The video below was recently emailed to me by a reader of the site.  When I first opened the clip, I didn’t know who I was watching.  I had never heard of Jack White.  I learned afterward that he is a well known musician and song writer.

As to why I am sharing the clip, my reasons have nothing to do with song writing or creation.  I do however agree with Jack White’s thoughts regarding inspiration and work ethic. He makes a great point about the importance of simply showing up to work. You may not have all of the answers when you begin, but by forcing yourself to work, you’ll certainly be closer to finding out.

Paralysis by analysis hampers many from all walks of life. The best way to avoid it is by getting up and getting busy.

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In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins, not through strength but by perseverance. – H. Jackson Brown

Below is a brief portion of an upcoming documentary entitled the History of MMA.  This clip highlights Fred Ettish and his unique experiences as a mixed martial artist.  The documentary was created by filmmaker Bobby Razak.  I’m privileged to have been briefly involved in one of Razak’s previous videos and he always does a great job.

Within the clip below, you’ll learn of the struggles that Ettish endured as a fighter and more importantly how he refused to succumb to his critics.  He recently returned to the cage at age 53 to earn a victory and balance his record at 1-1.

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Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I won’t waste time with a long introduction to the video below.  In summary, if you are a fighter or fan of combat sports, this clip should get the blood flowing…

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Action is the last resource of those who know not how to dream. – Oscar Wilde

I recently received an email from Kevin Rempel and was captivated by his story.  Still in his 20′s, Kevin has endured his share of ups and downs but he continues to keep moving forward regardless of the obstacles that stand in his way.

Kevin’s story highlights the importance of a positive attitude.  It also unfortunately shows the consequences of a negative mindset, as seen with his father.

If you have ever questioned the significance of your own attitude, take a moment to watch the video below.

Fore more information about Kevin and his progress, please refer to his website at the following link:

http://kevinrempel.com/fr_about.cfm

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Every thought is a seed.  If you plant crab apples, don’t count on harvesting Golden Delicious. – Bill Meyer

Ali McWeeny was featured on this blog once before.  The original link can be found here.  Her story is so incredible however that she is more than worthy of another entry.  Below is a new video that was recently sent to me.  Much more of her training can be seen within.

Be prepared to discard any excuse that you’ve used before…

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Keep your excuses to yourself – nobody cares. – Dave Tate

The scenes within this video come from Hollywood productions, but the compilation still gets the blood flowing (nice editing too).

Enjoy…

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There isn’t a person anywhere who isn’t capable of doing more than he thinks he can. – Henry Ford

Update – This entry was originally posted in March 2011 but has been updated with a new video

Below is a powerful story about a man (Brock Mealer) who was involved in a tragic accident that left him with a 1 percent chance to ever walk again.   Words cannot do justice to the story, so all that I can do is encourage you to take a few moments to watch.

It certainly puts our own bumps and bruises into perspective.

A related video can also be seen here:

Brock Mealer

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I have woven a parachute out of everything broken. – William Stafford

Below is a brief ESPN video which highlights the determination of a cross country team that set out to win one more championship for ALS-stricken coach Jim Tracy.  You will be hard pressed to find a better example of determination as you watch high school junior Holland Reynolds literally crawl to the finish line to secure the championship.

As her display illustrates, true determination allows us to overcome obstacles that we would have never imagined.

A related story can also be found in a recent Runner’s World article.

The Inspiration: Jim Tracy

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The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur. – Vince Lombardi

George Hood isn’t the typical 54 year old man.  He is everything but ordinary.  He once jumped rope for over 13 hours (setting a world record).  Another time he rode a stationary bike for over 222 hours.  At the time, that too was a world record and his efforts raised over $25,000 for a memorial fund for an American soldier who was killed in Afghanistan.

Most recently, George Hood shattered yet another Guinness World Record.  This time he held the abdominal plank position for 1 hour, 20 minutes and 5.01 seconds.

The video below highlights his extraordinary accomplishment.

A related article can also be found here:

Busting World Records

As you’ll see within the video, George Hood did not stroll through the challenge.  He had to battle through each minute.  In his own words,

The spasms were taking over, and I couldn’t control the shaking.  I couldn’t spit, and I burped up some acid and knew I was getting thirsty and dehydrated.

As for the purpose of this entry, I’m certainly not suggesting that we all train to the point of extreme exhaustion and dehydration.  You can however learn some valuable lessons from George Hood.  First, he clearly believes in himself and is able to fight through what others would consider impossible and unbearable fatigue.  There is almost always more gas in the tank than you realize.

He also didn’t need a miracle core training infomercial product to break the record.  What he needed was mental toughness and a relentless desire to succeed.  Those attributes alone will often outweigh the significance of everything else.

If you are a competitive athlete, the time will come when you must push through your comfort zone and thrive in an uncomfortable environment.  If you are not mentally prepared, it won’t matter how well conditioned your body is.  Either suck it up or pack your bags and go home.

George Hood clearly knows how to suck it up and blast through his comfort zone.  We can all benefit and learn from his example of relentless perseverance and mental toughness.

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Endurance is patience concentrated. – Thomas Carlyle

The inspirational section of this blog has always been one of the most popular areas of the site.  I’ve posted stories of people from all walks of life who have in some way inspired others to better themselves. Even I regularly look through past entries to remind myself of the potential to improve that we all possess.

Below is yet another entry to this section.  I watched the video for the first time this morning and was glued to the screen.  The story is inspiring on many levels.  I won’t spoil it for you, but the man seen within is a prime example of our ability to improve when truly motivated to do so.

Take a few minutes to watch the full video.  It is well worth your time…

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Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing. – Muhammad Ali