Are You A Believing, Difference Maker?
Do You Believe in Miracles?
Last Sunday afternoon (February 22nd), the Men’s US Olympic Hockey Team captured the Gold Medal in an overtime instant-classic win versus the Canadian national team.
U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! thundered throughout the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy.
Watching the pucksters take the podium to receive their medals, I was magically transported back to the last time this happened—46 years earlier, to the very day.
In what is now known as the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice,’ I can still hear sportscaster Al Michaels’ iconic voice ringing in my head.
With time expiring (and the US team about to stick it to the Russians), Michaels screamed, “DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES??!”
To this day, it still brings tears to my eyes.
(If you’ve never experienced this magnificent moment, be sure to stream Disney’s movie “Miracle,” starring Kurt Russell—it’s stunningly good!).
But what’s really remarkable about Al Michaels’ “DO YOU BELIEVE?” comment is that belief is exactly what fueled the team’s head coach, Herb Brooks.
And this is significant because no one else—nada, zip, zilch, zero—shared the same sentiment.
The media didn’t believe it.
Nor did the “big-money” boosters.
Not even the most hardcore hockey fans could get behind Brooks’ belief.
After all, the rest of the world skated with what was pretty much professional talent while the US filled out their roster with college kids.
Shockingly, even the assistant coaches and players were, at least initially, highly skeptical of Brooks’ dream.
But as you will soon see, real honest-to-goodness, “I’d bet my house on it,” belief is a remarkable thing.
Let’s take a closer look.
What Belief Is and How It Works.
By definition, believing is the act of accepting something as true, real, or valid, often based on conviction rather than absolute proof.
Said differently, when you really, honestly, and truly believe that something is possible, you actually begin to see it take shape right before your very eyes—even though it hasn’t happened yet.
With this as the background, there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that Herb Brooks was a true, believing difference-maker.
To be sure, his belief that the U.S. hockey team could win gold in Lake Placid was absolute, intense, and unwavering.
What’s more, even though he was surrounded by naysayers, skeptics, and negatrons, he was undeterred, unflappable, and unapologetic.
And this is what it means to be a true, believing difference-maker.
Now here’s the thing.
When leaders have this kind of belief coursing through their veins, GREAT things happen.
In fact, the world’s best researchers tell us that when leaders intensely believe that something is possible, a specific path forward emerges.
Here’s what that path looks like:
#1: Believing Difference-Makers “Paint Done.”
First, true believing difference-makers “paint done.”
Painting done is a leadership concept coined by Brené Brown that means explicitly defining what a completed task looks like (including all details, quality standards, and expectations) before ever starting the work.
When believing difference-makers “paint done,” it removes assumptions, reduces frustration, and ensures that everyone shares the same vision of the final result.
#2: Believing Difference-Makers Surround Themselves With the Very Best.
With every fiber of their being, believing difference-makers understand that great people raise everyone’s game.
But this takes guts.
To be sure, seeking out the best means recruiting individuals who are often more intelligent and/or skilled in specific areas than you are (or ever were).
But here’s the payoff. When you surround yourself with great people, everyone gets better… fast!
And this is how dreams come true.
#3. Believing Difference-Makers Get to Work.
Having painted done and made sure that the right people are on the bus, believing difference-makers then roll up their sleeves and get to work.
And this is when the real magic happens.
Because the “work” is the thing that’s getting everyone closer to achieving the dream, it doesn’t really feel like work.
This is called flow.
And when leaders (and their people!) get into flow, it’s magical!
Everyone’s dialed in. Time flies by. Work gets done. Morale skyrockets.
And, best of all, everyone knows that the sky’s the limit.
#4: Believing Difference-Makers Seal the Deal.
Last but not least, every true, believing difference-maker knows that it’s the last six inches that matter most.
In Brooks’ case, this meant having to beat the best team on the planet—and to do it, it came down to the final seconds!
But, for believing difference-makers, that’s what makes the journey even sweeter.
In fact, no believing difference-maker worth their salt wants a cakewalk.
To the contrary, true, believing difference-makers want to be challenged to their maximum capacity!
In the words of that great 70s rock song ‘Blinded By the Light’ by Manfred Mann: “Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun.” “But mama, that’s where the fun is!”
Amazing.
Leading with LIGHT
As a Leader of LIGHT, we need you to be a believing difference-maker.
To accomplish extraordinary things for your organization’s clients, we need you to paint done.
We need you to surround yourself with the very best people possible.
We need you to roll up your sleeves and get to work.
And, most of all, we need you to finish strong!
Working together, side by side, as leaders of LIGHT, if we can do this, great things WILL happen.
Lives will be changed for the better.
Organizations will be transformed for years to come.
And legacies will be left.
And it’s these legacies (your legacy!) that will leave a path forward for the next generation.
And this is how miracles come to pass.
“Do you believe in miracles?”
Thanks again for all you do!
Until next time: See LIGHT, Be LIGHT, and Spread LIGHT.
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About Lead with Light
Lead with Light is an initiative that aims to equip current and emerging leaders with a reimagined approach to servant leadership.
Our ultimate vision is to grow and develop thousands of Leaders of Light to ignite a movement to see light, be light, and spread light in ways only each can.