last 10+ years, I’ve built my expertise in digital marketing, which is now fueling my work with JHS Talent Management. Helping filmmakers and musicians fund their projects through digital marketing is a huge passion of mine. My team and I focus on building smart, effective campaigns while also creating content that inspires and motivates our community.

Before fully diving into JHS Talent Management, I worked with the National Health Care for the Homeless Council as their Media & Tech Manager and Social Media lead. That experience taught me a lot about connecting with communities, managing communications at a national level, and using media to make a real difference—skills I carry into everything I do today.

Livestreams & Community Engagement
I host The John Henry Soto Show, where I’ve had the privilege of interviewing hundreds of guests—including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musicians, award-winning filmmakers, and business leaders. The show is a space for motivation, education, and honest conversation, and I love bringing that energy to my audience. My livestreams also give viewers an inside look at my creative process, upcoming projects, and the mindset I use to keep moving forward every day.

Philosophy & Personal Goals
Beyond work, I’m focused on living a balanced, intentional life. From homeschooling my kids and building a nurturing home environment to planning long-term goals like buying land and creating a media center, I aim to show that freedom is more than just money—it’s about having time, creativity, and control over your life. I also give back through initiatives like The Way to Happiness local chapter, spreading common sense principles for better living.

Music & Scoring
Music has always been a huge part of my life. From playing guitar—thanks to the gift from my grandfather—to performing in my band Glass of Know, music drives much of my creative expression. Lately, I’ve been diving into scoring for film and television, which has opened up a whole new world for me. Scoring to picture is not just fun—it feels like the perfect mix of my love for storytelling and my musical background. I also love working with other artists to help bring their music into projects and sync opportunities.

What’s Next
There’s a lot on the horizon: new films, more scoring projects, growing JHS Talent Management, and collaborating with artists in Nashville and beyond. I’m constantly looking for ways to help others succeed while pursuing my own creative passions.

If you’re an artist, filmmaker, musician, or anyone looking to create and grow, I hope you’ll follow along, connect, and maybe even collaborate. The journey is always better when we lift each other up.

www.johnhenrysoto.com
www.jhstalentmanagement.com

Enlighten * Create * Inspire - JHS On Tik Tok

 

Hey friends! 👋 Just a quick update — I’m diving deeper into TikTok, and I’d love for you to join me over there. I’ll be interviewing amazing talent, talking film and music, sharing insights from The Way To Happiness precepts, and of course… playing some guitar riffs 🎸

It’s all about creativity, good conversations, and spreading a little positivity. If you want to hang out, learn something new, or just enjoy some fun moments, come follow me on TikTok. Can’t wait to see you there! 🙌

https://www.tiktok.com/@johnhenrysoto

Art has always been more than entertainment for me — it’s been a lifeline, a compass, and a bridge between people who might otherwise never cross paths. Growing up in the South Bronx, art wasn’t some distant, elite concept locked away in museums. It was alive on the streets, vibrating through music, graffiti, stories, rhythms, and the energy of people who were simply trying to make sense of their world. That environment shaped me. It taught me that creativity isn’t a luxury — it’s survival. It’s how we communicate pain, hope, frustration, dreams, and everything in between. And that belief has carried into everything I do today, from filmmaking to music to interviews to digital storytelling.

Film, music, and wellness might seem like separate lanes, but in my life, they’ve fused into one mission: helping people experience more joy, more clarity, and more connection. These forms of expression aren’t just hobbies or careers — they’re tools for living. They are pathways to healing, understanding, and growing. When someone picks up a guitar for the first time, or records their first scene, or paints something that didn’t exist an hour before — something inside them becomes more alive. That spark matters. That spark has saved people.

Music was my own spark. It got me out of the South Bronx. It pulled me forward when everything around me tried to hold me still. When I play guitar today, I’m reminded of the power of sound — how one note can shift your mindset, lift your spirit, or break open a memory you didn’t know was still inside you. That’s why music continues to be a central part of what I share. On TikTok, when I play a riff or jam for a few minutes, I’m not just playing — I’m communicating. I’m passing forward what music gave me: freedom, identity, and possibility.

