I recently read an incredible story that’s changed the way I think about what we believe we can do versus what we can actually do.
It’s a story about a guy named Jesse Itzler.
Jesse’s a billionaire. He started Marquis Jet — the world’s largest private jet company — and that’s a pretty amazing fact on its own.
But here’s another jaw-dropper…
Jesse happens to be married to Sara Blakely. Some of you may recognize the name. She’s the founder of Spanx and a billionaire in her own right.
Talk about a power couple!
You’d think they’d be happy with their achievements but that’s not how power couples operate.
Jesse and Sara decided they were getting too comfortable, too complacent in their day to day life.
So, they made the decision to shake things up.
They hired a Navy SEAL to come live with their family for 31 days and train them in mental toughness.
The entire training was focused around one powerful concept… the 40% rule.
The rule goes something like this…
Right at the moment when you think, “I’m done. I’m completely DONE. Nothing left in the tank,” you’re actually only 40% done. There’s 60% more of you — your energy, focus, attention, drive — that’s still available.
60% more.
That’s why people hit a “wall” when they’re running a marathon. They think they’ve nothing left to give. They believe they can’t take another step.
This could happen at anytime… mile 16 or 17 or 22.
But even though just about every marathoner hits the wall, 99% get to the finish line.
And it’s because they have more in the tank than they thought.
Jesse Itzler thought he hit that wall on the very first day of his “mental toughness bootcamp”
His Navy SEAL trainer asked him to do as many pull ups as he could.
Jesse did eight. The trainer asked him to do more. Jesse barely managed 6. And the next time it was 4 and then 3.
But the Navy SEAL said to him, “You’re not done yet. Now let’s do 100.”
Jesse was like, “NO way can I do 100!”
But you know what? He did hit 100 pull ups.
One. At. A. Time.
And it was such an incredible lesson because he realized he could do something he thought was completely impossible for him.
The SEAL taught Jesse to get uncomfortable and it created a new baseline for him in terms of mental toughness and what’s possible.
The lesson here for all of us is that we all have this incredible will as humans to do what’s “impossible” for us. The sad thing is, most of us don’t use that will to achieve everyday greatness.
But let me ask you this…
What would happen if you use your incredible human will, every single day? What would become possible for you?
Remember: when you think you’re done, when you think you have nothing left… you’re just 40% done and there’s 60% more in you.
Those moments in my life — whether I was on a stage, whether I was in front of a camera or up against “impossible” writing deadlines — I could always pull more out of myself.
There was more left to give, more left in the tank.
And you know what? I’ve not reached the end of what’s possible for me…
Every single day I’m challenging myself to do more, be more.
How about you?
How can YOU build more mental toughness? How can you build more mental resilience?
Let me know in the comments!
So much more is possible for you than you ever imagined because I guarantee you…
Your will can move mountains. Your will can change the freakin’ world.
So go out there and Live Your Message.
Love it? Hate it? Let me know...
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Thank you for this Marisa. I’ve always known that I could pull more out of myself and have done so from time to time but I did not know that it was 60% more. That’s huge. That’s a game changer.
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Totally Dolores. That’s why I just had to share!
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Marisa!! This is my new screen saver. You and Ike I can see your 60% CV right there behind you!
These vids have proven to be very valuable. Thank you Madame Powerhouse-
Lol thank you so much David! Is it really your screensaver??
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Often, when we don’t have a choice, we keep going and realize that we can keep going. Just as you said, we limit ourselves because of our limited beliefs. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Totally Gordana, changing that one mindset can make a huge impact!
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Great message! Didn’t Jesse write a book about this experience?
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Yes he did Erin! It’s called Living with a SEAL and it’s available several places online 🙂 Very interesting read!
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I’m glad I’m in LYM wooohooo! I have so much more.
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Welcome Jennifer!! Thrilled you are part of the tribe 🙂
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By changing one thought then we can change our beliefs of what is possible and then our lives change. Thank you for showing what is possible.
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Absolutely Jeanette! Glad you got some inspiration from this 🙂
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Sounds incredible pushing the limits.
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Totally! 🙂
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I’ve had to learn that many many times in my still short life.Got me out of a wheelchair the docs said would be mine for life, and much much more..and today I needed to be reminded. Thank you great team! and go MM!
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Wow, so inspiring… Thank you for sharing and keep it up!
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Hi Marisa – I generally agree with your stuff, but this one kind of hits a sensitive nerve. I tend to skimp on sleep and can force myself to stay up longer and get less sleep to get stuff done, but lately, I’ve been reading all kinds of studies that long-term sleep deprivation can cause all kinds of health problems down the road, including dementia. Kind of scary. I agree that we often have more in us, but also question the wisdom of ignoring our body’s signals to us. Also, when applying this advice to a building a business, it seems to not heed the wisdom that small consistent actions over time trump intense spurts where we burn out.
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That’s right! Overdoing it over a long period of time will invariably lead into burn-out. To use this for the occasional(!) marathon, exam, deadline, or whatever gamechanger you like, can be extremely helpful. But do it on a daily basis – and you are a goner, truth be told. I know… because I’ve experienced all that first hand. This ‘method’ needs to be strongly counterbalanced with loads of self-gratification, FREE time with friends and family, SLEEP(!!!), joy, fun, creativity, you name it. So called “success” is definetely NOT – to end up as a rich wreck. ;-))) Quite the contrary: It means that you live a life you LOVE. Every day. However that life may look like from the outside.
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Hi I know what you mean. When I get a problem it’s like being hit between the eyes with a sledge hammer but If I take a moment to to breath the solution often presents itself automatically. Trick is to panic but after that carry on.. Best wishes.
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I like this perspective John. Give yourself a few seconds/minutes to process the situation, take a deep breath and move forward knowing you can overcome it. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Sounded very enticing in the first few minutes – even to me. But here comes a big ‘BUT’!!! I’ve done it. In my business. And ended up in a terrific burn-out, that took me ages to struggle out of again. To do that in an occasional marathon/deadline/product launch? No big deal. Go for it. Do it. BUT… to do that on a daily basis? No good idea at all!
Even the best idea has to be seen in context. If one doesn’t create a balance, a joyfull easiness, a counterbalancing “if it’s not fun, don’t do it”, one will end up in deep trouble. Sooner or later. If you take to much of it, even the most healing medicine will become your poison. Just my two cents…
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I agree that it’s all about balance, Angie. There will definitely be times in your business you have to roll up your sleeves and do the dirty work that’s not so “fun” but as long as you’re in alignment with your “big why” — the reason you started your business in the fist place and the good you are bringing to people’s lives — then you can and will get through it. But listening to yourself and your body is important as well. You can’t help anyone else unless you’ve taken good care of yourself first. Thanks for the feedback 🙂
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