Our minds possess an amazing ability to change and develop. However, we often need confirmation that we're moving in the right direction for this development to occur. Confirmation from others not only provides motivation to move forward but also significantly increases the effectiveness of all actions and exercises you perform in your life.
In 1968, during the Mexico City Olympics, an event occurred that shocked the world of athletics. Bob Beamon, an American long jumper, performed a jump that redefined the limits of human ability. He jumped an incredible 8.90 meters, breaking the previous world record by an unprecedented 55 centimeters. This incredible feat, later referred to as the "Leap of the Century," left the sports world in awe. At those same Games, no other athlete even came close to his result, with many failing to meet the qualifying level.
Yet, just four years later, at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, more than half the participants in the long jump surpassed the old world record set before Beamon’s historic jump.
What changed in those four years? Not human physiology—it remained the same. Not training techniques—they were well-known. What changed was something far more fundamental: the perception of what was possible.
One jump shattered the mental barrier in the minds of athletes. Now, they knew: it could be done. And that knowledge transformed their training approach, their belief in their abilities, and their results.
This Olympic phenomenon highlights a remarkable mechanism of the human mind—the power of confirmation.
When we witness undeniable proof that something is possible, our minds seem to reset. Mental barriers that have held us back for years dissolve, opening the path to achievements that once seemed unattainable.
I have experienced this journey myself—from someone who didn’t believe in their abilities to someone who mastered multiple disciplines. My story demonstrates that anyone can make such a leap in their personal development. That’s why I share it with you—to show, from the inside, how an ordinary person can unlock not just talent, but what many call genius.
"But isn’t genius a gift reserved for the chosen few?" you might ask. I’ve asked myself this question many times. Now I know the answer: talent and genius are not privileges of birth but states of mind accessible to everyone. Within you lies this potential, just as a seed contains the future tree. To unlock it, you need three key elements: information, conscious practice, and time.
As a child, I often went mushroom hunting with my father and brother. One day, while we were in the forest, I got so caught up in picking mushrooms that I didn’t realize I had lost sight of everyone and ended up alone. My father had taught us to use the sun to find our way back to the car, so I started walking in the direction I thought was right. But I wasn’t sure. I was scared and overwhelmed, and soon I started crying because I didn’t know if I was going the right way.
After a while, I met other mushroom pickers and asked them, "Where’s the parking lot?"
They replied, "Keep going—you’re almost there. You’re on the right path."
When they confirmed my direction, I felt such relief and happiness. From that moment, I walked confidently and joyfully to the car.
This experience taught me an important lesson about the power of confirmation. I was heading in the right direction the whole time! But during the first part of the journey, I was full of fear and doubt because I wasn’t sure. Only after receiving confirmation did I feel calm and happy.
This story shows how much confirmation matters in life. Without it, even when we’re doing everything right, we can feel lost or anxious. But the moment someone confirms that we’re on the right path, everything changes. Fear turns into confidence, and uncertainty turns into joy.
In this book, I want to give you that same sense of confirmation. Just like those mushroom pickers helped me see I was going the right way, I want to show you that you’re on the right path in your own journey. Through the exercises and projects in this book, you’ll feel more confident and at peace because you’ll know you’re moving in the right direction.
As you read and apply the ideas in this book, you’ll see not only how to develop your projects but also how to grow your mind and uncover your unique talents—even your genius. With confirmation comes clarity, and with clarity comes peace and fulfillment.