I have been interested for decades in the connection between believing, a personas WILL and the success that they generate. Mac Anderson shares the following story; FOR MORE THAN one hundred years, runners tried to break the four-minute mile. It was considered the "Holy Grail" of track and field. Many said it couldn't be done. In fact, doctors wrote articles in medical journals explaining why it was physically impossible for the human body to run a mile in less than four minutes.

However, in May 1954, a British medical student named Roger Bannister ran the mile in 3:59.4. His amazing accomplishment made headlines around the world. Yet what happened afterwards is even more amazing. The four-minute mile was broken again the next month ... and then again ... and again. It has since been broken more than 700 times, sometimes by several people in the same race.

What happened? They weren't training any differently, but for the first time they believed they could do it. The barriers to the mind had come down.

Never underestimate the power of belief when it comes to fulfilling your dreams. I can say with no hesitation that every person I've ever met who has achieved any degree of success has had one thing in common: they believed with all their heart they could do it.

Early in my career, I was the vice president of sales for a food company. One time I was in Detroit hiring a salesperson. We had lined up eight appointments for the day, and the morning had been a bust.

I looked up and my one o'clock appointment was standing at the door. He was a tall, good looking guy, and I remember thinking, "This could be the one." We talked for about 15 minutes, and I asked a question I always ask, "What will you be doing five years from now?" I'll never forget his answer. He said, "Mr. Anderson, the way these appointments are going I might still be interviewing!" Well, that wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear. We talked for a few more minutes and I excused him.

Then I looked up and my two o'clock was there. He walked over and gave me a confident handshake, and a few minutes later I asked the same question, "What are you going to be doing five years from now?" He looked me right in the eyes and said, "Mr. Anderson, I'm going to be working for you. This job fills my skills and my needs to a tee. I don't think, I know I can sell your product in this market. And furthermore, if you don't like my performance after 30 days, you don't owe me a cent."

Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather! He had just made me an offer I couldn't refuse. But the offer had nothing to do with money I might earn; it had everything to do with his unwavering passion and belief he could do it. Within a year, Sam was the number one sales person in the company.

You see, whether you think you can, or you think you can't ... you're right!