I’ve recently had conversations with one of my team members about their beliefs about a certain system.  The specific system is irrelevant to this conversation, but the ideology isn’t.  My team member believes a particular system is a detriment to society, and rails against it constantly.  They fight against it, not for themselves, but for the benefit of others who may get discouraged, or misled in the face of this systems challenge.

I started to think about the power of a system and the idea of beating a system that seemed impossible and my mind is always drawn to the story of the four minute mile.

For years, athletes, and even scientists thought that it would be impossible for someone to run a mile in four minutes.  The system against them was physics itself, and the limitations of the human body.  This is a stark contrast to today’s perception that the four minute mile is the bare minimum to qualifying as a respectable medium distance runner.

What changed?

The system of physics definitely did not change, so we have to assume that the system was not the real barrier to achievement.

The human body has advanced in it abilities, but still has the same composition and structure as it did when the feat was declared impossible.  It wouldn’t’ be unreasonable to say that the human body was always capable of such a feat.

What changed were the beliefs of the individuals.

Is it coincidence that before May 6, 1954 no human being in recorded history had ever run a mile in under four minutes, but since almost 1000 individuals have matched or beaten that mark?

This line of thinking brings me back to the question, what does it take to topple a system?

Did Barrister schedule a press conference declaring that he would break the mark?  No.  He simply shifted the consciousness of millions by simply beating the unbeatable.  Showing people that a system can be toppled by example, not by conversation, he was able to reshape the context that the four minute mile was placed in, and moved it from impossible, to attainable goal.  Through action, not distraction.

So for those who advocate against the four minute miles in all of our lives, whether it be a global system, or a personal demon.  To advance the cause of those who believe the stories of impossible, your journey is as clear as can be.  Simply do what some think are impossible, and through you, they will understand your cause.  Don’t rally, cry, kick and scream at the brick wall separating your charges from their opportunity, simply scale it yourself, and invite them to join you on the other side of achievement when you’ve crossed.

Quietly achieve.  It speaks louder than any words I can type ever could.

Elijah