I’m sure you have heard the name Roger Bannister, right?
If you dont know, Roger Gilbert Bannister CH CBE FRCP was a British middle-distance athlete and neurologist who ran the first sub-4-minute mile.
You hear that today, and you may not think much of it.
A 4 min mile is really good, but it’s pretty common place among many accomplished long and middle-distance runners.
But here’s what you may not know.
When he first ran the 4-minute mile, people didn’t think the 4 min mile was possible.
So, legend has it that after he came in 4th in the 1952 Olympics in the 1500m (basically a mile)
He got the crazy idea that he could do the mile in 4 minutes!
How do you go form coming in 4th to looking ot break the record that was thought to be impossible??
You need an iron clad mindset to even think that big…
(its possible for anyone to gain such a mindset, I will tell you how later)
Here’s the thing tho…people have tried to run the mile before in that time, nobody could do it.
Not only that, but MEDICAL SCIENCE straight up told him that it would literally kill him if he attempted it.
They believed the body couldn’t handle such stress.
Again, this aint some random crab person, but medical science at the time!
Think about this for a second.
What if your doctor told you that if you were to attempt your business that you would die?
How would you handle that?
Most people would just say
“well, he’s the doctor, and I dont want to die, so back to the salt mines I go…”
Well. luckily Roger didn’t listen those haters.
Now, this next part is important, so write this down.
Roger Bannister believed he could, and went against prevailing thought
He also realized that the people saying NOT to do it were not runners themselves!
They didn’t know what he knew because they never tried it (at least with his level of training)
So, he basically said “screw you guys! I’m gonna do it, and you are gonna shut up and watch!”
(I dont know if those were his exact words, but I also dont know he DIDN’T say that, lol)
And so, on the 6th of May, 1954 he did the 4 min mile.
And you know what the best part is?
Once he did that, it wasn’t long before the 2nd person to do a 4 min mile emerged.
Then the 3rd, then the 4th.
And that’s why today the 4 min mile is no big deal.
The take home lesson is that Perception is reality…and you have the power to cultivate your own reality!
Roger made his own reality, against common belief.
If he can push his body into the unknown and not fear the reaper, imagine what you can do just to start your own business.
Now, I know you think it’s easier said than done, but that’s why I’m putting together something to help you get the same mindset.
How would you like to:
- Stop procrastination
- Kill Shiny Object syndrome
- Truly master time and self-management
- Get the discipline of a top athlete
- and get more done in less time?
If any of those things interest you, stay tuned!