From as far back as 1886, athletes and their coaches strived to run a mile in under four minutes. However, it was deemed unattainable until May 6, 1954; Roger Bannister beat the clock by coming in at three minutes, fifty-nine, and four-tenths of a second. At that historic moment, the barrier was lifted. Less than two months later, John Landy ran a mile in three minutes and fifty-eight seconds. Three runners competing in the same race broke that record the following year. The impossible became possible.
I love this story because it reminds me time and time again how we can't let a perceived wall keep us from finding success. Once someone bucks the system with a new innovation or technique, it changes the game for everyone. Business as usual is forever altered, but this only happens when we're willing to take chances. It's easier said than done because we have to overcome a pervasive mindset that tells us our ideas are wishful thinking.
People are considered outliers because they achieve their goals outside an established set of rules. Once these rules are broken, a new formula is created, and with it, a new path forward. But how does that happen? Many examples of this phenomenon have one thing in common, a vision of the end goal. The steps to get there are not readily seen, but it's the result that keeps us trying to solve our puzzle. At times, it's frustrating, and our actions seem fruitless as we try and fail repeatedly. We're told to give up, yet this image we can't get out of our heads keeps us going.
I watched the series "The Offer," which told how "The Godfather" was made. The story has so many unexpected twists and turns that should've doomed the film never to be finished. It's an amazing example of the drive and efforts of the director and producer to keep pursuing in the face of insurmountable odds. It was also a wonderful reminder to keep going down different avenues until you get what you need. The movie was a huge hit and defied its many detractors.
I find endless inspiration from tales of the underdog becoming a champion because they never lost sight of their goal. But, again, it's appreciating the journey and embracing the failures that inevitably guide us to the finish line. I believe in having faith and trust that our pursuits will open doors and give us the 'lucky breaks' that move us in the right direction. Whether breaking an unseemingly impossible record or making a blockbuster movie against all odds, we know that our objectives will always teach us and give us invaluable experiences.
Let's keep our minds open to dreaming big and, for that matter, encourage others as well. The more we can collaborate and bounce ideas off of each other, the more we can accomplish. We can eliminate the words "it can't be done" and replace them with "let's figure it out." You'll never know what innovation you come up with that can change the world for the better until you try.