How did this happen?

How did this happen?

Growing up, I was always playing sports.

I was in shape by default.

I never worried about my weight or what I ate.

But competitive sports ended for me in my 20s.

Then, in my mid-30s, I looked down and saw a gut.

Yikes!

I realized I wasn’t living a healthy lifestyle.

But I didn’t know what to do.

For years, I had failed diet and exercise attempts.

I thought nothing would change.

Then, I saw a friend who had been in the same situation.

A year later, he had a 6-pack and looked healthy.

I thought, if he could do it, so could I.

That moment was my turning point.

Knowing it was possible motivated me.

Fast forward.

Today, I’m in better shape and healthier than ever.

I benefited from what is known as the Bannister Effect.

As the story goes, it was believed that breaking the 4-minute mile was impossible.

Countless athletes tried and failed, reinforcing the myth.

Until 1954, determined British runner Roger Bannister achieved the unthinkable.

Bannister ran a mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds.

He shattered the psychological barrier.

Bannister proved the feat was achievable.

Within a few weeks, another runner, John Landy, broke Bannister’s record.

In the following months, many athletes followed suit.

Their efforts continuously pushed the boundaries of human potential.

The Bannister Effect was born.

If you know that a goal is possible, it becomes attainable.

In business, we often tell ourselves that objectives are impossible.

Scaling with limited resources.

Landing a high-value client.

Competing with larger firms.

But look to peers and competitors.

You can almost always find cases where these challenges were overcome.

My friend’s new abs inspired me.

Runners found inspiration in Bannister’s sub 4 minutes mile.

What can you use as inspiration for what’s possible?

Once you believe, you will find ways to make it happen.

It always seems impossible until it’s done.