A client recently sent me a great reminder about the power of belief. You can read it in the pic above. Freakin' magic when one gets/gives this greatest of gifts. Blaise Pascal was right, way back in the day - I give you the gift of these four words - I believe in you. Damn.
Called my 98 year old mom yesterday. Told her the story captured above about Jim Valvano's dad. Reminded her she gave me this gift eons ago when I needed it most. Was short, scrawny, and wished to be someone else. Mom looked me in the eyes on more occasions than I can count and told me not to worry about my size or lack of strength. She would tell me if I wanted to play basketball, well then, play it like you mean it. Go out there and get after it. Use your quickness. Practice your shot. Move your feet faster than the other boys. She would make me keep looking at her as she filled me up with one truth. My Mom believes in me.
I could not help but catch it.
Your job, leader, is to believe before the team does. Coach their strengths. Give them hope. Believe before they do. Believe better is just a few hard practices away. Remind them the only thing holding them back is, well, themselves. Coach them to identify and embrace fear. Stop dancing around it, remind them. Over and over like a broken, damn record. Teach them the only way is through. Damn. Thanks, Mom, for giving me the gift. I'm doing my darnedest to pass it along.
Live hard. Love 
harder. Much darn (the darn is for you Mom) harder…
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