For a long time I have been pondering what makes people more successful than others in their respective fields. What I keep coming back to is the notion that successful people on some level have the characteristic of being delusional.

Now when I first say that you are likely thinking "What? Successful people like Bill Gates or (fill in the blank) successful person is delusional?" Well let's think about it for a second. One of the greatest determinants of achieving something is the belief that it is possible. If you believed that something was impossible you would likely not attempt it. Question. When is the last time you tried to walk on water with the intention of testing that belief system? Maybe never, maybe at the age of five. When I had this thought about success a few years back, I actually tried to walk on water as an experiment at one of my swim work outs. It didn't go well, it was just an awkward looking entrance to the swimming pool, but I tried it. So there is a key ingredient that a belief in something provides and that is the attempt to accomplish something.

Let's talk about Bill Gates again. I would bet my last dollar that Bill at some point in his early days heard this expression several times. "You are crazy to do what you are doing...it will never work." In fact, I would assert that we have all heard that statement in the past when we have shared our dreams with others.

The degree to which we persist in something is directly related to the strength of our belief that it is possible. I only attempted to walk on water twice that day and I have not tried since. Why. Because on some level I believe that it is not possible for me to walk on water.

That is the second key ingredient that belief provides is the persistence to see it through.

I recently heard Marcus Buckingham speak a the Art of Management in Toronto. He was talking about some research that he had been involved in around 360 Degree Peer reviews where you rate yourself on a number of variables in the workplace and your coworkers, direct reports and supervisors also rate you on the same variables. What they have found is that there is usually a discrepancy between what you think of yourself and what other think about you. With the exception of those that are clinically depressed. Turns out that those that are depressed appear to themselves as they appear to others. The other interesting point is that those that are highly successful rate themselves considerably higher than those around them would rate them. Supports my thought that if you believe you can do something regardless of what your environment believes you are likely going to prove yourself right.

So what does this all mean? Belief's are constructed by us based on the inputs of our environment. We are not born believing that we are good or bad at something. We learn what we are good or bad at through our experience. What about Natural talents and strengths you ask? Yes there are such a thing as natural talents. Taller, smarter, more endurance, some people are born with parts more suitable for certain things. That being said huge individual potential is unharnessed due to experiences at a young age where the circumstances lead to a dis-empowering belief. One example is being cut from a sports team. What most would say is that they are no good at that sport and move onto something else. Those that have the belief in themselves or an environment that fosters that belief move forward and develop themselves. Note: Michael Jordan was cut from a basketball team at an early age.

The key to being successful is to believe that you will be successful. If you have not been successful there is a high likelihood that you believe that success for you is not possible. You do not believe in yourself.

So what can you do about it?

Get Delusional. (Delusion: A false belief or opinion.) Start a false belief or opinion from your own belief system and believe that you can accomplish something that you previously thought not possible. It might seem awkward at first but if you keep telling yourself this new belief repeatedly you will start to believe it on a deep level and it will shift your perspective and performance. Start challenging your belief system and try new things you might not have tried in the past. You will find out that you are better than you think at a lot of things.

80% of success is showing up. Start showing up with your new delusional thoughts about yourself and see what happens. Make the attempts and be persistent.

I think you will be pleased with the outcome.

Disclaimer: If you are going to test a belief make sure it is safe for you to do so. Example: If you are testing whether it is possible to fly. Test it from the ground versus a tree.

I will see you in the skies.