I've spent the last few days with Matt Hoover, winner of Season 2 of The Biggest Loser. I first met Matt when he came to one of my events and he has been a quiet inspiration to me since. But, since he's been here, I've had the opportunity to really talk to him and listen to what he says and it is changing me.
Matt is here training for the 2012 Olympics as a Greco Roman wrestler. He trains at least three times a day, he rigorously monitors his diet, all while he runs his business with his wife. Oh, and he just completed the Ironman World Championships in Kona, HI (2.5 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a marathon all in the same day).
I've literally NEVER heard Matt make an excuse for anything, ever. He doesn't complain, he just does. And he does it again and again and again, no matter what. So this morning when Matt got up and told me about this I was more than a little surprised, turns out Matt is human but he does something you and I often don't he explains it all in his blog.
In one of our discussions Matt says to me "Everyone should do something they think is impossible at least once in their life." That really got me thinking. I mean here is a guy who was massive when he made up his mind to go on a television show, he lost more weight than anyone else on the show, married another contestant on the show, had two amazing boys and built a thriving business all while others in reality TV publicly melt down, fall apart or abruptly fade away. Matt wakes up and does something impossible every day. Matt is not out to win a personality contest (though I have no doubt if that were important to him he'd win that too) he's out to win what matters to him and he's relentless in the pursuit.
In a short time the topic came around to business. I completely agree with Matt, every Entrepreneur needs to do one thing they think is impossible in their life with their business. I'm the first to admit I haven't done anything impossible with my business in a long time but worse, I haven't tried. I've had tremendous success in the past and I've done well through a tough economy. And, there are so many opportunities in the middle of a bad economic crisis but I've played it safe, I've focused on maintaining not thriving (more about that soon) and I've allowed myself to be comfortable rather than take more chances. I violated a core tenant I've lived my life by and built my business on, Matt helped me see that.
Matt takes chances, he makes things happen, he pushes himself beyond what most of us would consider human and not just in one area of his life where it is comfortable, in every area of his life. The result is that he accomplishes regularly what most people only dream of, in life, in business, and in his relationship.
There is no reason not to thrive in this economy, even if it means changing what you do. There is no reason not to accomplish all you've ever wanted to in life even if it means working harder than you ever have. There is no reason not to do one thing that is impossible because you've never done it before.
I want to encourage you and challenge you to include in the comments below the one thing you want to do that is impossible in your life and/or in your business in the coming year. Don't hold back, be bold. I'll share mine with you shortly as well.
This Bukowski poem (recited by Bono) exemplifies what it means to be bold and go all the way.
Dave, That is a fantastic post! Most of us have to have things go to hell in a hand-basket in our lives for us to find out what we're made of ......... and often don't like what we discover. To consciously put yourself on the line and push yourself beyond what you actually believe you can do is the only way to become that person you dream of being. You can't keep one toe rooted on one shore and step across safely to the other side into greatness. Greatness can only be achieved by stepping of into the abyss and flapping your wings like a bat out of hell until you figure out how to fly before you hit the ground. Security = mediocrity!
Posted by: Tranque Fuller | December 18, 2009 at 05:48 AM
Dave, as ever great stuff indeed. I have already set an impossible goal for my business next year. In 2009 we have sold 1.3M (in our currency) in 2010 we will sell 5M. I even cant believe I had set such an impossible goal, but this is the key point.
Keep you posted about our development.
Posted by: Eduardo | December 29, 2009 at 12:59 PM
wow! thanks for sharing this informative post!
this really helps us a lot! :D
Posted by: Nursing gowns | April 20, 2010 at 01:36 AM