The Four Minute Transformation by Jim Stovall23:43 Jan 31 2020
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The Four Minute Transformation
by Jim Stovall
In less than four minutes from now, you will have completed reading this column. Four minutes seems like an insignificant amount of time, and—in many endeavors of life—it is. There was a time when breaking the four-minute mile was the most controversial topic in the field of sports and human endeavor. For many decades, people had approached running a mile in four minutes, but no one had ever run a mile in less than four minutes.
Many coaches, commentators, and even physicians felt that it was impossible. There were dire warnings of permanent heart and lung damage or even death resulting from running so fast over such a long distance. Then one day, in one particular race, Roger Bannister ran just a few seconds faster than anyone had done before. He created the four minute transformation that, if understood, will not only apply to runners but to your performance level in every area of your life.
Although there had been literally thousands of world-class runners around the globe trying to break this record, it had never been done; however, the week after Roger Bannister broke the barrier, there were five runners who equaled the feat.
Within a year of Bannister’s sub-four-minute mile, 54 runners around the world had done it. A few years later, high school competitors were routinely breaking the four-minute mile.
It would be impossible to convince any thinking person that the state of training and competition was such that 54 people broke the same record the same year. Instead, we have to recognize that there was a mental and emotional component to this phenomenon. People couldn’t break the record because “No one had done it before.” Once someone had done it, it entered the realm of possibility. This releases creativity and power that results in performance.
There are high-level performers who can do anything if they can see that it is possible. There are high-level pioneers like Roger Bannister who break the barrier and set the standard for others to follow.
As you go through your day today, think of all the things that you do simply because “That’s the way we always do it.” Conversely, think of all the things you don’t do, or even attempt, because “No one’s ever done it that way before.” Remember, what someone else has or has not done will not affect you if you are a performance pioneer.
Today’s the day!
Jim Stovall
Source: Wisdom for Winners, Volume II
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