Edition #12 - How to Become your own CHAMPION

“If you don’t believe in yourself, borrow belief, but don’t outsource it forever.”

By Mykel Salomon · 2026-01-17

<h3>Opening Reflection</h3>At some point, we’re all waiting for permission.Permission to try. Permission to lead. Permission to change direction. Permission to believe we’re capable of more.But here’s most of us discover late:<blockquote>No one is coming to crown you.</blockquote>There is no moment when the world unanimously agrees you’re ready. There is no signal that suddenly removes doubt.Champions aren’t chosen. They’re decided.And the most important decision you’ll ever make is whether you’re willing to stand behind yourself , especially when no one else does.<hr><h3>The Reality We Don’t Talk About</h3>External motivation is unreliable.Studies consistently show that:<ul><li>Motivation driven by rewards fades quickly</li><li>Praise creates dependency</li><li>Validation works… until it doesn’t</li></ul>According to behavioral psychology research, intrinsic motivation, the drive that comes from purpose, mastery, and autonomy, is far more durable than external incentives.In other words:<ul><li>When motivation comes from within, people persist longer</li><li>They recover faster from failure</li><li>They build resilience instead of burnout</li></ul>The strongest performers across sports, leadership, and creative work share one trait:They don’t outsource belief.<hr><h3>🌍 In the Wild</h3>You see this everywhere once you know how to look.<ul><li>Athletes don’t train harder because of the crowd, they train harder when no one is watching.</li><li>Founders keep building long after applause disappears.</li><li>Leaders make difficult calls even when they’re unpopular.</li><li>Caregivers and support professionals show up daily without recognition, driven by values, not validation.</li></ul>The common thread isn’t confidence. It’s commitment.Champions aren’t fearless. They’re consistent.<hr><h3>The Quiet Shift</h3>Being your own champion doesn’t mean arrogance. It doesn’t mean ignoring feedback or going it alone.It means:<ul><li>backing yourself when the outcome is uncertain</li><li>continuing when momentum disappears</li><li>choosing discipline over dopamine</li><li>trusting your ability to figure things out</li></ul>It means learning how to say:<blockquote>“I don’t have all the answers, but I trust myself to find them.”</blockquote>That’s not bravado. That’s maturity.<hr><h3>🧠 A Human Exercise (Try This)</h3>Take five quiet minutes this week and answer these honestly, no optimization, no posting, no sharing.<ol><li>Where have I been waiting for permission instead of acting?</li><li>What would change if I backed myself 10% more?</li><li>What promise did I make to myself that I keep postponing?</li><li>Who would I become if I followed through, even imperfectly?</li></ol>Write the answers down. Not to judge them, to see them.Clarity doesn’t come from thinking harder. It comes from being honest.<hr><h3>🎙️ This Week’s Episode</h3>Episode: Choose to Be Your Own ChampionGuest: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-[#4FD1C5] underline hover:opacity-80 ember-view" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/doricehorenstein/">🎤Dorice Horenstein, International Keynote Speaker Positive Intelligence Expert, Author</a>This conversation between <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-[#4FD1C5] underline hover:opacity-80 ember-view" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/">Mykel Salomon</a> & Dorice explores self-leadership, inner resilience, and why waiting for external motivation keeps people stuck.We talk about:<ul><li>Why self-belief is a practice, not a personality trait</li><li>How to build inner momentum during uncertainty</li><li>The discipline of choosing yourself daily</li><li>Why compassion and courage are not opposites</li></ul>This episode is a reminder that strength doesn’t shout, it commits.🎧 Available on:<ul><li><a target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-[#4FD1C5] underline hover:opacity-80 BkNZKMPNQJhKPDcUmmzpKcxtpyYDbJDutfk " href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/4VXzxtM9ZPzSm10w6Bn0sh?si=zcm3C2urQ_yBriMT99RnZA">Spotify</a></li><li><a target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-[#4FD1C5] underline hover:opacity-80 BkNZKMPNQJhKPDcUmmzpKcxtpyYDbJDutfk " href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2e2-choose-to-be-your-own-champion-w-dorice-horenstein/id1843402023?i=1000745123376">Apple Podcasts</a></li><li><a target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-[#4FD1C5] underline hover:opacity-80 BkNZKMPNQJhKPDcUmmzpKcxtpyYDbJDutfk " href="https://youtu.be/8YXda4fH2P4?si=xNcX-vzFswIFJ-nH">YouTube</a></li></ul><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-md my-4" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D4E12AQF5J2pZs7bOXQ/article-inline_image-shrink_1000_1488/B4EZvMHVEIJUAQ-/0/1768656036716?e=1771459200&v=beta&t=HkjoSVwhkPcG6LHod-ck10Q8ipgJfFYLTvybK7hta7M" alt="Article content"><hr><h3>A Wake-Up Call</h3>No system will save you if you don’t believe you’re worth the effort.AI will accelerate work. Technology will reshape careers. Organizations will continue to change.But your relationship with yourself will determine how you navigate all of it.Be patient with your growth. Be firm with your excuses. Be kind with your failures.And when doubt shows up, because it always does, remember:<blockquote>Champions aren’t people who never doubt. They’re people who don’t let doubt decide.</blockquote><hr><h3>Thought to Carry Forward</h3>“If you don’t believe in yourself, borrow belief, but don’t outsource it forever.”This week, choose to stand behind yourself.Not loudly. Not perfectly. Just consistently.That’s how champions are built.— Mykel