Nick Newell is an undefeated mixed martial artist who upped his record to 6-0 with a submission victory last Friday.  Footage of his most recent fight can be seen below.

This entry isn’t just about an up and coming MMA fighter however.  Nick Newell is everything but ordinary.  Born with congenital amputation of his left arm, Nick has been fighting since day one.  He’s never let his disability hold him back as he continues to defy the odds.

In his own words,

I’m not just going to be a good fighter for someone with one hand. I’m not shooting for mediocrity or to prove that people with handicaps can do things because that’s already been proven. I compete to (be) one of the best in the world.

I’m sure there were plenty of people who thought Nick was crazy to pursue the mixed martial arts.  Fortunately, Nick lives his own life and makes his own decisions.  He doesn’t let critics choose what he does and where he goes.

We could all learn a thing or two from his resilience and perseverance…

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If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or Fight Like Hell. – Lance Armstrong

Below is a video that contains a partial reading of Og Mandino’s well known third scroll (from his book The Greatest Salesman in the World). This video was recently posted to my forum and it is well worth a share.  I haven’t seen this scroll in many years.

The message shared throughout can be applied to many facets of life.

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For those interested, the full scroll can be read below:

I will persist until I succeed.

In the Orient, young bulls are tested for the fight arena in a certain manner.  Each is brought to the ring and allowed to attack a picador who pricks them with a lance. The bravery of each bull is then rated with care according to the number of times he demonstrates his willingness to charge in spite of the sting of the blade. Henceforth, I will recognize that each day I am tested by life in a like manner. If I persist, if I continue to try, if I continue to charge forward, I will succeed.

I will persist until I succeed.

I was not delivered unto this world in defeat, nor does failure course in my veins. I am not a sheep waiting to be prodded by my shepherd. I am a lion and I refuse to talk, to walk, to sleep with the sheep.  I will hear not those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious. Let them join the sheep. The slaughterhouse of failure is not my destiny.

I will persist until I succeed.

The prizes of life are at the end of each journey, not near the beginning; and it is not given to me to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach my goal.  Failure I may still encounter at the thousandth step, yet success hides behind the next bend in the road. Never will I know how close it lies unless I turn the corner. Always I will take another step.  If that is of no avail I will take another, and yet another. In truth, one step at a time is not too difficult.

I will persist until I succeed.

Henceforth, I will consider each day’s effort as but one blow of my blade against a mighty oak.  The first blow may cause not a tremor in the wood, nor the second, nor the third. Each blow, of itself, may be trifling, and seem of no consequence. Yet from childish swipes the oak will eventually tumble. So it will be with my efforts of today. I will be liken to the raindrop which washes away the mountain; the ant who devours a tiger; the star which brightens the earth; the slave who builds a pyramid. I will build my castle one brick at a time for I know that small attempts, repeated, will complete my undertaking.

I will persist until I succeed.

I will never consider defeat and I will remove from my vocabulary such words and phrases as quit, cannot, unable, impossible, out of the question, improbable, failure, unworkable, hopeless, and retreat; for they are the words of fools. I will avoid despair, but if this disease of the mind should infect me then I will work on in despair. I will toil and I will endure. I will ignore the obstacles at my feet and keep my eyes on the goals above my head, for I know that where dry desert ends, green grass grows.

I will persist until I succeed.

I will remember the ancient law of averages, and I will bend it to my good. I will persist with knowledge that each failure to sell will increase my chance for success at the next attempt. Each nay I hear will bring me closer to the sound of yea. Each frown I meet, only prepares me for the smile to come. Each misfortune I encounter will carry in it the seed of tomorrow’s good luck.  I must have the night to appreciate the day. I must fail often to succeed only once.

I will persist until I succeed.

I will try, and try, and try again. Each obstacle, I will consider as a mere detour to my goal, and a challenge to my profession. I will persist and develop my skills as the mariner develops his, by learning to ride out the wrath of each storm.

I will persist until I succeed.

Henceforth, I will learn and apply another secret of those who excel in my work. When each day is ended, not regarding whether it has been a success or a failure, I will attempt to achieve one more sale. When my thoughts beckon my tired body homeward, I will resist the temptation to depart. I will try again. I will make one more attempt to close with victory, and if that fails, I will make another. Never will I allow any day to end with a failure. Thus, I will plant the seed of tomorrow’s success and gain an insurmountable advantage over those who cease their labor at a prescribed time. When others cease their struggle, then mine will begin, and my harvest will be full.

I will persist until I succeed.

Nor will I allow yesterday’s success to lull me into today’s complacency, for this is the great foundation of failure. I will forget the happenings of the day that is gone, whether they were good or bad, and greet the new sun with confidence that this will be the best day of my life.

So long as there is breath in me, that long I will persist. For now, I know one of the greatest principles of success; if I persist long enough I will win.

I will persist.  I will win.

Below is the official 2011 show reel from former gymnast and current parkour/freerunning enthusiast Damien Walters.

