In 1954, an unknown 25-year-old broke the four-minute mile with a. time of 3 minutes and four-tenths of a second. A remarkable feat, but even more pronounced since Roger Bannister achieved something that thousands had attempted since 1886 in track and field events. Using unorthodox training and in cold wet conditions, the impossible was attained. What became even more surprising was that 46 days after Bannister’s feat, John Landy not only broke the barrier again but with a new record of 3 minutes 58 seconds. Then, three other runners broke the four-minute barrier in a single race a year later. Over the last half-century, more than a thousand runners have conquered a barrier that had once been considered insurmountable.
In 2019 in Vienna, Eliud Kipchoge, a Kenyan marathon runner, beat the two-hour mark with a. time of one hour fifty-nine minutes and forty seconds. While the time will not stand because of conditions that existed, one can only wonder how long it will be before the two-hour mark becomes the mainstay measure for marathon runners.
What is apparent from these feats is that what we consider impossible is not at all, and what holds us back from achieving is our tendency to minimize our potential. We tell ourselves that we cannot do it. It is too far, too hard, too much, and so on, to then settle on something less. Then, finally, we achieve the goal and say, great, let’s go a little further. Do we all do this?
But what if? What if you set some preposterous goal for yourself? What if you put fear into yourself with the mere thought of attaining this impossible target? And what if you then set out to achieve it? The issue is when we lower our expectations and self-imposed limitations, we permit ourselves to perform at a sub-optimal level. We begin to think differently when our target looks exciting but still very far-reaching. Instead of doing what we have been doing with a little more urgency or conviction, we now look for a fresh, novel approach to get there. It is our new thinking and outlook that becomes the impetus for achievement.
Take a simple example: you want to save $100,000 this year for a lavish purchase you have always wanted. Assume it’s a stretch; you will begin to seek ways to save a little, skimp on some elements, and cut away the unnecessary. Fundamentally little changes of any significance. Let’s shift that target to $1 million. Will the cost-cutting get you there in the next two years?If $100,000 was. Stretch, the $1 million will be absurdly impossible. But you are determined to get there. What will it take? It will require big thinking. A new source of income, a career change, possibly major shifts in the big expense items you currently have, relocation, new modes of transportation, and soon enough, the impossible is feasible. After all, others have done this?
So, what’s holding you back? Is it your capacity and capabilities, or are you merely not thinking big enough? Reach beyond what seems reasonable. Feel the excitement, feel the fear. If you get that, you may be reaching far enough.
