The ONE Essential Thing Business School Never Taught You About Success

Hey there, my friend!

Last week, sitting in our holiday apartment’s living room in Austria, I watched my 18-month-old niece discover the world around her. That belly laugh when she figured out how shadows work. The pure joy in her eyes when she mastered jumping up (a little bit).

In those moments, watching her absolute certainty that she could do anything, I realized something deep.

While top business schools teach us about strategy, finance, and market dynamics, they miss the one force that actually drives all success.

I discovered this after years of chasing achievements in Singapore's financial district. But it wasn't until I saw it through my niece's eyes that everything made sense.

At 18 months old, she doesn't question whether she can walk, run, or climb that mountain of couch cushions. In her world, there are no limits.

Yet somewhere between her age and our Business School classrooms, we lose this superpower.

Today, I want to share what might be the most important insight I've found about breaking through invisible ceilings - especially for those of us trained to analyze everything to death.

Let's dive in.

Here's what fascinated me:

Every time my niece falls while learning to walk properly, she doesn't think "maybe walking isn't for me" or "I should stick to crawling - it's safer."

She just gets up and tries again.

No self-doubt. No analysis paralysis. No fear of looking foolish.

Just pure, unshakeable belief.

Now, here's where it gets interesting for us professionals:

Scientists at Harvard studied this phenomenon. They discovered something interesting about belief and performance (Link to study):

When hotel cleaners were told their work qualified as exercise meeting federal health guidelines:

• Their weight dropped 2 pounds in 4 weeks

• Blood pressure fell 10%

• Body fat percentage decreased

Nothing else changed. Just their belief.

While a toddler naturally believes in unlimited possibilities, we professionals often suffer from what I call "educated limitation syndrome."

Think about it:

• We're trained to analyze risks

• We're rewarded for finding problems

• We're taught to be "realistic"

And it's killing our potential.

But here's what nobody tells you:

Your beliefs aren't just thoughts. They're predictions your brain works to make true.

Here's how this plays out in real life:

When I left my finance career, everyone asked about my "backup plan."

My mates wanted to know:

• How I'd replace my income

• What if it didn't work

• Where's the safety net

These were smart questions. Logical questions. But they were the wrong questions.

Because here's what I've learned:

Your brain is like Google's search algorithm. It finds evidence for whatever you believe.

Believe success is risky? You'll find proof. Believe opportunities are everywhere? You'll spot them daily.

Let me show you how this works:

Take my first months building an AI business:

• When I believed I needed coding skills, I saw barriers

• When I believed I could solve problems differently, I landed my first client

• Same situation, different beliefs, different results

Here's your action blueprint:

1. The Belief Audit

   Write down your answers to:

• "I could never..."

• "That's not realistic because..."

• "I'm not the kind of person who..."

These aren't facts. They're predictions you're making come true.

2. The Pattern Interrupt

   Next time you hear yourself say: "I should be more realistic..."

Ask instead: "What would I do if I had my niece's certainty?"

3. The Evidence Flip

   For each limitation you wrote down:

• Find three people who've done it

• Study how they started

• Notice their only advantage was belief

But here's the real secret:

You don't need to believe completely. You just need to believe slightly more than your doubts.

That's why I'm sharing this from Germany, about to head back to Tenerife and back to warmer temperatures. After 5 years in Singapore, I really dislike winter.

But watching my niece these past weeks taught me something valuable:

Joy isn't in perfect conditions. Power isn't in perfect plans. Success isn't in perfect strategies.

Your Personal Belief System Architect

I've engineered a specialized ChatGPT prompt to help you identify and rewrite your success-limiting beliefs. This AI tool will help you cut through mental noise and find authentic answers.

Here's how to access your Belief System Architect:

1. Visit ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/)

2. Copy and paste the following prompt

3. Fill in your specific situation

4. Watch as AI helps you navigate your beliefs

As a Belief System Architect, your task is to analyze and provide guidance for high-performing professionals by identifying and upgrading their limiting beliefs. Focus on practical applications and direct, encouraging advice.

(Enter your personal background/circumstances here)

Below, detail the necessary elements and steps in your analysis:

- **Core Limiting Beliefs**: Identify the core limiting beliefs that are holding the user back. These should be deduced from the language patterns and fears expressed in the user's situation.

- **Real-World Success Examples**: Provide examples of individuals who have succeeded without the specific attributes or prerequisites the user believes are necessary. 

- **Hidden Strengths**: Highlight any underappreciated strengths or experiences in the user's background that they might be undervaluing.

- **Daily Belief-Building Practices**: Recommend daily practices tailored to the user's industry and goals to help reinforce positive belief development.

- **Success Metrics**: Define how to track improvements in beliefs, focusing on belief upgrades rather than just tangible outcomes.

# Steps

1. **Assessment**: Analyze the provided situation carefully to identify underlying limiting beliefs.
2. **Comparison**: Research and cite examples of successful individuals relevant to the user's concerns.
3. **Strength Identification**: Assess the user's background to find and emphasize undervalued skills or experiences.
4. **Practice Recommendation**: Design belief-building exercises specific to the user's industry and personal goals.
5. **Metrics Development**: Create a method to assess and track improvements in limiting belief resolution and personal development.

# Output Format

Provide a structured analysis as follows:
- Bullet points for each category (Core Limiting Beliefs, Real-World Success Examples, Hidden Strengths, Daily Practices, and Success Metrics)
- Develop each point thoughtfully and in clear, concise language.

# Notes

- Focus on delivering practical and personalized advice.
- Use a tone that is supportive and motivational, drawing on your expertise and empathy.

HOW TO USE THE PROMPT

Here is the output I received for the example inputs above.

Read the full output here!

The Future You're Creating:

Right now, somewhere in a corporate office, someone with your exact qualifications is staring at their screen, feeling trapped.

The only difference between staying stuck and breaking free?

Not skills. Not connections. Not timing.

Just what you choose to believe is possible.

To your unlimited potential,

Stephan

P.S. I pour my heart into these newsletters, aiming to make each one more valuable than the last. I'd love to hear what resonated with you today (or what didn't). Good or bad, your feedback helps me serve you better. Just hit reply - I'm always grateful to hear from you.