The Starters

A few years ago, I worked with a football coach who did this brilliant thing.

His position group had 14 guys. Only 4 starting spots.
One week before the first game, he began a ritual.

One by one, he called guys up to the whiteboard and asked each to write their starting four—from their point of view.

Then he’d ask the room: “Anyone want to make a change?”

Once there was consensus, he’d write his own starting four.
Sometimes it matched. Sometimes it didn’t.
And they did this every single week for the rest of the season.

But the moment that changed everything—for each player?
It was the first time their name showed up on that board.

Why? Because it didn’t come from the coach.
It came from a teammate.

Not someone paid to believe in you.
Not someone obligated to see your potential.
Just someone who did.

The clearest signal possible:
You belong. You’re one of us. You’re ready.

There’s nothing more powerful than being believed in.
(Read that last sentence again.) 

Especially by someone who doesn’t have to believe in you.

So…
Who on your team needs that moment from you?
Who needs to hear, “I see you. You’re great at this. You belong here.”?

Say it.
Write it.
Call it out.

It might just change everything.