We’ve all heard about or know people that do things that make others say things like, “That’s crazy!” or “Can you believe someone would do that?”
Going beyond what others are capable or willing to do puts these over-achievers in a class by themselves.
These people fall into two categories: those who do it because they have to do it and those who choose to do it. The former are people that find themselves in survival situations and make choices because it’s a matter of life or death. For example, Aron Ralston, an adventurer and mountain climber, amputated his arm after it was pinned beneath a boulder, trapping him for five days. His story is the subject of the movie “127 Hours.” You’ve probably heard other survival stories that are similar, of people going above and beyond normal endurance to survive a difficult situation.
But then there are the others: Those that choose to do extreme feats because they want to. These are people that do multiple Ironman competitions, run extreme marathons or push themselves to the limits of human endurance. People volunteer to be Navy SEALs or Green Berets and subject themselves to extreme training. The question is, “why?”
If you talk to these individuals, you’ll find they have a burning desire to do what they do. They want to be the best and achieve a sense of accomplishment, and work hard to get there.
We can learn a lot from these types of people. How many CEOs are disappointed that their business is not where it should be? How many have invested the time and effort or training to really be the best leaders they can be or be the most knowledgeable in the industry?
Just like you wouldn’t expect to go out and compete in an Ironman competition with no training or mental commitment, you can’t win at business without the right training and mindset.
Take Milton Hershey, the famous chocolatier, for example. He was committed to his craft — so much so that he tried three times before finally succeeding at starting a candy business. After the first two failures, he sought out additional training from others to perfect his craft and eventually figured out the perfect recipe for milk chocolate using his skill and trial and error. He was mentally committed to getting it right and being the best. If you make the same commitment, you are more likely to see results, improving as time passes.
The only question remaining is, are you willing to go above and beyond to reach your goals?
