At age 14, William Kamkwamba set out to build a windmill that could generate electricity and pump water to his village.  Everyone thought he was crazy, including his own mother.  He didn’t have any materials, other than those he gathered from a scrap yard.  He could barely read the English language, yet used English books and diagrams to teach himself how to build his first windmill.  The odds were stacked against him.  Fortunately, William did not listen to those who said it couldn’t be done.   The picture above confirms that he was everything but crazy.

Below are two videos that tell his amazing story…

A related article from CNN can be found below:

Malawian boy uses wind to power hope, electrify village

At first glance, you may be wondering why I am posting this story to a blog that focuses primarily on physical training.  Perhaps the story is not directly related to training, but it is relevant from the standpoint of personal development and accomplishment.  William set out to accomplish something that others said couldn’t be done.  Many youngsters in his position would have given up.   When adults suggest that something is impossible, it is natural for impressionable teens to listen.  There have been countless stories of coaches who told young players that they didn’t have what it takes to succeed at the next level.  Many athletes give up as a result, while some refuse to believe and instead seek to find out for themselves.  Fortunately, William is a member of the latter crowd.  He decided to find out for himself.

As a father, I see firsthand how adults influence the beliefs of youngsters.  My three year old son recently tried to lift a 585 lb trap bar.  He had seen me lift it so he wanted to try.  No one told him that it was too heavy.  He wasn’t influenced by others around him.  I never tell him that he isn’t good enough or strong enough.  I let him find out for himself.

When he sees me miss a lift, I never tell him that I can’t do it.  I always tell him that I’ll get it soon.  I won’t stop trying until I do.  And even if I am wrong, I’d rather live my life believing in myself, rather than giving up when something doesn’t initially go my way.  To stand out in this world, you must step up and separate yourself from the doubters around you.  If you do what everyone else says or does, you will be just like everyone else.

Imagine if William gave up on his ideas after listening to the opinions of those around him.  All of the lives that he has changed would still be suffering without electricity.  His refusal to give up has not only changed his life, but the lives of many around him.  And based on what he has accomplished thus far, I’m sure that this is just the beginning of his own success.

In summary, don’t be afraid to go against the grain and defy the odds.  If you believe in yourself and refuse to give up, you’ll often surprise even yourself.