It's hard not to be impressed by anyone who sets a goal and overcomes all obstacles to achieve it. Though rather than simply sit back and marvel in awe at these makers of miracles, isn't it surely a better idea to learn from them? To find some lesson or rule we can gain from their achievement to help us make our own miracles, even if such feats have nothing to do with throwing ourselves to the earth from a great height?
Of course it is, so here's five things I learned from Felix Baumgartner.
1) Never lose sight of what you love doing
The Telegraph has a great story on Felix's childhood, particularly a drawing he gave to his mother when he was a five year old which depicted him parachuting to earth. Even from a young age Baumgartner dreamed of descending from the heavens. His life and his work was fuelled by his love of being airbourne and some 30+ years later, the whole world is talking about him.
The Telegraph has a great story on Felix's childhood, particularly a drawing he gave to his mother when he was a five year old which depicted him parachuting to earth. Even from a young age Baumgartner dreamed of descending from the heavens. His life and his work was fuelled by his love of being airbourne and some 30+ years later, the whole world is talking about him.
Do what you always wanted to do. Never lose sight of that dream. Great things can happen.
2) Learn from others and let them help you
"I couldn't have done it without my team. Everyone joining my dream. We were on top of the world," said the man of the moment following his jump. Meanwhile, much was made of the support and guidance provided by one Col. Joe Kittinger, the man who had previously set four world records in a similar feat.
"I couldn't have done it without my team. Everyone joining my dream. We were on top of the world," said the man of the moment following his jump. Meanwhile, much was made of the support and guidance provided by one Col. Joe Kittinger, the man who had previously set four world records in a similar feat.
Let the knowledge and experience of others guide you towards realising your goals. You probably can't do it without them.
3) Don't look down!
Some times it's easy to come so far in completing a challenge only to suddenly stare at the enormity of the situation and have second thoughts, feel that knot rising in our stomach and sending a wave of doubt crashing over us. Perhaps that's why our man didn't look down before his jump.
4) No matter how bad things get, keep going: They will get better.
“The exit was perfect, then I started tumbling. I thought I’d get it under control, but then it really started. I really picked up speed, it got very violent. It was really brutal at times.
“In that situation, when you spin around, it’s like hell and you don’t know if you can get out of that spin or not. Of course it was terrifying. I was fighting all the way down because I knew that there must be a moment where I can handle it.
“I had a lot of pressure in my head. But I didn’t feel like I was passing out. I was still feeling OK. I thought 'I can handle the situation.’ And I did.”
“The exit was perfect, then I started tumbling. I thought I’d get it under control, but then it really started. I really picked up speed, it got very violent. It was really brutal at times.
“In that situation, when you spin around, it’s like hell and you don’t know if you can get out of that spin or not. Of course it was terrifying. I was fighting all the way down because I knew that there must be a moment where I can handle it.
“I had a lot of pressure in my head. But I didn’t feel like I was passing out. I was still feeling OK. I thought 'I can handle the situation.’ And I did.”
Even if it only feels like we're tumbling aimlessly through hell, things can and will improve if we 'fight it all the way down' and have some faith that we can handle any situation.
5) Be remarkable
I certainly won't be the first to suggest that nothing is really impossible in life and I'm sure I won't be the last. With that in mind, why settle for being unremarkable, normal or average when you can jump out of a spaceship and be entirely remarkable?
I certainly won't be the first to suggest that nothing is really impossible in life and I'm sure I won't be the last. With that in mind, why settle for being unremarkable, normal or average when you can jump out of a spaceship and be entirely remarkable?
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