The Three People You Need on an Impossible Quest

Embarking upon the impossible quest can seem almost … impossible. You step out into the unknown, into situations where the outcome may lie in uncharted lands. Often it may seem easier to turn back, to give up, to simply stop trying...

But it is at these moments, when your own personal motivation is at a record low, that your relationships to the people around you have the highest importance.

I believe that there are three types of people to surround yourself with when doing the impossible…

1. Your family and friends

It’s often easy to underestimate the unconditional support from friends and family. They are an interconnecting web from which you can spring from. They are a foundation and a cushion for when you encounter speed bumps. When pressure from the other two groups mounts against you, your friends and family can often provide a refuge, as they will focus on, and care about you over your impossible quest.

2. Your team

Anyone who has achieved the impossible has often been helped by an army. This is your team. The team may be a group of others who are embarking on the entire quest with you. They may be a support team, ready to help should you crash. These can include doctors or experts in the area. Derek Simpson was able to recover from a near fatal shattering of both femurs due to the expert help of his doctors as well as his own pure determination.

This can also involve random strangers, people who you but briefly interact with during your quest, but prove invaluable to your success. On listening to Sarah O’Connor’s story, her achievement of travelling to over 49 countries on 10 euros a day and hitch-hiking to Antarctica was only possible due to the random acts of kindness of strangers who would let her couch-surf or hitch hike or would give her a meal.

3. Your followers

Who else is better to inspire you, to push you to keep going than the very people you are inspiring? The support and encouragement of followers gives accountability to your impossible quest, gives you another reason to achieve your end. Take a round-the-world solo run. To some, this is an impossible quest, filled with many potential dangers, not to mention physical exhaustion. With followers involved, in every city you run to, there is a crowd of supporters waiting to cheer you on. With each boost of motivation from the crowd, you keep going till your quest is achieved.

Now imagine there are no followers.

Without these little motivational boosts, without the accountability of others, why should you continue?

Who will notice if you stop running?

Honour your followers, because the role they play can be key to the achievement of your quest.

Before you start your quest, build your relationships and when the challenge becomes immense, they will lift you up.

Good luck with your impossible…