The power of a Belief System

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." - Anatole France

What you believe is what you will experience. People who tire of positive messages and quotes don't really get this fact: in a job search or in sports, you can't exceed your beliefs. A solid belief system not only enables improbable to impossible performance - it is absolutely necessary for it to occur.

The Mariner's 2009 season is over without any playoff games. As a fan I am completely pleased with the the team's performance this year. As the saying goes, they hit it out of the ballpark.

Casual fans don't realize what an amazing feat this team accomplished this year. Knowing the enormity of what they did, it warmed my heart to stay at Safeco Field long after the game Sunday, watching the guys do something I have never seen before. They stayed on the field to hug each and every one of their teammates. FSN baseball analyst and former pitcher Bill Krueger said that in his years in the sport he had never seen anything like it either.

What did the Mariners accomplish? In 2008 they had over 100 losses. They ended the 2009 with a record of 85 wins, 77 losses. If you're new to baseball stats, that's eight games over .500 (winning as many games as you lose).

Here's the stunning part: they are only the 13th team in MLB history to follow a hundred-loss season with an over .500 season. It just doesn't happen!

How did they do it? Don Wakamatsu, as a first year manager (and my total coach-crush), instilled in the guys a winning belief system. He worked with them to respect themselves, their teammates, and their opponents. And to believe that they could win.

"To succeed, we must first believe that we can." - Michael Korda

Wak caught a lot of grief from the media about his frequent mentions of the importance of a belief system. As I said in a previous blog, there's no shortage of free advice from the peanut gallery. And there is a reason it's free and Wak is managing. The proof is in how this team came together and what they achieved.

If you want to win the game of getting a great job, take your first lesson from Wak's playbook. Don't discount positive messages and beliefs in their ability to clear the way to get you there.

Look at what you are telling yourself, and if it is not positive work on making it so. Visualize and believe in a successful outcome.

"The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen." - Frank Lloyd Wright