Redefine Impossible

When you meet someone that inspires you to re-examine your lifestyle, rocks the very foundations of human limitations and makes you feel like you can walk through brick walls; it’s only fair that you share the knowledge. James ‘Iron Cowboy’ Lawrence is a Canadian triathlete who holds the World Record for running 50 Ironman Triathlons in 50 consecutive days across all 50 states of America. Just to be clear, an Ironman Triathlon consists of a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle ride and a marathon 42.20 km run raced in that order and without a break. Widely considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world; James upped the ante considerably by proving many wrong; even coining the popular hashtag #DoubtMeNow.

These are my key learnings having heard him speak about his journey and building the kind of mindset that allows you to conquer goals that seem out of reach:

The human spirit has ZERO limits – James’ decision to conquer something that would be commonly thought to be impossible at most and highly unnecessary at the very least unequivocally proves that we can accomplish any goal we put our mind to; provided we have the discipline to do the work. Risking physical, mental and psychological damage, he was resolute in his decision to accomplish this seemingly impossible feat. His body adapted to the physical stress – during the first few races his toes were shredded, but in latter races they had evolved to endure the hardship. Set your sights unbelievably high and work towards making your dream a reality.

Surround yourself with the right people – James redefined impossible with the support of his family (wife & 5 kids) and two close friends who kept the logistical machine greased to allow him to be his best self. When he initially shared his desire to complete the 50/50/50 he was surrounded by doubters – friends, colleagues, doctors and cynics aplenty voiced their cynicism – James made a conscious decision to cut them out of his life. If you surround yourself with people who intrinsically believe in (and are supportive of) your life goals, you are far more likely to make them happen.

The importance of agility – Strategise as you may, nothing ever goes to plan. James’ journey reminds us to expect the unexpected, and acclimatize to your environment. He endured a bike crash, dehydration, sleep deprivation and internal bleeding yet he stuck to his goal. 

growth stems from discomfort – if we don’t push beyond our comfort zone, we won’t grow. James fervently believes that there are only two states of being: growth or regression (inclusive of stagnancy – maintaining the status quo goes against the concept of growth).

Find the joy in the journey – as physically painful as it was, James found himself increasingly joyful as the journey progressed. Being mindful of the small wins and gaining inspiration from his family was an incredibly powerful stimulus for his eventual victory. Live not with the finish-line in sight, but rather in admiration of everything that surrounds you as your feet hit the asphalt.

Understand your ‘why’ – Why did James set such a challenge for himself? What next? It wasn’t for fame or fortune – the dude is one of the humblest (and most inspiring) individuals I’ve had the fortune to meet. The impetus was deeply personal; an innate and dutiful desire to provide for his family and set a remarkable example for his children – “sometimes we have to complete things for others, not just ourselves” were his parting words. If you would like to be inspired to #RedefineImpossible drop us an email; James will be back in Tanzania soon!

[Published in The Citizen on Tuesday 28th November 2017]