When Baumgartner took that leap of faith from the stratosphere to earth, it was not reckless; it was well-judged, extremely well prepared and mentally, he was absolutely ready.
Even though he was travelling faster than the speed of sound, ironically, he couldn’t feel the effect of the wind rushing past him on his body. That’s because he was wearing a pressurised space suit. So many powerful forces were at play and yet with such physical intensity, he didn’t feel a thing.
This reaffirms the idea that powerful forces will surround you on your journey through the atmospheres of life; however, if you are readily prepared and in the right space suit of your mind to travel through the galactic clouds, you will be ready for absolutely anything.
We might be a decade in from his daredevil, free-falling feat but I’m still very much in awe of him.
Baumgartner didn’t get there alone either; he had a team of experts who constructed a helium balloon the size of 33 football pitches. As thin as cellophane, it took 20 people to move it. Yet this wasn’t the biggest threat to the success of the mission.
The biggest threat was his mindset.
His suit was uncomfortable, it was hard to breathe and hard to mobilise in. He also felt completely separated from the outside world.
Yet he had fortitude, mental fortitude.
"I had to look at the suit like it is my friend, not my enemy."
What can you and I take from this?
Being prepared for your own intense flight with a well-packed parachute will be the very making of your own fortitude. It's your lifeline to success, brilliance and ultimate achievement in both your professional and personal life.
"Once I opened my parachute and opened my visor, this was the first moment after seven hours where I was breathing outside air. I was reconnected to the outside world, and that was a very happy moment.”
My advice:
Pack your parachute right: do it yourself but use the best people around you with the best skill set to help you ensure every last detail is taken care of.
Wear the right suit! Enter the unknown in the best dressed, most efficient and protective way you can. Even if it’s slightly uncomfortable, you won’t feel the pressure.
Then just be brave, and…
Jump.
I often refer to Baumgartner when I narrate how I met my partner. Similarly, falling in love with your business has to sit at the very heart of your determination, focus and inherent desire to be the best free-falling acrobat you can.
In doing so, you can succeed, flourish and develop a long lasting companionship in ways you never thought imaginable.
Drama, intensity, adventure and free-fall.
Go for it.
#character #consistency #courage #determination #essence #ethos #fortitude #goodness #inspiration #life #persistence #resolve #selfreliance #strength
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