📈 Four Words That Shatter Your Beliefs

Read time: 4 minutes

In February last year, it felt like my world was collapsing.

• My first business was failing

• My cofounder had left

• I had zero direction

I talked to a few friends about it. Most just nodded and said 'wow, that's really tough' – all except one person.

I vividly remember feeling pretty sorry for myself one day and making an offhand comment to my fiancée Caroline:

"Most people take 6-12 months to recover and find their next thing."

Her response stopped me in my tracks:

"You're not most people."

Four words.

That's all it took to shatter my limiting beliefs.

Fast forward to today: I’ve built a 380k personal brand and a thriving business in Saywhat, helping others build businesses on LinkedIn, in just over a year.

The Power of People Who Challenge You

Behind every comeback story, there's usually someone who believes in you more than you believe in yourself.

Yet we rarely gravitate towards these people.

We are often drawn towards people who make us feel good about ourselves.

People who praise us and say it’s not our fault when things go wrong:

"It's okay." "Take your time." "This happens to everyone."

But that's rarely what we need.

We need someone to hold up a mirror and say:

“I believe in you and I’m here to help you, but you are responsible for your mess and only you can get yourself out of it.”

The most important people in your life aren't always those who ease your pain - they can be the ones who refuse to accept your limitations.

How to Find Your "Caroline"

Look around your life right now. Who are the people you turn to when things get tough?

The people who will push you to be your best will often:

1. Challenge your limits instead of sympathizing with them

2. Hold you accountable instead of just offering comfort

3. See your potential, not just your present situation

These people are rare. But you can find them.

And the quickest way to find these people is to become one of them yourself.

Finding Your Challengers: Three Practical Steps

1. Ask the 2X Question

Next time someone shares their dreams with you, ask:

"How could we make this twice as big?"

This signals you're someone who thinks beyond conventional limits and attracts others who think the same way.

2. Create Challenging Environments

If you're the most ambitious person in every room you enter, find new rooms.

Join mastermind groups where you're intimidated by other peoples' achievements.

Find mentors slightly ahead of where you want to be.

Don't just follow them online - reach out and offer something valuable before ever asking for anything in return.

3. Become the Person Who Says "You're Not Most People"

When someone in your life sets some arbitrary limits based on "what most people do," have the courage to tell them:

"You're not most people."

This doesn't mean being harsh or dismissive of struggles.

Great challengers don't ignore your pain - they just don't let you use it as an excuse.

They see the real you beneath the temporary struggle.

Sometimes as little as four words can change everything. That’s all it takes.

But they have to come from someone who truly sees you - your potential, not just your present - and refuses to let you settle for less.

Find these people. Keep them close. Become one of them.

And never again define your recovery, your growth, or your potential against "most people."

Because you're not most people.

And neither is anyone else with the courage to try.

See you next Sunday,

Will

P.S. Yesterday I married the person who's been challenging me to be better since day one. Here's to finding your people who see your potential.

Will McTighe

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