Instead of obsessing about what you can’t do, it’s important to focus on all the ways you can accomplish your vision. Your brain is a powerful tool for overcoming obstacles.
As an entrepreneur, you’re used to seeing things that others don’t see. You have already taken risks that most people simply won’t. But every now and then, you need to remind yourself how to make the impossible possible.
Create New Possibilities
Our personal experiences make up our belief systems, our internal values which generate most, if not all, of what we believe to be possible and impossible. Just because something hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. Sure, there are laws of physics such as gravity that we must obey (at least here on earth), but the more we open our minds to new possibilities, the more we can see paths forward-some of which we must trail blaze in order to create a new way of doing things.
The 4-minute mile was once thought impossible, as was a self-aware robot. Whenever you look back with the benefit of hindsight you can easily see how the innovators took bold moves to make the impossible possible. However, looking forward feels different because you must take a leap of faith in order to accomplish anything that is a breakthrough-especially things that are giant leaps forward.
Know Your Why and Let It Inspire Others
Before you dig deep into how you make the impossible possible, you must first focus on your why. Why is it that this must happen? How does making the impossible possible benefit others? The more you can paint a clear picture on why what you’re doing is important and will serve others, the deeper a seed you will plant in your own mind and influence those around you. If your reasons are important, then you will find a way to make it happen. If not, then you’ll end up chalking your idea up to a dream and won’t spend the time needed to turn that dream into a reality.
Reframe the Question: “How Could I Do This?”
When turning your vision into reality, it can be helpful to understand all the reasons people tell you that it can’t be done. Listening is not the same thing as believing. If you believe that your vision is critically important, then you can listen with confidence to all the people who believe what you’re looking to do is impossible. What they are actually telling you are the hurdles that you will face and must overcome in order to be successful. As long as you can avoid being overwhelmed by these insights, they can help you formulate your plan of action.
Instead of obsessing about what you can’t do, it’s important to focus on how youcould accomplish your vision. Your brain is a powerful tool for overcoming obstacles. Direct your energy and focus around what you would need to do in order to make the impossible possible. What’s never been tried before, but could work? What can we learn from other people’s failures and apply to a new way of thinking?
What Would I Need to Make This Happen?
This is perhaps the most important question of all. When you ask better questions, you get better results. By thinking deeply about what you would need to make your vision a reality, you can start to see the possibilities that most people are closed off to seeing (since they’ve already dismissed the idea as impossible). Get really specific so that you know what precisely you’d need. You don’t have to do it all yourself, you simply need to map out possible ways to get it done and enlist the help of others.
Who Would I Need to Support My Vision?
Once you know what you need to do in order to make the impossible possible, then it’s time to get leverage by asking others to help you. When you tell them you need their help on something they don’t believe is possible, they will be reluctant to agree. However, when you have broken down what you need into individual tasks and are simply asking for their help with a specific task, it doesn’t feel overwhelming and therefore they are more likely to support you.
Gather enough support from enough people and you can do just about anything. The bigger your vision for the future, the more likely you are to inspire others. So dream big, listen to those who doubt your vision, and then lead with confidence as you show those around you how to make it happen.
