What do you think is the main prerequisite to achieving success? Is it the connections with the right people, a unique idea, or sheer luck? According to the author David Schwartz, it’s believing in yourself. Believing that you can do something is the first step. Now, you might say that it sounds corny, but let’s, at least for a moment, suspend our disbelief.

First, believing in yourself is not the same as wishful thinking. Wishful thinking means believing that something will happen simply because a person desires it. Imagine a student who thinks they will pass the exam without hitting the books. That’s wishful thinking, since no preparation or action is involved in the process.

That same student would succeed if they used positive self-talk to motivate themselves to study. The success they envision could drive their efforts and produce real results. Sure, sole belief won’t get the work done, but it allows you to start moving forward. A person who doesn’t believe in themselves has already lost before even trying.

Your mind works as a “thought factory:” the more success-oriented thoughts you have, the more solid your self-belief will be. Conversely, one deprecating thought breeds many more, and before you know it, your motivation is gone. So the choice is yours. On a rainy day, you can wake up and think: “What a terrible day. I won’t get anything done today.” Or you might think: “I’ll make myself a cup of tea, bundle up, and have a lovely cozy day.”

David Schwartz tells a story of a young woman who wanted to start a mobile home sales business. Despite many people trying to talk her out of it, her self-belief prevailed. It wasn’t blind confidence—she analyzed her competition and supported her belief with deliberate action. Despite having no experience and little money, she found investors who were inspired by her belief. As a result, she made over a million dollars in sales in a year.

Disbelief won’t help you; it won’t protect you from anything (only from daring to take action). You are losing more by not allowing yourself to develop confidence and belief. So, first, focus on thinking positively and believing big. Remove this self-imposed obstacle of doubting yourself, and you’ll see new doors opening in front of you.