We all have moments when our confidence wavers, when the next step feels uncertain and self-doubt starts to whisper louder than determination.
In this short video, I share a story that changed how I think about leadership, encouragement, and belief. It’s a lesson from my very first meeting with my business coach, Mark LeBlanc, that I’ve carried ever since.
It started back in July 2014, during a conversation I’ll never forget.
The First Meeting
It was July 2014 when I sat down for my first real meeting with my business coach, Mark LeBlanc. We had just started working together formally, and I was excited but also a little nervous. I didn’t know exactly what to expect.
By the end of that conversation, Mark set a sales goal for me. It was big, bigger than anything I had aimed for before. When he said the number, I remember the feeling that washed over me: disbelief. I couldn’t imagine myself hitting that goal.
He looked right at me and said, “You don’t believe it, do you?”
I admitted, “No, I don’t.”
That’s when he leaned forward and said something that would stay with me for the rest of my life:
“I know you can do it. I’ve seen your work. I know enough about you to say this: borrow some belief from me until you believe it yourself. You can do this.”
Those words changed everything.
The Power of Borrowed Belief
That single moment reshaped how I think about leadership, communication, and even friendship. It reminded me that our words matter, sometimes more than we realize.
It doesn’t take a title, a job position, or a special occasion to lift someone up. Encouragement can happen anywhere:
- In a hallway conversation
- Around the dinner table
- In the car with someone you care about
- On a Zoom call when a teammate’s energy feels low
When you see doubt on someone’s face or hear it in their voice, that’s your opportunity to act. One simple phrase, borrow some belief from me, can make a bigger impact than you think.
We’ve all been through a lot these past few years. Many people are quietly struggling, wondering if they’re still capable of what they once believed possible. That’s why this message feels even more relevant today than it did back in 2014.
The Two Roles We Play
Over the years, I’ve learned that we’re all called to play two roles in life and leadership.
- The one who lends belief.
This is when you notice someone doubting themselves and you offer your confidence to them. You remind them of what they’ve done before and what they’re capable of doing again. - The one who borrows belief.
No matter how strong or successful we are, every one of us faces moments of doubt. There are times when we need to hear someone else say, “I believe in you.”
I’ve been on both sides of that equation many times. Even during the pandemic, when everything felt uncertain, I had to remind myself to reach out to the people who lift me up and to actually let their encouragement in.
That’s not always easy. Sometimes, when you’re tired, discouraged, or stuck, it’s hard to believe that things will turn around. But when someone you respect believes in you, you have a choice: you can either block that belief or you can let it in.
When you open your heart and mind to that encouragement, something shifts. You start seeing possibilities again. You start moving forward.
How to Practice Borrowed Belief
If this message resonates with you, here’s a simple way to apply it starting today.
A Simple Practice to Reclaim Momentum
Try this exercise the next time you feel stuck:
- Reflect on where you were 6–12 months ago.
- Identify one or two areas where you’ve grown.
- Reframe your questions to focus on direction, not perfection.
This helps you reconnect with your progress and makes it easier to believe in what’s next.
And if you cross paths with someone who’s doubting themselves, take a moment to offer a few words of encouragement. You never know what difference they might make.
Final Thoughts
That conversation with Mark in 2014 started as a business meeting, but it became a life lesson. His words, borrow some belief from me until you believe it yourself, still echo in my mind whenever I face a challenge.
So today, I want to pass that belief to you.
If there’s something you’re working toward but don’t quite believe you can achieve, borrow a little belief from me. You can do this.
