There was once a young boy who struggled in school. His approach to learning didn’t fit within the rigid educational system. Instead of simply memorizing lessons, he constantly asked “why” and “how,” frustrating his teachers who struggled to keep him engaged.
One day, the boy came home with a sealed letter from the principal, with strict instructions to give it only to his mother. Curious, he watched as she opened the letter, and to his surprise, tears filled her eyes.
“What does it say?” he asked.
With a warm smile, she read the words aloud: “Your son is a genius. This school is too small for him. We don’t have enough good teachers to properly educate him. Please keep him at home and school him yourself.”
That moment changed everything. The woman in this story was Nancy Edison, and her son was Thomas Edison.
A Narrative of Brilliance and Possibility
Nancy Edison took it upon herself to nurture her son’s potential. She filled his days with books, experiments, and opportunities to explore his ideas. She constantly reinforced his brilliance, ensuring that he never felt like he didn’t belong.
Years later, after his mother had passed, Thomas Edison found the letter tucked away among her belongings. With curiosity, he opened it, only to be shocked by what it actually said:
“Your son is addled. He is mentally deficient. We cannot keep him in school any longer. He is expelled.”
Edison’s eyes welled with tears as he realized the depth of his mother’s love and belief in him. She had chosen to give him a completely new narrative—one of brilliance and possibility—rather than allowing a label to define his future.
The result? He went on to become one of the greatest inventors in history, securing over 1,000 patents, including the light bulb, the phonograph, and the motion picture camera.
He literally changed the world.
The Two Sides of Belief
This story serves as a powerful reminder of the impact belief has in shaping people’s lives. And it’s not just about parenting—it applies to leadership, mentorship, and business as well.
There are two sides to this coin:
1. Putting the Right People in the Right Seats
People naturally have different strengths. Some excel in processes, others in products, and some in people. Recognizing where someone thrives is critical to success.
We use the P3 framework at Freedomology—People, Product, Process—to determine where someone fits best. By simply observing, conversing, and identifying what excites them, we can align people with roles that maximize their strengths and passions.
Tools like the Kolbe A Index and StrengthsFinder are great resources to understand how individuals take action and where they shine. If you want to take it further, books like
Topgrading by Bradford Smart provide in-depth strategies for hiring and placing the right people in the right roles.
And when hiring, one of the most critical traits to look for is initiative. But here’s the challenge—everyone claims to have it. The best way to uncover true initiative is by asking this simple question:
“Give me an example of a time when you had an idea and implemented it on your own.”
If someone can rattle off multiple examples without hesitation, that’s a strong indicator of true initiative. If they struggle, it’s a red flag.
2. The Power of Belief
While placing people in the right seats is important, it only accounts for about 20% of the equation. The other 80%? Belief.
Too often, leaders are quick to fire underperforming employees without ever considering why they aren’t succeeding. Have expectations been clearly set? Have they been given the support and encouragement needed to grow?
People tend to rise (or fall) to the expectations placed upon them. When we believe in someone, we give them a powerful gift—the energy and confidence to push beyond their perceived limits.
A Personal Story of Belief
I know firsthand how transformative belief can be.
When I was five years old, my mom noticed a small bulge below my belly button. It was a hernia, and I needed surgery. At that age, undergoing an operation was terrifying. But my mom reassured me, saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll be there when you wake up.”
Unfortunately, when I woke up in a hospital hallway, no one familiar was around. The experience was traumatic. When I tried to scream, no sound came out. That moment was when I developed a stutter—a speech impediment that stayed with me for over fifteen years.
For years, I struggled with self-doubt. I felt like I would never amount to anything. My grades were poor, and I constantly got into trouble. But one person changed that trajectory—my older sister, Kathy.
From the time I was young, Kathy made it her mission to speak belief into my life. She told me I was special, unique, and capable of great things. She planted those seeds of confidence over and over again.
It wasn’t immediate. For years, nothing seemed to grow. But like a bamboo tree, those words were taking root beneath the surface. And when the time was right, they bloomed.
Once I started believing in myself, everything changed. I stopped letting fear control my decisions. I took on challenges. I stepped into leadership roles. I realized that when we stop making choices based on fear, we unlock limitless potential.
Who Do You Need to Believe in Today?
Belief is powerful. As a leader, your job is not just to assign roles—it’s to develop people.
You’re planting seeds, creating an environment where growth is possible.
Belief is what fuels innovation, progress, and success. It transforms hesitation into action, self-doubt into confidence, and limitations into opportunities. Without belief, even the most skilled individuals can struggle to reach their full potential. But with it?
The sky is the limit.
Yes, putting the right people in the right seats is essential. But belief? That’s where the real transformation happens. That’s what turns average into exceptional.
F40—our 40-day sprint is designed to help you gain entrepreneurial skills, including developing belief in the people around you and in yourself. When you learn to believe in your financial future, you gain the confidence and strategies needed to expand your wealth-building journey.
Join our sprint and take the steps necessary to create lasting financial freedom.
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