These Powerful Words From a Boxing Legend Taught Me a Lot About Accomplishing Great Things
It's Kind of Fun to Do the Impossible
In 1987, one of Boxing’s most beloved and well known figures, “Sugar” Ray Leonard ended a nearly three year retirement to come back and challenge the sport's top pound-for-pound fighter, “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, the undisputed Middleweight Champion of the World.
Though Leonard had already accomplished a Hall of Fame-worthy resume by winning multiple world titles, defeating all-time greats like Tommy Hearns and Roberto Duran, and even claiming a Gold Medal in the 1976 Olympic Games, no one gave him much of a chance to overcome Hagler. Not only was he facing a bigger, stronger fighter at the top of his game, but Leonard’s own inactivity and previous health challenges made the task at hand seem impossible.
However, driven by the opportunity ahead of him, Leonard was undeterred in his quest. When asked during training by a reporter why he would attempt such an improbable challenge that would put both his physical well-being as well as his overall legacy at risk, he had a simple response that I think about often.
“I will win because you don’t think I can.”
Of course, Leonard would go on to do just that by stunning the world and defeating Hagler by unanimous decision. Another spectacular moment in his storybook career.
This taught me some important lessons.
First, self-belief is a powerful thing and it’s clear that Leonard, like most elite-level performers, had incredible confidence in his own abilities. I realized how much value came from putting focus into pursuing goals that matter.
However it’s more than just that. Attempting something that everyone says is impossible has immense value in of itself. The noted mathematician Eric Weinstein once described a “high agency person” this way:
“How do you respond when told something is impossible? Is that the end of the conversation or the start of one? What’s the reaction to being told you can’t — that no one can? One type accepts it, wallows in it even. The other questions it, fights it, rejects it. This choice defines us. Puts us at a crossroads with ourselves and what we think about the kind of person we are.”
Clearly, Leonard was this type of person and that is the kind I have striven to be as well. One who dreams big and feels it is more important to try, than to be paralyzed by the fear of failure.
Another thing I took from Leonard’s bold proclamation was the ability to use others’ doubt as fuel to success. Is there anything more satisfying than proving naysayers wrong? Possibly. However, it is always sweet to make pessimists choke on their own words. This type of motivation can sometimes make the key difference between success and failure.
In the end, taking action is the most important thing.
As Michael Jordan once said:
“You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.”
The real question is, what great things are you now going to do?
That's it and thank you.
I have a goal since 2014 which is even for myself quite unachievable. 🙂
Still I belief it may happen. And as I go along believing it, things are falling into place slowly by slowly.
One of the greatest games on earth is going for an almost impossible goal to reach and belief in it.
If I reach it, I will be happy if not I will be OK and go for the next one.
The secret is about being happy and grateful for the reach of the goal right now. The power of mind is enormous.
Because it makes me moving towards the goal like magic.
Even if everything and everybody seems to be against it.
😉