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“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
— Margaret Mead
The Man Who Fed the World
This week’s story comes from my upcoming book, Bring the Juice (November 2025)
July, 1944. Ciudad Obregón, Mexico.
Norman Borlaug stepped out of an old Pontiac and onto a dusty road, looked out over a field of grain that was struggling to grow, and became determined to solve a problem that seemed impossible.
Most agricultural experts predicted that as populations grew, widespread global famine was inevitable. The challenge simply appeared too complex, and there were too many obstacles to overcome to prevent it from happening.
Yet Borlaug knew he couldn't make the soil any better, and he certainly couldn't make it rain more. Despite this, Borlaug remained undeterred and was determined to do something to prevent the mass starvation others feared. He brought something different to the challenge others had not—his unflappable belief, and attitude that would ultimately help save a billion lives. He knew the problem could be solved. He just had to figure out how.
When Everyone Says "No"
For the next sixteen years, Borlaug worked from dawn until dusk in hot Mexican wheat fields trying to find a way to boost grain production, sleeping on dirt floors near the fields when he wasn't testing new strains of wheat. It was hard work and it would have been easy to quit when his early research projects failed or local farmers resisted his new ideas.
Yet he persisted and remained hopeful. When others told him “no” or “it can't be done,” he intensified his efforts. In time, the yields from the new strains of wheat Borlaug developed began to multiply, and so did support from local farmers and scientists.
Borlaug's commitment became contagious, spreading from field to field all across the globe. What began in those Mexican test fields eventually revolutionized agriculture worldwide. Borlaug's “Green Revolution” prevented famines and saved countless lives. It also demonstrated how one single person could change the course of human history. His example tells us a lot about human potential—how our energy affects outcomes long before strategy, talent, or skills enter the picture.
Borlaug was eventually awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work.
His story demonstrates what human energy and creativity can accomplish when purpose-filled belief meets determined action. Where others saw impossibility, he unfailingly saw opportunity. Where supposed experts saw an impossible puzzle, Borlaug saw problems to solve. With patience and persistence in the face of each setback, he managed to accomplish something human beings had desperately needed for millennia.
The same is possible for each of us.
Whether you're a coach trying to spark your team to a better performance, a leader striving to create a thriving workplace, a performer looking to maximize potential, or simply someone trying to show up better for your family, the question remains the same … what’s your juice?
This question is the subject of my new book, Bring the Juice: Unlock the Energy that Transforms Performance, Fuels Purpose, and Ignites the People Around You, coming this November. From Norman Borlaug's story to the Wright brothers achieving flight to Nelson Mandela transforming a nation, discover how to harness the invisible force that shapes your reality and amplifies your influence.
Look for future updates on how to unlock your juice!
“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
— William James
Connecting this quote to the story. The quote captures the quiet conviction that drove Borlaug to keep working—believing unseen efforts in the field could matter, and in the end, they fed the world.
This week’s Chasing Influence tip: You don’t have to lead the room—just lift it.
If you enjoyed this story, a series of three Chasing Influence workbooks is available. Stories are accompanied by discussion questions and answers. Each workbook contains 33 lessons to use with any team.
Updates on Chasing Influence
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