Flight, space travel, human organ transplants, and circumnavigating the globe were all thought to be impossible… until someone believed it could be done and had the courage to try.
Skateboarding legend, Tony Hawk, has accomplished many things in his life. He is a father of four children, a philanthropist, an entrepreneur, a celebrity, and a champion at every level. But what he may be most known for is pushing the limits of skateboarding and stepping outside of possibilities.
Daring to believe in the impossible
In the 1990’s, skateboard athletes were performing kick flips, switch flips and even a 720 here and there. People believed it was impossible to generate enough momentum and agility to spin 2 1/2 times in the air after leaving the ramp and still land on a board. This trick is called “The 900”.
After attempting to master this trick, and dreaming about it for 10 years, Tony put his skills to the test in front of a huge crowd at the 1999 X Games V. He tried and failed 10 times to land it. Most would have given up and hung their head in embarrassment for falling short.
Regulation time for the competition had ended, but he remained determined to give the world something new—and he did. He landed “The 900” on his 11th attempt and the crowd erupted in celebration.
Tony was the first to land many tricks, including the once thought to be impossible “900”. This trick inspired thousands of young skateboarders worldwide to commit to their craft, get back up when they fall down, and to believe in the impossible. Skaters old and young saw for themselves that persistence, grit, and belief could turn the impossible into the possible.
Landing the 900 didn’t just happen.
Tony talked about landing The 900 in a podcast with Joe Fairless. He shared how he was able to accomplish something that most people considered impossible.
“I had the physical skills to do it for years before I really figured out the mental aspects of it. The mental aspects are [believing] it’s possible,” Tony said. “And so much of it is having confidence. I use that analogy to all kinds of things. The idea is that you have the confidence in the skill set to make something happen. That’s just as important as doing it, or as the idea of it in itself.”
You’ve got this!
Believe in the impossible. Have confidence to pursue your goals. Dare to take risks in an effort to shift from good to great.
Everything that was once thought to be impossible, from skateboarding tricks to flying around the globe, became possible- because someone believed.
Quote to ponder:
“What would you do if you KNEW you could not fail?” – Eleanor Roosevelt.
Question to consider:
Oftentimes our ideas and goals are shot down by doubt and disbelief before they can begin.
Instead of asking, “What if I fail?”
Ask yourself, “What will my life look like if I succeed?”
Click on the links below to learn how to believe in the impossible
Mindset Minute Video – Find Your True Voice with celebrity vocal coach, Debra Bonner
Through her own life experiences, Debra teaches that when you find your true voice and believe in yourself, anything is possible.
Mindset Minute Video – Believe in Your Dreams with world-renowned artist, Elspeth Young
As a young artist, a professor told Elspeth that her artwork was not good enough to pursue an education at a prestigious art school. This crushing rejection left her with a choice to make – believe the professor or believe in her dream to become a professional artist.