What do you believe?
Here is an interesting little sports story for you…
At the start of 1954 the world record for running a mile was held by Gunder Hägg. He ran it in 4 minutes 1.4 seconds in 1945 and his record had stood for 9 years.
It was widely believed that it was impossible for a man to run a four minute mile. It had never, ever, been done. We simply didn’t have the physiology to achieve it.
Then, on the 6th May 1954 Roger Banister proved everybody wrong and ran a mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds.
A fabulous achievement. The fastest I have ever managed is 5 minutes 47 seconds in the gym. A mile is a remarkably long way when you are running. It was so hard that when I stumbled off the treadmill at the end I had to have a cigarette.
But Roger Bannister’s achievement is not the interesting bit
Just 6 weeks later on the 21st June 1954 John Landy beat Banister’s record and ran a mile in 3 minutes and 58 seconds.
Isn’t it odd that mankind could achieve the impossible twice within a couple of months?
Between 1954 and 1960 a further 21 people broke the 4 minute mile barrier
The record is currently held by Hicham El Guerrouj at 3:43 seconds. Today, if you can’t beat the 4 minute mile you don’t stand a chance as a professional middle distance runner.
The point of this story…
What we can achieve is often limited by what we believe is achievable.
Something that is worth thinking about when you set out on your next change programme.
Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right ~ Henry Ford
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Read another opinion.
Image by the happyrower
James,
In high school, I was the second fastest miler in the state. Positive mental attitude and believing in yourself are definitely key to achieving your goals. Having said that, my goal was to be #1. ;-)
I agree… this is an important lesson in life and in business.
Annette :-)
I shall endeavour not to get on a treadmill next to you Annette.
Hi James,
I wonder if some of those self limiting beliefs are set only by ourselves or are they set by others for us.
Adrian
I often think they are set by others Adrian, it is called “performance management”
Hello James,
If you are serious about challenging self-limiting beliefs then you have to be serious about challenging ALL beliefs. Why? Because all beliefs limit. Even if you have a belief that says there are no limits you end up limiting yourself. How? There is the possibility that there are limits – and with your belief you will not see the limits, you will then overstretch yourself. In WWII, this occurred and they made a film of it – I think it was called a Bridge Too Far. And in the case of Steve Jobs – he paid with is life.
If you seriously challenge beliefs then you travel the path of Descartes. Where do you end up? There are no certainties other than that there is thinking going on. And from the you make an assumption that there must be a thinker to do the thinking. Then you end up inventing a benevolent God – to end back in a place of certainty.
In life we need certainty; we are paralysed by uncertainty. And being a herd species we follow existing practice. Along come the rare few who not feeling comfortable as part of the herd pursue their own path. And thus show the rest of us, if we are willing to listen, the error of our ways.
All the best
maz
Thanks for your thoughts Maz, I wonder if there is a balancing point. I guess it depends on the individual