In 1939, there was a student by the name of George Dantzig running late for a statistics class at Cal Berkeley. He was about 20 minutes late and slipped into class unnoticed. He saw there were some problems on the board, so he wrote them down, assuming it was homework, then he continued to listen to the lecture. When he got home, he realized the homework problems were pretty challenging. Nevertheless, he took a few days and finished the problems and turned them in to his professor.
Weeks later, he was called into the professor’s office, where he was met with the Dean, along with several other people. He immediately thought he was in trouble until his professor said, “congratulations, you just solved two problems that have been unsolvable for mathematicians and scientists worldwide.”
There’s a lesson in this story. George wasn’t limited by the belief that the problems were unsolvable. He just thought it was homework! The other students who were on time were told they were unsolvable, so they likely never tried in the first place or gave up early.
“It’s really difficult to accomplish something you don’t believe is possible. In fact, you probably wouldn’t even try.”
Our beliefs determine whether we reach our goals or not. It’s really difficult to accomplish something you don’t believe is possible to accomplish. In fact, you probably wouldn’t even try.
Many of you have Bamboo Dreams of your own but lack the conviction that you can achieve them. I’m here to tell you it is possible to strengthen your beliefs, and here are several ways to do it:
Find others who have accomplished what you’re trying to accomplish. Mentors and coaches can help your beliefs become a reality.
Focus and measure your efforts, and don’t get too wrapped up in the results. In other words, focus on the process of watering instead of the growth of the Bamboo.
Examine your limiting beliefs and how you got them, and then ask yourself whether this belief is serving you in a positive way or not.
Use positive affirmations when doubt starts to creep in. For example, maybe George told himself he is always late, which manifests into being late. But if he said, “I am always early,” perhaps that belief would manifest itself.
Develop a Bamboo Vision. Have a vision board full of pictures and words that map where you plan on going. You wouldn’t go to an airport and ask for a ticket without knowing where you’re going first, would you?
Form a Bamboo Circle of people who believe in you and your dreams and can hold you accountable for what you say you’ll do.
Read more about Belief in chapter six and Creating or Joining a Bamboo Circle in chapter five of Water the Bamboo: Unleashing the Potential of Teams and Individuals.
This post is based on a podcast episode by Greg Bell.
Listen below for the full episode: