Be someone’s first believer. Because sometimes, belief is the spark that ignites everything.
Jim Rohn once said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” That idea has shaped so much of how I think about relationships, growth, and influence. It’s not just a reminder to audit your circle; it’s a call to consciously curate the people you surround yourself with.
But there’s another layer to that idea—one I’ve been reflecting on more and more lately:
What if you could be one of those five for someone else?
What if your belief in them could shift their entire trajectory?
We all remember the people who believed in us early, before the success, the credentials, or the confidence. Before we even believed in ourselves. Maybe it was a coach, a mentor, a teacher, a parent, an aunt or uncle, a grandparent, a friend, etc. That first believer is special. They unlock something inside you. They give you permission to dream bigger. To ask “Why not me?” instead of “Who am I to try?”
That kind of belief is fuel.
It dissolves limiting beliefs.
It magnifies dormant potential.
It can be the difference between quitting and pushing through.
The First Believer Effect
Here’s the thing: we all have the potential for multiple first believers in life.
You might have one for your career, another for your health & fitness, one for your role as a parent, a leader, or an entrepreneur. Each time we start something new—each time we climb a different mountain—we often need that one voice, that one person, who says:
“I see something in you. You’ve got this.”
It’s an underrated form of capital: Belief Capital. And just like financial capital, it compounds.
From Believed In…to Believer
It’s easy to reflect on the people who believed in us. Harder, but just as important, is asking:
“Who have I believed in lately?
“Where can I send the elevator back down and be someone’s first believer?”
This isn’t just about mentorship. It’s about investing belief before any visible results. It’s about telling someone, “You have something special,” when they’re in doubt. It’s about giving weight to someone’s ambition, even if it’s still taking its first breath.
Because sometimes, your words might be the first vote of confidence they’ve ever received.
And that moment? It could change everything.
A Positive-Sum Game
I’ve always said this game of life is not zero-sum. It’s positive-sum. When you believe in someone early, their success doesn’t take away from yours. It’s how the pie gets bigger for all of us. It creates a ripple that reaches far beyond the moment. And the ripple effect is real. They go on to do the same for others. The belief multiplies. The legacy deepens.
Today Is Your Day
As my good friend Paul always says:
“Every day is an opportunity to change someone’s life forever—and today is [your] day.”
So be someone’s first believer.
Tell them you see it.
Lend your credibility when they don’t have their own yet.
Open the door. Make the intro. Give encouragement.
Don’t just send the elevator back down, step inside and ride it down to pick them up.
Because belief might not cost you anything…
But to someone else, it could be everything.
– Gen Y Finance Guy
