Getting a Gold Medal - Habits of creating the Impossible

While we’re still feeling the after-effects of Olympic fever, here’s a story about impossible moments, I just had to share from the Olympics in 2002.

Steven Bradbury, the Australian short-track speed skater, was coming dead last in the race. He was a good 5 meters (that’s what it looks like to me) behind the group of skaters racing ahead, all bunched together, clamouring for first place and the coveted gold medal.

This race was definitely one Steven Bradbury was not going to win. Not this time at least. But he gave it his best. He skated, tried hard, and kept going around the track.

And then the unthinkable happened… One of the skaters tripped and since the other competitors were all bunched together, they tripped too and all went flying.

The result…

Steven Bradbury, who was a good way away and still skating on the track managed to have the path cleared for him to win first place.
YES! He came home with a Gold medal for short track ice skating. The first Gold for Australia in the winter Olympics.This was an impossible result and yet we never know how events can conspire to create even that thing we truly know is impossible.

Watch the video of the impossible gold here

And there’s more to the story. Stephen Bradbury had gone through some crazy life challenges. He got to the Olympics because of sheer tenacity – determination, persistence and hard work, and many impossible moments. He’s created the impossible in his life, over and over.He summed it up beautifully when he said:

“I’ll accept this gold medal. But not for the 90 seconds of the race – I’m going to take it for the 14 years of hard work.”

Such an amazing story and such a great attitude. We know he’s wasn’t the best or the fastest at short track speed skating but sometimes, impossible things do happen.

Today’s podcast episode is a conversation with Genecia Alluora, a woman who’s familiar with creating the impossible in her life. On the verge of giving up, she decided to turn her mess into her message, and today she’s a millionaire, a purpose-driven leader.

Listen to Episode 43 of Leadership Live Podcast – How to turn your mess into your message and thrive and be inspired to get through the tough times and build yourself up.

Curious about our newest program?

Check out our CEO Habits Bootcamp if you want to get into the habit of creating impossible moments check it out here.

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