There’s something simple yet profound about Ted Lasso’s mantra: “I believe in ‘Believe.’” It’s an idea that transcends sports, touching on the core of what drives us as humans: the power of belief, not just in success, but in the journey toward it.
In coaching, leadership, and life in general, belief is a crucial ingredient. But what exactly are we believing in? And more importantly, how does that belief fuel progress when results aren’t immediate, or when the odds are stacked against us?
1. Belief is the Catalyst
Belief is often the quiet spark behind great achievements. It doesn’t mean knowing that everything will work out perfectly, but it does mean having faith in the process. We’ve all seen teams and individuals who fall short not because they lack talent or skill, but because, at some point, they stopped believing they could win. Belief is the foundation that lets players—and people—keep going when things get hard. It creates a culture where everyone is all in, even when the scoreboard suggests otherwise.
In Lasso’s case, his belief isn’t just in winning games but in building a team that plays with heart, grit, and character. He believes in the long game, in the value of resilience over the immediate satisfaction of victory. That’s why his belief is contagious. It’s not just about winning; it’s about committing to something bigger than oneself, to the growth and evolution that comes with true dedication.
2. Belief in People, Not Just Outcomes
Lasso’s quote touches on a crucial point that separates great leaders from the rest: great leaders believe in people, not just the outcomes. Anyone can get behind a team when they’re winning, but true belief is standing behind them when they’re down by 20, when the locker room is silent, and when doubt starts creeping in.
It’s easy to believe in someone when they’re performing well. The challenge is maintaining that belief when things go south—when a player is in a slump, when a project fails, or when the outcome is uncertain. Ted Lasso’s strength as a coach is that he doesn’t just believe in victory; he believes in his players, even when they don’t believe in themselves.
As a coach, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful that belief can be. Sometimes, all it takes is one person refusing to give up on another to spark a transformation. A coach who believes in their players, a leader who believes in their team, or a parent who believes in their child is often the tipping point between failure and success.
3. Belief Amid Uncertainty
Ted Lasso’s character embodies belief in the face of uncertainty, something we all encounter. When things are out of our control—be it in sports, work, or life—it’s belief that keeps us grounded. We can’t always predict the outcome, but we can control how steadfastly we believe in the effort, in the process, and in each other.
Belief doesn’t guarantee success, but it guarantees you’ll put yourself in a position to succeed. And when belief is a part of your DNA, it creates a ripple effect. It becomes contagious. Soon, it’s not just one person or one player who believes—it’s the whole team, the whole organization. That’s how cultures are built. That’s how you get a team to start performing beyond their expectations.
4. The Long-Term Power of Belief
At the heart of this quote is the notion that belief isn’t a momentary thing—it’s a long-term investment. It’s not always about immediate results, and it’s definitely not about blindly ignoring reality. Instead, belief means staying committed even when the path is unclear or the challenges seem insurmountable.
The power of believing in something, especially when it’s rooted in core values like trust, hard work, and respect, can carry a team through the darkest times. We often hear about “overnight success” stories, but what we don’t see is the years of belief that preceded that success—the long hours, the doubts, the setbacks. Belief is what carries people through the moments when it would be easy to give up.
Conclusion: Believe, Even When It’s Hard
In a world that often demands immediate results, Ted Lasso’s belief reminds us to trust the journey. It’s about keeping faith when others might lose it and believing in people, not just outcomes. As a coach, a leader, or even just a friend, that’s the greatest gift you can give to those around you—the belief that they can succeed, even when they don’t see it themselves.
And maybe, just maybe, by believing in belief itself, we set the stage for greatness.
This resonates with those who enjoyed a few tastes of success, bites at the apple of opportunity. The problem? I didn't write it. Credit goes to ChatGPT. I owned the prompt.
Who needs belief? MVB captains need to believe they are the cornerstones of something something. Outside hitters need to believe they can deliver against the best competition. All nine seniors need to believe that daily hard work will elevate the team, regardless of playing time. And the kids, the sophomores and freshmen need to believe they're going to contribute because that's how MVB operates.
Everyone needs belief.
Lagniappe. Review.
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