Damien’s videos are some of the most popular on the Internet (for good reason).  His athleticism is incredible.  Many of the movements that he performs with ease would be considered impossible by most.  In many ways, he has defied what logical thinkers believe is possible by the human body.

And while I don’t personally have interest in freerunning or parkour, I enjoy watching athletic displays that I have never tried or cannot perform.  It serves as a valuable reminder that we are all much more capable than we will ever realize.

Additional videos from Damien Walters can be found within his Youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/damienwalters

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Some of the world’s greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible. – Doug Larson

Do you need some pull-up inspiration?

Look no further…

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Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools. – Napoleon Bonaparte

I first blogged about Dewey Bozella in July after he was honored at the ESPYs with the 2011 Arthur Ashe Award for Courage.  If you aren’t familiar with his story, I highly recommend taking a moment to familiarize yourself here.  The original video is well worth every second of your time.

The abbreviated version of the story is that Dewey served over 25 years in prison for a crime that he did not commit.  Amazingly, he never lost hope throughout the quarter century ordeal.

Fortunately, Dewey’s persistence paid off this past weekend as he was able to fulfill a lifelong dream.  At age 52, Dewey Bozella fought and won his first (and last) professional boxing match.  He earned a unanimous decision. Highlights from the last round can be seen below.

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I used to lay in my cell and dream about this happening. It was all worth it. It was my dream come true… This was my first and last fight. It’s a young man’s game. I did what I wanted to do, and I’m happy. I appreciate everybody that made this possible. This has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. – Dewey Bozella

Betty Lou Sweeney recently broke a Guinness World Record after holding the abdominal plank for 36 minutes and 58 seconds (related story). Her achievement is obviously incredible, but even more so when you consider her age and previous lifestyle.  This 71 year old woman is lucky to be alive.  Just two years ago, she was severely overweight and almost died of a kidney infection.

Fortunately, Betty refused to give up.  Instead, she took control of her life.  She realized that it is never too late to change.  She’s now lost over 100 pounds and has earned a spot in the record books.

The video below tells her story.  It also documents her initial attempt at breaking the record.  She failed at first but came back stronger to officially break the record in September 2011.

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Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young. – Henry Ford

Below is a video that was recently passed along to me by a reader of the site.  Within the clip, you will see  training footage from Norwegian climber Magnus Midtbø.  Unfortunately, the video is not in English but you won’t need a translator to appreciate the incredible strength that is displayed throughout.  From one finger pull-ups to weighted one-arm pull-ups, Magnus shows how he has become one of the best climbers in the world.

For more information about Magnus, you can visit his website at the link below:

http://www.magnusmidtboe.com

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We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible. – Vince Lombardi

Below is a short clip that highlights the importance of passion as it relates to success.  The video reiterates many of the ideas that I first shared in the article below:

Pick Your Passion

As I’ve said before, when you are passionate about your work, the work tends to take care of itself.  It is no longer something you dread, but instead something that you look forward to each day.

A day does not pass that I don’t take time to reflect on how thankful I am to have found my passion.  I am passionate about my work.  I don’t need to seek out motivation.  I wake up each day with a fire that is already burning.  Passion is the fuel and I have an endless supply.

Find what moves you and then keep moving.  You won’t want to stop.

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Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. - Dr. Howard Thurman

Michael Phelps is considered by many to be the greatest swimmer ever.  At age 26, he has already won 16 Olympic medals, including 8 gold medals at Beijing in 2008.

So what is his secret?

Surely, Phelps is naturally gifted with a physique that was made for the water, but there is more to his success than a long torso, incredible wingspan, and hypermobile ankles.  Michael Phelps trains harder and longer than the average person could ever conceive.

In the video below, you will hear Phelps and his coach (Bob Bowman) talk about the hard work and dedication that has led to their success.  Michael Phelps doesn’t just show up and do what everyone else is doing in the pool.  Bowman has always pushed him to places that he would have never found on his own.  He literally trained day after day without any breaks for several consecutive years.

How bad did Michael Phelps want to succeed?  Pretty damn bad!

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All know the way, few actually walk it. – Bodhidharma

Below is a short video that has been making its way around the web.  It is a motivational clip that uses the background voice from this video.

As for the actual message, it is really quite simple. Don’t tell me how bad you want to succeed.  Get up each day and show me.  No one will remember you for what you planned to accomplish in life.  You will only be remembered for what you actually did.

Hard work may not guarantee anything, but it certainly beats the alternative.  Working harder than everyone around you is a surefire way to improve your likelihood for success.  You may not be blessed with the natural ability of others, but it is within you to outwork your competitors.

How hard you work and how much you sacrifice is a personal decision.  Not everyone is willing to give up as much.  The choice is up to you and it is a decision that must be made each day.  Deciding today doesn’t guarantee anything tomorrow.  You’ve got to be willing to wake up again and repeat the process.

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When I was young, I observed that nine out of ten things I did were failures.  So I did ten times more work. – George Bernard Shaw