Film has always been my way of telling stories that deserve light — stories that might get ignored in a louder world. Film opens the door to empathy in a way few things can. You watch someone’s journey, feel their fears, celebrate their victories, and suddenly you’re connected to a stranger. That connection is powerful. It’s healing. It’s one of the reasons I became a filmmaker and why I continue interviewing artists — because storytelling isn’t complete unless we share the mic with others. Artists, especially the ones grinding every day, have stories that can change lives. And I want to help amplify them.

But art alone isn’t enough. You can be talented and lost. Successful and empty. Creative and exhausted. That’s where wellness and positivity come in for me. Over the years, I’ve learned that your mind is your greatest instrument — more powerful than any guitar, camera, or microphone. If you don’t take care of your mental and emotional world, everything else suffers. That’s why The Way To Happiness plays a big role in my life and in my work. Those precepts are simple, practical reminders of how to live with integrity, kindness, and intention. Sharing them on TikTok isn’t about preaching anything — it’s about offering tools that helped me, tools that anyone can use to strengthen themselves and elevate their purpose.

What I love about TikTok is the community aspect — the immediacy, the connection, the conversations that start from just a 30-second clip. It’s a place where art, humor, positivity, and authenticity thrive when you show up honestly. That’s why I’m expanding my presence there and why I’m bringing my interviews onto the platform. I want to create a space that’s inspiring, uplifting, and real. A place where artists can talk about their creative process, their tools, their struggles, their victories — and people can learn from them in a way that feels human, not polished or distant.

One of the things I've learned from interviewing hundreds of guests — from Hall of Fame musicians to award-winning filmmakers to rising artists just finding their voice — is that creativity connects us across every background and belief. When someone talks about the first guitar they ever bought, or the camera that made them fall in love with filmmaking, or the moment their art helped them through a dark time… something universal happens. You feel it. It reminds you that we’re all navigating this life together, trying to create meaning along the way. And those moments of connection create community. Real community.

And that’s what I want to build on TikTok and across all my platforms — a community of creators, learners, dreamers, and good people who want to make the world just a little better than they found it. Not with big speeches or dramatic gestures, but through everyday acts of creativity and kindness. Through sharing your gift. Through lifting others up. Through telling your story.

Art has the power to open hearts. Music has the power to move souls. Film has the power to reveal truth. Wellness has the power to keep us grounded. And positivity — genuine, earned positivity — has the power to light the way forward when everything else feels uncertain.

That’s why I do what I do. That’s why I interview artists. That’s why I play guitar. That’s why I tell stories. That’s why I talk about precepts that helped me live better. And that’s why I’m excited to bring all of this into a new space on TikTok.

Because at the end of the day, creativity isn’t just a career — it’s a service. It’s a gift we share with others. And if even one person feels more inspired, more hopeful, or more capable because of something they heard, watched, or learned… then it’s all worth it.

This new chapter is going to be fun, meaningful, and full of energy — and I’m grateful to everyone who comes along for the ride. Let’s create something powerful together.

Keeping it Clean In Hollywood with Nate!

 

When’s the last time you saw a genuinely funny, clean comedy in theaters? If you had to pause and think, you’re not alone. In an era where Hollywood seems obsessed with shock value, crude humor, and big-budget explosions, audiences looking for smart, clean laughs have been quietly neglected. Studios continue to push the envelope with R-rated content, banking on controversy and chaos over charm and cleverness. But there's a growing number of moviegoers—families, church groups, and fans of classic stand-up—who just want to laugh without feeling uncomfortable.

Enter Nate Bargatze, a soft-spoken comedic powerhouse from Tennessee with a sharp eye for life’s absurdities and a delivery that feels more like a conversation with an old friend than a stand-up set. Known for his Netflix specials and sold-out arena shows, Bargatze proves that you don’t need vulgarity to be hilarious. His comedy is observational, relatable, and refreshingly clean—yet it still packs a punch. He’s not just avoiding profanity; he’s redefining what mainstream comedy can be.

