The way you see yourself will determine… it’s not just a motivational poster. This is the operating system for your performance in any field. Get this right, and everything else starts to fall into place.
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Meaning
Your internal self-image acts as a thermostat, setting the upper and lower limits for what you’ll achieve externally.
Explanation
Let me break it down the way I’ve seen it play out in the real world. This isn’t theory for me. I’ve watched top salespeople and struggling ones, and the single biggest differentiator wasn’t their script or their territory—it was the story they were telling themselves about who they were. If you see yourself as a “B-player,” you’ll unconsciously find ways to hit B-level targets. You’ll stop making that one extra call, you’ll shy away from the big deal. Your performance literally calibrates to match your identity. It’s wild when you see it in action. The flip side is the magic: when you start genuinely seeing yourself as competent, as a closer, as an expert, your behavior shifts to prove that new story correct. You walk into a room differently. You handle rejection differently. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy, and the most powerful one you’ll ever encounter.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Personal Development (697) |
| Topics | belief (103), performance (36) |
| Literary Style | psychological (31), short (36) |
| Emotion / Mood | assuring (30), inspiring (392) |
| Overall Quote Score | 81 (258) |
Origin & Factcheck
This comes straight from Brian Tracy’s classic, “The Psychology of Selling,” which was first published in the late 1980s in the United States. You sometimes see this idea floating around attributed to other gurus, but Tracy really hammered this concept home in the context of sales performance and personal development.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Brian Tracy (375) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | The Psychology of Selling (65) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Contemporary (1615) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Brian Tracy, a prolific author gained global reputation because of his best seller book list such as Eat That Frog!, Goals!, and The Psychology of Selling, and created influential audio programs like The Psychology of Achievement. He is sought after guru for personal development and business performance. Brian Tracy International, coaches millions of professionals and corporates on sales, goal setting, leadership, and productivity.
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Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | The way you see yourself will determine the way you perform |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 1988; ISBN: 978-0785288060; Last Edition: HarperCollins, Revised Edition 2006; Number of Pages: 240 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 25: Self-Image, Page 71 / 240 |