To illustrate our last few discussions, Napoleon Hill offers proof in the form of an anecdote about Henry Ford, his visions and tenaciousness.
“The following anecdote is just one example of the “secret” to Ford’s success; the “secret” to wealth creation exemplified by all successful men and women who think and grow rich.
Early in the age of the automobile, Ford decided to produce his now famous V-8 motor. He chose to build an engine with the entire eight cylinders cast in one block, and instructed his engineers to produce a design for the engine. The design was put on paper, but the engineers agreed, every one of them, that it was simply impossible to cast an eight-cylinder gas engine block in one piece.
Ford said, “Produce it anyway.”
“But,” they replied, “it’s impossible!”
“Go ahead,” Ford commanded, “and stay on the job until you succeed no matter how much time is required.”
This is the point where most men would fail to even try because they couldn’t perceive the possibility of such a monumental task. Ford left his engineers no option (save quitting him). And so they went on to tackle the task even they thought impossible. But Henry Ford pushed them to achieve it. We’ll read more about the outcome in later posts. For now, stop and think a minute—how far back in time would we now be if the greats like Henry Ford didn’t exceed the vision of the average man?
I will see you back here next week for the continuation of the Mindset Mastery series.
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 – 2008
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
just had a good month so iunderstand that you have to hang in there. thanks Sean
So it’s true, to be exceptional; think and act exceptional.
Hi Sean,
We are capable of so much more than we imagine. The only limits we have are the ones we place on ourselves or what we allow others to place on us.
I want to decide what my limits are. I want to push the boundaries of my own personal limitations. I have learned over the years that I am capable of even more than I thought possible. So for me, when someone says that what I want is impossible; it’s a signal to me to say, “Stand back and just watch me.”.
Hi Jazz you are so right since lifting my limitations the boundaries have been pushed far beyond what I ever thought was possible.
So to all out there believe that what you want is obtainable, you only have to want it bad enough and work at achieving it through following certain steps. you can find guidance in Mindset Mastery
Hi Rita,
Yes, you have to get rid of those limiting beliefs first. Then your whole world will open up and anything will be possible. You just have to want it bad enough and be willing to work hard for it.
Ford broke the limiting beliefs of his engineers and then they made it happen. But the beliefs that were holding them back had to go first.
Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Sean Rasmussen – Aussie Internet Marketer Making a Difference
If something is impossible than it is the fact that we humans walk the earth. How impossible is that? That all these millions and billions of cells develop just in the right way, just at the right time and do just the right thing to (all together) create a human being? And this impossible task has not just happened once, but happens on a daily basis.
So why do we limit ourselves to much less than we already are? I can only explain it with fear and comfort zone, which has a lot to do with what we have been told, not with things that actually are.
Renee´s last blog ..Overcoming Procrastination
This is inspiring, Renee. Thank you.
Jo Carey-Bradshaw´s last blog ..Empowering Mindset – Mindfulness
One way to achieve something might be impossible. Doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other possibilities…
Lina Nguyen´s last blog ..Richard Branson Business School: A day visit
“Do it until its done” – is simple yet so powerful. Ford had a team so that highlights how important it is to have a good team behind you. Ghandi was one man but so many followed …
Samantha Banfield´s last blog ..Sean Rasmussen and his crazy talk!
And just as a by-product of the focus of this post – what a gift Ford gave his workers, when he enabled them to stretch themselves and create something they themselves really believed to be impossible. Just inspiring from so many different ways!
Jo Carey-Bradshaw´s last blog ..Empowering Mindset – Mastering Self
Hello Sean,
Amazing to think how Henry Ford was so very determined. Imagine if he had given up and his idea was created by another person? It is a great lession to be taking away “Perspective On Possibility” – with time anything and everything is possible
Cheers
Lisa
Lisa Wood´s last blog ..Too Much Sun
Meditation can do similar things. For example if you want information about something, you simply focus on that one thing patiently and eventually the information you are seeking appears in your consciousness.
Wal Heinrich´s last blog ..Think And Grow Rich Mindset Mastery
Hi Sean
In my ‘maturing’ years I decided to do away with the concepts of limits and impossibilities. When I was 20 years old, a neighbour once told me that even the impossible is possible and that truth stuck. It just took quite a few years to unravel all the perceived labels and beliefs I had taken on from family, friends and society.
Now that I have handed all the inherited beliefs back I am ready to go for it with no barriers except for the new skills I need to learn… and thank goodness, I have you to teach me.
Blessings
Elly
Elly´s last blog ..
Mr Ford knew what he wanted and refused to accept no less than exactly that. This, in itself, is a lesson for us all. Stubborness isn’t always a negative trait.