I couldn’t stop thinking about this after Sunday night.

I’m a big fan of the Channel 5 programme Rich House Poor House.

I’ll be honest — part of it is pure nosiness. I love seeing inside the beautiful houses, how people live, and what their version of “normal” looks like.

So I was delighted to see that my mentor Nigel Botterill and his wife Sue were taking part in Sunday night’s episode.

If you haven’t watched it yet, I won’t give too much away — but it was emotional, thought-provoking, and very human. Nigel was incredibly generous in helping the family set up the business they truly wanted, not just a short-term fix but something with long-term potential.

What always strikes me about this programme — and this episode was no different — is that the “poor house” families are no less hardworking.

They graft.
They care deeply about their families.
They almost always have dreams of a better life.

So what’s the difference?

Because from what I’ve seen — mixing with people from all backgrounds and financial brackets — it isn’t intelligence. Often, it isn’t even opportunity.

More often than not, it comes down to belief.

The people we label as “rich” tend to have an unshakeable belief that a better life is possible for them — and a determination that they will find a way to make it happen. They don’t always know how at the beginning, but they believe enough to keep moving forward, adjusting, learning, and trying again.

That belief changes how decisions are made.
How risks are viewed.
How setbacks are handled.

When you genuinely believe something is possible, you act differently — even when circumstances are tough.

It’s something I see time and time again with the women I work with. Incredible businesses. Incredible capability. And yet sometimes the belief in what’s possible lags behind the reality of what they’re already doing.

Just something to reflect on this week.

Because the gap between where you are and where you want to be is rarely about effort — it’s often about belief.

Speak soon,

Cherie