By staying true to his voice, Bargatze has tapped into an underserved market that’s been yearning for something different. His rise isn’t just a personal triumph—it’s a signal to Hollywood that audiences are ready (and willing to pay) for content that doesn’t sacrifice humor for decency. As the demand for clean, smart entertainment grows louder, maybe—just maybe—the industry will start listening. Until then, comedians like Nate Bargatze are leading the charge, one clean joke at a time.

www.johnhenrysoto.com

Losing Your Story In Technology

 

In today’s content-driven world, technology has become both a blessing and a burden for storytelling. While advancements in visual effects, AI, and editing tools have opened up incredible creative possibilities, they’ve also shifted the focus away from the heart of storytelling—human connection. Many filmmakers, writers, and content creators now prioritize spectacle over substance, chasing trends, filters, or algorithms instead of deeply exploring character, emotion, and meaning. The result is often content that looks amazing but leaves audiences feeling emotionally unfulfilled. The obsession with what technology can do sometimes overshadows what the story should say.

Moreover, the pressure to produce fast and frequently for social media platforms has diluted the storytelling process. Technology enables instant feedback and virality, but it can also create a culture where creators value likes and shares over legacy and authenticity. Instead of taking the time to develop rich narratives, many feel compelled to cater to algorithms, leading to shallow plots, recycled formats, and surface-level engagement. When storytelling becomes a means to feed the machine rather than feed the soul, the art form suffers—reminding us that technology should serve storytelling, not replace it.

https://rumble.com/v6uix5d-losing-the-story-in-the-technology..html?e9s=src_v1_ucp

Filmmaking Truth: Lessons, Mistakes & Motivation from The John Henry Soto Show!

Every morning at 9 AM Central, for the past two months, I’ve been showing up to talk about the one thing that has defined so much of my life—film. What started as a way to keep myself accountable and share a little knowledge has grown into something much more meaningful: a space where filmmakers (and aspiring creatives) can learn the real ins and outs of the business—and maybe even avoid some of the mistakes I made.

The Real Behind-the-Scenes

Film isn’t just red carpets and final cuts. It’s hard drives crashing, money running out, last-minute actor cancellations, and “creative differences” that feel anything but creative. On the show, I don’t sugarcoat it. I talk about:

• What not to do when starting a project

• Where filmmakers waste time and money

• The importance of building a strong team (and knowing when to let someone go)

• Why storytelling beats fancy gear every single time

Each episode is designed to offer actionable advice—whether you’re in pre-production, trying to sell a script, or wondering why your short film hasn’t gotten into any festivals.

Staying Motivated in a Brutal Industry

Let’s be real. This business can be soul-crushing. That’s why I always include a segment on staying inspired and focused. I’ve been in the game long enough to know that motivation isn’t something you find—it’s something you build. And I share the exact steps I take to keep showing up creatively, mentally, and emotionally, even when the wins feel far apart.

Some of those keys:

• Having a strong "why"

• Creating daily rituals that support the dream

• Talking openly about burnout, fear, and doubt

• Celebrating small wins (like finishing a script draft or submitting to a festival)

Why I Do This Every Morning

There’s something powerful about doing the show at 9AM—before the noise of the day creeps in. It’s my way of saying, “This matters.” Whether 1 person watches or 1,000, I’m showing up because I know someone out there needs to hear this today.

I’ve made a lot of mistakes in this business. I’ve also had wins. This show is my chance to pass on what works, warn about what doesn’t, and encourage anyone with a story to tell to keep going.

Because your voice matters. Your film matters. And if I can help you bring it to life, even a little bit, then every 9AM wake-up has been worth it.

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If you’ve missed any episodes, or want to tune in and make sure to follow me on Rumble and Social Media. Got questions? Drop them in the comments or message me—I might just cover it on the next show.

Let’s make something great together. 🎥

 https://rumble.com/c/TheJohnHenrySotoShow