Breaking Barriers — Roger Banister’s Story
In 1903, Harry Andrews, a British Olympic coach, stated, “The mile record is 4 minutes 12.75 seconds. This record will never be broken.” There was a fierce intellectual debate that the human body had reached its full potential. Proof was offered — because of the length of bones, the nature of muscles, and the construction of joints, it was proven that a human being could not run a mile any faster than 4 minutes and 12 and three quarters seconds.
I think you know where this story is going. In 1954, Roger Banister because the first person to break the 4 minute mile barrier. What you may not remember is that that same year, 2 other people ran 4 minute miles, too, right after him. And the next year, a phenomenal 236 people also did what was considered impossible!
Why do we remember Roger Banister? Because he took what was accepted as a brick wall limit and pushed it in the ditch. His proof that it could be done mentally cleared the way for others to also “do the impossible.” He is a hero.
In your business, I bet there are some brick walls that everyone accepts as limits. Might you be the hero that topples them? You know, brick walls, like most problems, are made of pieces. Keep working on removing pieces and don’t be surprised when you push the barrier into the ditch, too, and accomplish the impossible.