What Do You Believe?

Believe in the Difference You Make

In the spirit of the season, I want to get a little bit metaphysical and talk about belief. A lot of people struggle with confidence because, at their core, they have challenges with belief. They don’t believe they’re going to succeed. They don’t believe in themselves.

I’d like to invite you to think about belief in a different way. When you question yourself, you’re often questioning your ability to perform in the moment—and that’s usually because your attention is too focused on you. The fastest way to change that is to shift your focus outward: toward someone you care about, someone you want to make an impact on, someone you want to make a difference for.

Shift the Focus

In your professional life, that might mean focusing on your coworkers, your teammates, or your clients. The next time you face a crisis of belief, ask yourself: Who am I looking to make a difference for? Then focus on them. Focus on the results you want to help create for that person or group, and notice how that shift affects your energy and your performance.

Define Success Differently

When you present in an interview, or lead a meeting, or pitch an idea—don’t define success as the audience liking you, agreeing with you, or saying yes. Define success as the difference you want to make for them. Maybe that means giving them useful information, or offering a new way to think about something. When you focus on them, you free yourself from self-doubt and create genuine connection.

The Takeaway

As you look ahead to the coming year, think of yourself not as someone trying to prove something, but as the difference you want to make for the people you impact. That’s belief at its best—and presence at its most powerful.