My daughter was a little nervous for a big test she has today and I was just thinking about what I said to her when she was getting out of the truck.
I said, “you’ve got this”.
And I realized just how much our family says this to ourselves.
Before a test.
Before a race.
Before something that feels just uncertain enough to matter.
We’re always saying it. And, on the surface, it sounds like just simple encouragement.
But, as I was driving back home today, I realized just how powerful “you’ve got this” is.
Because what lies underneath is what psychologists call self-efficacy, and it’s one of the most reliable drivers of progress there is.
It’s the belief that you can influence an outcome through your actions.
And, if you believe you can influence an outcome, then you take the step.
You take the step to stop thinking and start doing.
I don’t know about you, but for me, this is the kick I need right now because there’s a lot happening in the world that just feels out of our control.
In moments like this, the question becomes pretty simple: what can we actually influence
That question doesn’t stop with our personal lives. It shows up at work, too.
Brands with high self-efficacy spend less time ruminating and more time taking action because they’re clear on what they believe, who they’re for, and the problem they exist to solve.
That clarity changes behavior.
Decisions speed up.
Messaging sharpens.
Ideas get braver—not louder, just more confident.
So give it a try, in your life or at work.
Take a deliberate action, and see what happens.
Then adjust based on what you learn.
And then, act again.
That’s how progress actually works.
You’ve got this. Whatever this is.