Early Career Mentor Belief

Every successful person needs someone early in their career who believes in them more than they believe in themselves. This belief can be transformative and create lasting impact.

Core Concept

• Need someone (usually in your early twenties) who has "irrational belief" in you
• They see you as a "blue chip stock" when you're still a "penny stock"
• The belief matters more than the actual advice or money they provide
• They help jumpstart your career like "jumpstarting a car"

How Believers Make Impact

• Plant seeds of confidence that grow over time
• Give you labels/identities to grow into
  • Example: "High bias for action"
  • Example: Being a "steward" of capital/brand
• Provide social proof/validation
  • Having their name associated with you
  • Being listed on their website/portfolio
• Create self-fulfilling prophecies
  • Their belief tricks you into believing in yourself
  • Helps overcome initial hesitation/doubts
  • Eventually replaced by evidence-based confidence

Key Differences from Regular Mentors

• Genuine enthusiasm that cannot be faked
• Often based on gut feeling rather than evidence
• Focus on potential rather than current abilities
• Provide emotional fuel rather than just tactical advice

Impact Mechanisms

• Public endorsement
  • Writing blog posts about you
  • Putting your logo on their website
  • Associating their reputation with you
• Private reinforcement
  • One-on-one conversations
  • Expressing direct belief in your potential
  • Using powerful language/metaphors
• Creating momentum
  • Helps overcome initial self-doubt
  • Provides confidence until evidence catches up
  • Builds foundation for self-belief

Key Takeaway

• Be grateful to your believers
• Pay it forward by becoming a believer for others
• The impact of belief often matters more than being objectively "right"