If you've ever been a skeptic of the power of a role model, read on.

In a new study that was made public this week, a small team of researchers has reported what they are calling the "Obama effect" when African Americans take a twenty-question test. For years, a gap in performance has been seen between whites and blacks when taking standardized tests, but in the wake of President Obama's election and his inauguration speech last week, the gap has all but disappeared.

The study, which has been submitted to the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, has been called "provocative" by Ronald F. Ferguson, a Harvard professor who studies the factors that have historically contributed to the achievement gap between white and black students on testing. "There is certainly a theoretical foundation and some empirical support for the proposition that Obama's election could increase the sense of competence among African-Americans, and it could reduce the anxiety associated with taking difficult test questions," he noted.

As a coach who specializes in helping clients identify and achieve the goals that are important to them, this new finding doesn't come as a surprise. Self-efficacy theory states that we help to create a belief in ourselves when we have a role model who has accomplished a goal we have for ourselves. This is why I always encourage clients to find a role model, preferably close to them, who has accomplished what they are also seeking to do. If you can't find someone in your immediate environment, you can use a character from a film or book as inspiration; this has been found to work effectively, as well.

If the role modeling provided by Barack Obama for African Americans in test-taking situations gives them more confidence around answering hard questions, and it extends to pursuit of other goals, such as holding public office, going to Harvard Law School, or becoming President of the United States, then Obama has given the world a gift of massive proportions - being a role model for striving and excellence.

Do you have role models for your goals? Clearly, knowing someone, or knowing of someone, who is where you want to be in life will help you get closer, so start your search for this person or persons immediately if you haven't already.