BELIEVE

A true story of belief and an invitation I shared with a team that you can apply to your journey.

To believe in something is to hold an unwavering faith in its possibility, and this belief becomes a powerful force that inspires hope, ignites action, and transforms dreams into reality. Successful people and teams believe they will succeed.

In the Watch/Listen/Read/Think format below you will find some useful tips and thoughts on belief and overcoming fear for your team and yourself.

WATCH

Fear can sometimes overshadow belief, so in this ACT (Active Communication Technique) video I offer a simple technique to help address FEAR with your team.

[You can visit my YouTube Channel for more ACTs to enhance your communications.]

LISTEN

This clip is from the brilliant television show Ted Lasso. With its sharp wit, emotional depth, and heartwarming themes of perseverance and teamwork, Ted Lasso delivers a feel-good story that celebrates the power of kindness and connection. It’s a refreshing reminder that true leadership is about building trust, inspiring growth, and believing in the potential of others.

On the off chance that you haven’t watched, Ted Lasso is an optimistic and endlessly kind American football coach, who takes on the unlikely challenge of managing a struggling English soccer team - despite knowing little about the sport - using humor, heart, and his unshakable belief in people to bring out the best in everyone.

READ

[Recently I was tasked with working with a team on belief. For context, this team has been nationally ranked in the top 10 for most of the season and before injuries to two key players was in position for a deep post-season run].

I began by showing a video clip from Simon Sinek (minutes 1:11 - 2:25) where he tells the story of finishing a race with a friend and the conversation that followed. The race sponsor had provided free bagels for the participants, but the line was long. Simon was focused on the free bagels, and his friend was focused on the long line.

I asked the team, “As we move into this next stretch of games can you see success? Or, is your focus on what could prevent that success from happening?”

The next clip I showed was a story about the Navy SEALs and what kind of person does or doesn’t become a SEAL (min 3:03 - 5:00). Some of the guys who became SEALs were reportedly “scrawny or shaking in fear”.

I offered to the team, “It doesn’t have to look like what people think it should look like… it doesn’t mean you don’t have doubt or fear… what makes you elite is your commitment to helping each other when it gets hard.

The reality for all of us is that there is no one blueprint for success.

I do know, because I’m living it.

I stepped away from coaching college basketball in 2015 to coach coaches. My experience in DI, DII, DIII, and the WNBA showed me there was a need for someone to support coaches, someone who wasn’t tied to politics or a paycheck. At the time I didn’t know anyone who was doing what I wanted to do so there was no blueprint to follow.

I knew nothing about starting a business. I didn’t own a car. I was $36K in debt from college loans and living in California on a salary that didn’t cover the cost of living. I was 32 when I moved back home to live with my parents while I figured things out.

Around that time I remember talking to my twin brother, who was living in NY and then the Head of Global Operations for LinkedIn.

I remember he asked, “So Bets, what’s your plan?”

I spent the next few minutes telling him what I hoped to do and when I stopped talking he said something I’ll never forget.

He said, “Betsy, hope is not a strategy.”

At the time it was heartbreaking because I felt like hope was all I had.

But what I had thought was hope was, more accurately belief.

I wish I could stand here and tell you that that belief was in myself… it wasn’t. The imposter syndrome was real and heavy, and the doubt was daily - Who was I to do this work? Why should anyone listen to me let alone pay me?? While I didn’t yet believe in myself what I did believe is that what I wanted to do mattered and could make a meaningful difference in the world.

Over the years that belief has resulted in a level of success beyond my wildest dreams and I am continually in awe of how my life has unfolded.

My brother was right - hope is not a strategy, but belief is hard to beat.

Tell me something you believe.

What’s something you believe, the truth of which you feel to your core?

“I believe love is the greatest power in the Universe. It costs nothing to give, means everything to those who receive it, and is the only thing I’ve seen transcend death.”

I invited each person in the room to tell me something they believed and listened in gratitude for what they shared.

When our belief is tested, when doubt creeps in we are asked to have faith.

There is a quote I first read when I was 10 that I wrote on a scrap of paper and kept in my sports bag. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

When you believe in something, you move differently. As you move forward into the next few games my invitation is that you walk worthy.

Walk as if you are worthy of being in the arena.

Walk as if you are worthy of the success you’ve worked for.

Believe that each of you is here - at this time, this season - for a purpose.

Believe in each other. Believe in your coaches. Believe that what you want to achieve is possible, and when doubt creeps in, keep the faith and choose to walk worthy.

Because you are.

Show up, walk worthy, and go see what happens.

“I believe in you.”

I make the same invitation to you, dear reader - whatever you hope for, may you walk worthy of your dreams, and may belief be your guide.

THINK

“To accomplish great things, we must not only act but also dream;

not only plan but also believe.”

– Anatole France

With Gratitude,

:) Betsy